TNVR Program FAQ's

The program provides:

  • Instructions and tips to return cats to the area they were trapped from
  • A general exam by a veterinarian to determine the cats are in good health
  • Spay/neuter (to prevent future litters) 
  • Ear tip (can be observed from a distance and serves as an indicator that the cat has already been spayed/neutered – mandatory for program participation)
  • Rabies vaccination 
  • Topical for external parasites, intestinal worms and ear mites 
  • Microchip 
  • Loan of trap to capture cat safely 
  • A copy of the cat’s health records
  • Funds to cover above if available   - (available to those with 5 or more cats or a working farm) 

Colony Manager provides:

  • A monetary donation per cat at the time of surgery, to offset the cost of all the above medical treatments (costs vary between $70-$100 per cat)
  • Trapping and Release
  • Transportation to and from Vet appointment
  • Daily food, water and shelter
  • Straw or blankets to provide the cats with a warm “home base” and to get out of the weather and potential predators
  • Follow up annual vaccines, flea treatment, deworming, and any medical care they may need.
  • The cat’s new home should be at least 500 feet from the road.

What is TNR? TNR (trap/neuter/return) is a humane, non-lethal alternative to trap-and-kill that effectively manages community cat populations. It’s a comprehensive management plan in which homeless, free-roaming (a.k.a. community) cats are humanely trapped, evaluated and spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian, ear-tipped to show they’ve been sterilized, vaccinated, and then returned to their original habitat to live out their lives. Stopping the breeding is more effective than trap-and-kill methods at lowering the number of cats in the community.


What are the benefits of TNR? TNR saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the number of cats admitted to municipal shelters, which reduces their operating costs. TNR saves lives because fewer cats in shelters means fewer cats need to be killed, and fewer community cats in shelters increases adoption rates for friendly cats. In addition, TNR promotes public health by reducing the number of unvaccinated cats. Finally, sterilizing these cats reduces nuisance behaviors (i.e., spraying, fighting, howling and roaming) and related complaints.


Will these cats let me pet them or carry them? Most of the time, no. These cats are not socialized and want little contact from humans, which is why we cannot adopt them into indoor homes. Some feral cats have some social skills and want to interact around feeding time; however, they may not want to be touched or picked up.


What is the actual cost savings of TNR compared to the traditional trap-and-kill method of animal control? Until a TNR program begins, it is difficult to calculate accurately how much money will be saved in a specific location. However, over time, through attrition and sterilization efforts, fewer cats will be breeding and contributing to the population growth. And fewer live animals to deal with inevitably means a decrease in the demand on taxpayer dollars. Over three years (2007-2010), the city of Jacksonville, Florida, saved approximately 13,000 lives and $160,000, while feline nuisance complaints decreased.


What do I do about taking my cat to the veterinarian? These cats can be humanely trapped and taken to the veterinarian when needed. If your cat becomes injured or ill, you will need to take it to a veterinarian. We have humane cat traps we can loan you to accomplish this.


Are there any tools to help keep community cats out of designated areas? Non-lethal deterrents for cats are effective and easily available. Some of these products are detailed on this video: www.bestfriends.org/deter.


Do cats pose a risk to public health? A human contracting a disease from a cat is quite unlikely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, people are not likely to get sick from touching a cat or having a cat at home. Free- roaming cats tend to avoid human contact. This natural avoidance of humans makes the likelihood of disease transmission quite remote. The CDC also provides simple health tips to minimize potential exposure, such as washing hands with soap and water after touching feces or after being scratched or bitten. The agency also recommends that cats be vaccinated against rabies — which is a key component to most TNR programs.