What is TNR?
TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return and is the most humane and effective method for managing feral and stray cats. Cats are trapped using humane traps and transported to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, given a rabies vaccine and pain medication, and ear-tipped. Ear-tipping is the painless process of removing a small portion of the cat’s ear tip. This is done under anesthesia and signifies the cat has been spayed or neutered. Cats are then returned to their original location once they are recovered from their surgeries. If a foster or permanent home is available, young kittens and friendly adults can be placed for adoption.
Feral cats in the majority of cases are not friendly and thus cannot be adopted out to a home. This means if they are brought to a shelter they will in almost all cases be euthanized. TNR reduces the amount of cats going to already overcrowded shelters by ensuring that they are no longer able to reproduce when being released. |
Benefits of TNR
Health Benefits |
Spaying and neutering relieves cats, both male and female, of the constant stress of mating and pregnancy.
Substantially decreases the chances of a cat developing mammary or testicular tumors. Spaying and neutering essentially eliminates the risk of female cats getting pyometra. Pyometra is an infection in the uterus that typically occurs when a cat is in heat and the opening of the uterus opens to allow sperm in while mating. During this time bacteria that is in the vaginal tract can enter the uterus and cause an infection in which pus develops. If left untreated the cat will die. |
Behavioral Benefits |
Since TNR stops reproduction it virtually eliminates mating behaviors such as yowling and fighting and as a result also decreases related injuries such as FIV infection and abscesses. This also means colonies become quieter. Spaying and neutering also decreases the likelihood of spraying.
|
Population Stabilization |
Once TNR is performed cats can no longer reproduce. Meaning no more kittens and the population will stabilize and eventually decline. This results in a decrease of unwanted litters and less kittens ending up in already overcrowded animal shelters
|