About T-N-R

Trap-Neuter-Return (T-N-R) is a full management plan in which stray and feral cats already living outdoors in cities, towns, and rural areas are humanely trapped, vaccinated, and sterilized by veterinarians. The cats are then returned to their familiar habitat under the lifelong care of volunteers. Over time their numbers naturally reduce.

FERAL promotes a comprehensive management plan including sterilization as well as provision of food and shelter. The single most important thing a caretaker can do for feral cats is to get them to a veterinarian for spaying and neutering. Ferals are dependent on us to maintain a healthy, stable colony. However, this is only possible if all members of the colony are sterilized. Besides the obvious advantage of population control, the cats will be healthier and better able to care for themselves when they are no longer forced to put all of their energy into breeding and caring for offspring.

How FERAL Works

Find Caretakers - The first step of our program is to find people in the community who are currently feeding a feral cat or a feral cat colony.
A feral cat will most likely hide or run away when a human gets too close. They will certainly not allow you to pet them nor pick them up. Most ferals seem to just appear from no where and stay close to wooded or sheltered areas where they feel safe. To read more about Stray and Feral cats, please view our Stray and Feral Cats information sheet.
Trapping and neutering them is very important because if we do not sterilize these feral cats and they continue to be fed, they will simply begin to reproduce and in a very short period of time, a caretaker could find dozens of cats on their hands.

Trap - It is extremely important not to try trapping ferals without the proper equipment and experience. These cats are, in fact, wild and will defend themselves fiercely when they feel they are in danger. Serious injuries can result without using the proper tools and techniques.	Neuter - Once a feral cat, or cats, has been trapped they are taken to a licensed veterinarian to be spayed or neutered. During the surgery the cat is also given a rabies shot, treated for minor wounds, and may also be treated for fleas and tested for feline leukemia/FIV. The right ear of every cat is tipped, as well. By removing the very tip of the ear, this an easy way to keep track of which cats have been sterilized and which have not	Return - Releasing the cat is the final step. The cat should easily be accepted, by the other cats, back into the colony and the caretaker resumes regular feeding, as before.