What is Trap Neuter Return?
What is T-N-R?
Unowned cats, who typically live together in a group called a colony, are trapped and brought to a veterinary clinic to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and eartipped. After they have recovered from their surgeries, the cats are returned back to their original territory where a caregiver provides regular food and water.
Other terms for an unowned cat include: feral, stray, community cat.
What is an ear tip?
Eartipping is an effective and universally accepted method to identify a spayed or neutered cat. It is the removal of the distal one-quarter of a cat's left ear. This procedure is performed under sterile conditions while the cat is already anesthetized for spay or neuter surgery. Although tipping the left ear is the most common and clearly identifiable, some vets will tip the right ear or notch the ear. It is important to examine the ears of any cats that have been trapped to ensure they have not already been spayed or neutered.
TNR benefits
TNR is the humane and effective alternative to euthanizing unowned cats. Scientific studies show that trap-neuter-return improves the lives of unowned cats, improves their relationships with the people who live near them, and decreases the size of colonies over time.
TNR helps to stop the breeding cycle altogether, and therefore improves their lives while preventing reproduction. TNR relieves cats of the constant stresses of mating and pregnancy. Mating behaviors cease, like roaming, yowling, spraying, and fighting.
What To Do If You Find A Litter Of Kittens
At a glance
We know you may be worried that the kittens have been abandoned, but that may not be the case.
It’s possible that the mother will be returning soon and has left briefly to find food to feed herself and her litter.
Unless the kittens are in immediate danger, and you cannot be sure if they have been dumped or abandoned, don’t do anything yet. Wait and watch from a safe distance for 3 to 4 hours to see if the mother cat returns. The best place for kittens is with their mother, who is best equipped to care for her family unless the kittens are in imminent danger or distress.
- Cared for kittens should appear clean, content and well-fed
- Abandoned or orphaned kittens may look dirty, hungry, sickly and cry
- Don’t take abandoned or orphaned kittens to a shelter unless you know they can care for neonates (under four weeks).
- Kittens who have been abandoned or orphaned will need to be bottle-fed around the clock for the first five weeks when they start to wean
