Did you know that the #1 documented cause of death for cats in the United States is being killed in shelters (according to Alley Cat Allies)? Currently, over 70% of cats entering shelters are killed. Many of these cats are feral and will most likely not get adopted.
Feral and stray cats are the greatest source of cat overpopulation in the country. There is a difference between ferals and strays. According to Havahart.com, a feral cat is a free-roaming cat that is born and raised in the wild. A stray cat is a pet cat that has been abandoned or lost, so it reverted back to its “wild” instinctual self in order to survive. Strays are also often called “alley cats,” “street cats,” and “outside cats.”
Research shows that one female cat has the ability to produce approximately 100 kittens in seven years. Since most feral cats are not neutered or spayed, overpopulation continues within their colonial areas.
This is where the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) approach can step in to humanely solve this ongoing problem.
What is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)?
TNR is the humane approach to addressing community cat populations. With this method, community cats are humanely trapped using box traps, brought to a vet to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and finally returned back to their outdoor home. Ear-tipping is the universal sign that a cat has been neutered and vaccinated. Utilizing this universal marking system allows those in the community to identify which cats need to be taken to a vet versus which have already received medical treatment.
TNR stops the breeding cycle which in turn improves the lives of the cats in a colony. The female cats’ health especially improves because they do have the constant stresses of mating and pregnancy, their coat condition improves, and it helps them gain weight.
Spaying and neutering also eliminate the chance of cats developing mammary and testicular tumors. When they are vaccinated against rabies, they become less susceptible to infectious diseases while living in the wild. There are numerous benefits for community residents and cats alike.
Studies Show the Success of TNR
The University of Florida conducted an 11-year study, and the number of cats on campus declined by 66%. No new kittens were born after the first four years of its operation.
A study on the impact of TNR on feral cat colonies in Rome, Italy (known for its roaming local cats) also observed colony size decrease between 16% and 32% over a 10-year period.
Texas A&M University launched a TNR program, neutering 123 cats in the first year. They found no new litters of kittens the following year. Also, 20% of the cats trapped were found to be socialized stray cats and were able to be adopted.
Why Other Methods Don't Work
Catch and Kill
This policy is becoming outdated, however, it is still important to address. This method implements the trapping of cats and then euthanizing them. This is obviously not ethical because every cat’s life has value. This does not solve the problem of overpopulation either because the cats that are still in the colonies will continue to reproduce.
Adoption
At East Coast Maine Coon Rescue, we are huge advocates for successful adoptions and taking a cat into your home to keep forever. However, many feral cats thrive in the outdoor environment of colonies. They bond with their colony members, and it can be difficult for them to transition to living with people in homes if they have no previous experience with this. We should shift the focus from having every cat adopted to instead those that can become social for adoption and utilizing TNR for cats that prefer living in their natural habitat.
Relocation
At first glance, this may seem like a more ethical approach to spread cats out to decrease overpopulation in one area. However, relocation is stressful for cats and community cats bonded to their outdoor homes will try to go back. Community cats are often not socialized to people so they can be unpredictable in new locations. This method also creates the “vacuum effect,” which means that when cats are relocated out of an area, new cats will move in and take advantage of the available resources. The new cats will breed and the population will grow once again, recreating the problem.
Cat Sanctuaries
Cat sanctuaries can certainly have pure intentions to help as many cats as possible have a home and resources like food and water. The downside is that there will simply never be enough sanctuaries to house every cat in the country. Also, feral cats are used to living outdoors and can suffer from stress and disease in these facilities.
The Overall Benefits of TNR
Overall, TNR is more cost-effective compared to Trap and Kill. TNR costs roughly $50-60 for the entire process. In comparison, it costs roughly $100-105 to euthanize one cat. There are a few programs across the U.S. that fully cover the cost of TNR, allowing the individual trapping the cat to have no cost to them.
There are also low-cost spay/neuter clinics available in many areas that can help people be responsible pet owners without breaking the bank. Spay/neuter procedures for pets can be costly, but there are many affordable resources for those that need them.
Most Americans want humane solutions to cat overpopulation, and TNR offers one. Cat colonies become quieter, living peacefully in coexistence with residents, and shelter intakes decrease. Hopefully, as more towns and cities begin implementing TNR, we can control feral and stray cat populations, allowing them to live full and healthy lives in their outdoor homes.
If you would like to volunteer for an organization that supports TNR practices, they are always seeking helping hands to control overpopulation. The best way to better understand the process and have your questions answered is to volunteer and gain hands-on experience.
Here are some resources for volunteer opportunities:
Stray Cat Blues, Inc. https://www.straycatblues.org/volunteer
Loudon Community Cat Coalition https://www.loudouncommunitycats.org/tnr-workshops-and-training
NYC Area TNR Organizations https://www.bideawee.org/programs/feral-cat-initiative/get-involved/nyc-tnr-organizations/
Alley Cat Allies website https://www.alleycat.org/
Community Cats and TNR - Fairfax County https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/tnr
Another great place to look is on your local animal shelter's website. Try looking on their Spay and Neuter page to see if they offer TNR resources for community cats.
References
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Alley Cat Allies. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.alleycat.org/our-work/trap-neuter-return/.
Woodstream Corporation. (2020, June 11). The benefits of feral cat TNR programs vs. euthanasia. Havahart. Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.havahart.com/articles/benefits-tnr-programs-euthanasia.
Why Trap-Neuter-Return feral cats? The case for TNR. Alley Cat Allies. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.alleycat.org/resources/why-trap-neuter-return-feral-cats-the-case-for-tnr/.
Cover image by Ellie Burgin: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cute-cat-on-grassy-ground-4612722/.