TNR – A Humane Solution to the Cat Overpopulation

Each year the shelters are overrun with cats in need of a loving home. Unfortunately, due to space and such, more cats are euthanized than adopted. The actual number of these yearly euthanizations varies from source to source, but it is my opinion that 1 cat being euthanized due to overpopulation is 1 cat too many. So, what can be done about this problem? The most humane way to help curb the community cat overpopulation is through Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR).

What is TNR?

Trap, Neuter & Return, or TNR, is a program where cats are trapped, taken to a local spay/neuter clinic to be seen by a vet where they are spayed or neutered, given vaccinations and an ear-tip (which is the universal sign that a community cat has been fixed and vaccinated) and then returned back to their outside home. This is a program that truly works. Not only does it help with overpopulation, but it also helps provide these community cats with needed vaccinations and care that will allow them to live a safe and healthy life outdoors.

Without TNR, the community cat overpopulation will get out of control. Even with the number of cats that are euthanized each year, if we don’t get to the root of the problem, unfixed cats, we will never get on top of this problem. Without a TNR program, so many cats die an unnecessary death that could be avoided. Without a TNR program, so many kittens are born on the streets, with many of them succumbing to dangers that accompany a street life. Kitten Season is a real thing and without TNR programs, the vicious cycle continues.

My Personal TNR Story

For me, TNR is extremely important. I witnessed first-hand just how quickly one cat can turn into 20. Back in 2016, a little stray mommy cat showed up at my house. Of course, I fed her. She gave birth to 4 kittens shortly after. Once weaned, she brought them to me for feedings, she disappeared. Towards the end of 2016/beginning of 2017, one of the female kittens gave birth to 4 kittens. In the fall of 2017, the other female gave birth to 3 kittens.

Things were starting to get out of control. One cat had turned into 11 in a little over a year. Luckily, I learned about Feral Cat Assistance Program (FCAP), a local TNR program in my area. I took their trap class where they taught me how trap the cats, along with post-surgery care. Each month I started trapping and bringing my cats to their monthly spay/neuter clinics. I was starting to get a handle of my little cat colony.

And then on a cold, rainy day in April of 2018, I was trying to trap the last 2 females in the colony. But they had other plans. Both of them gave birth within an hour apart. One had 7 kittens, the other had 4. So, now my number jumped from 11 to 22. In just under 2 years, 1 stray female turned into 22 cats. It was such an eye-opening experience. I knew I had to help be a part of the solution to this world-wide problem.

TNR Advocate

I started volunteering each month with FCAP at their clinics. It is hard work, both physically and emotionally. Seeing these poor cats, who did not ask to be born into this cruel world, suffering from disease and injuries. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see kittens come in with eye infections so severe that they will need to have surgery to remove the infected eye. The worst, for me, is to see sweet and friendly cats come in and knowing that they will have to be returned back to their outside home because rescues are full to the capacity and have no room for more cats. Fostering is another part of this equation and Thursday’s article will talk about how you can foster and help save cats.

I have been volunteering with FCAP for almost 4 years now. I started teaching trap class over a year. It warms my heart to see new people each month in our trap class. We have a dedicated group of trappers who work tirelessly to trap colonies around our area. We are a small group, but we are mighty, and we are on a mission to help improve the lives of feral cats.

In a Perfect World…

I would love to see us, as a nation, to get ahead of the community cat overpopulation. We are getting better. There has been a shift in mentality about these cats. A more humane approach to helping community cats is being put into action with TNR programs. It is a start in the right direction. And one that I hope continues to grow stronger.

Interested in learning more about TNR and what you can do to help community cats in your area, you can check out North Shore Animal League. You can enter your Zip Code to find local TNR programs, along with information about starting your own TNR program. Please keep in mind that if you feed them, you should fix them. There are a lot more resources out there to help those in need. Please seek them out.

“Until someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Dr. Seuss