PET TALK The benefits of community Trap-Neuter-Return programs for unowned cats

Although neighborhood cats may seem like a fun, charming presence, unowned cat populations have been criticized for causing harm to a community and its environment.

Without proper management, stray cat populations can rise rapidly, leading to concerns about predation, disease and public nuisance.

That’s why it’s important to control unowned cat populations in a sustainable and humane way.

Trap-Neuter-Return is a process where stray cats are humanely trapped and brought to a veterinary clinic to be neutered or spayed. Afterward, the cats are returned to where they were trapped.

“TNR is the only humane, evidence-based, effective method to control unowned cat populations that live outdoors,” said Dr. Amanda Blake, an associate research scientist in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS). “It stops the breeding cycle and, in turn, addresses many community concerns, like disease spread, fighting, spraying and yowling.”

Blake and VMBS assistant professor Dr. Sue Yee Lim discuss the importance of TNR and what the community can do to help control unowned cat populations.

Why TNR?

TNR has proven to be more effective than traditional animal control methods because by stopping the breeding cycle, the approach also reduces shelter intake while improving the overall health of an unowned cat colony.

“Simply removing feral cats from their stable environment will only create the vacuum effect,” Lim said. “With plenty of natural food sources and no competition, new cats will come into the community, continuing the cycle.”

Instead, when unowned cats are humanely trapped and brought to veterinary clinics for a spay or neutering procedure, they also can be examined under anesthesia, treated for minor wounds and vaccinated against rabies, feline leukemia virus and feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. Vaccinating cats builds immunity against common feline diseases and protects the entire colony.

“Health benefits of TNR are numerous to the cats,” Blake said. “This includes decreased fighting and injuries as well as a decrease in diseases associated with reproduction and cancers.”

Veterinarians caring for these feral or unowned animals will often clip one tip of the cat’s ear, which acts as a universal sign that shows the cat is spayed or neutered. After the cat is fully alert and has recovered from anesthesia, it is typically released back to its original location within 24 to 48 hours.

A collective effort

The success of TNR heavily relies on community members’ cooperation with the protocols, according to Lim and Blake. 

As such, it’s important for community members to educate themselves on TNR. This includes understanding that they should not:

• Place large amounts of food out and leave it unmonitored
• Feed cats without the intention of TNR
• Bring feral cats to shelters

Instead, community cat caregivers should only place enough food that can be consumed in a 30-minute period. This will help prevent unwanted animals, like raccoons or skunks, from being attracted to the area and will help the caregiver monitor the TNR colony and account for newcomers.

Tips for trap training cats for TNR

In order to humanely trap unowned cats, community members can place food inside traps that are secured in the open position at the same time each day to “trap train” them. This helps avoid scaring the cat and, overall, encourages them to keep returning to the trap.

“This is an excellent way to get them used to that experience so that when you are able to secure an appointment for TNR, it almost guarantees the cats will go into the traps,” Blake said. “Toys — like laser pointers and wand toys — are also useful for bonding moments with them. Earning their trust can take patience and time, but it feels so special when they warm up to you.”

If a mother cat has kittens with her, it is important to assess the health and age of the kittens before trapping her. If the kittens are 2 to 3 months old, trapping the mother is safe. Kittens in need of medical care should also be trapped so they can receive treatment.

Once treated, cats should be returned to their environment where they were trapped.

“Neutered cats returning to their natural environment where they are used to are less likely to run away,” Lim said. “They are able to fend for themselves and remain as a stable population, preventing the influx of other stray cats.”

In the know

Successful TNR programs require significant funding and volunteer support. The largest costs are surgical supplies, medications and trapping materials.

“Most volunteers start at a place of kindness and compassion and then end up being overwhelmed by the high surgical and operational costs,” Lim said. “We need volunteers to trap cats humanely and safely, and we also need volunteer veterinarians who are willing to help these cats. We should have community efforts that will fund the TNR endeavors so that the financial burden of TNR does not fall on the shoulders of compassionate community members.”

While there are many aspects to successful TNR programs, one of the most important steps people can take is to educate themselves on how TNR can play a role in their communities.

“The problem of feral cats is here to stay, and we must find a sustainable partnership between stakeholders,” Lim said. “If we are able to provide information in a manner that is easy to understand and provide people with resources, we will be able to tackle this issue holistically.”

While TNR programs can be costly, complex and heavily dependent on community support, they prove to be the most effective and humane way to stabilize unowned outdoor cat populations. By stopping the breeding cycle and improving colony health conditions, TNR offers a caring solution to overpopulation and the concerns that come with it.

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Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to [email protected].