TNR overview or link please

I have a friend with a stray she needs to neuter. 

This is not something I have experience with.. could someone please point me to the best info on how to entice him into a carrier?

Alley Cat Allies is the premiere organization in the USA for feral cats and trapping cats.

This is a link to how to trap feral cats.

If the cat is kind of friendly (i.e., previously owned by a human), your friend may be able to lure him into a cat carrier with some good tasty smelly food.

If you give more information about the circumstances, we can offer more detailed hints, tips, instructions. 

He's not feral... she refers to him as 'her stray', and she feeds him regularly.  I've talked her into getting him neutered, now she just needs to work out how to go about it.  I know she can't just pick him up and put him in a carrier.

I'll email her and ask her exactly what the situation is.

OK.. this is what she says:

Blackey the stray just hangs around our place. He's usually under a bush or a hedge somewhere & comes out when it's mealtime.

We can pat him sometimes but usually only when putting the food out. He doesn't like any sudden moves. His claws are very sharp!

Before she does anything, she'll need to contact the closest rescue site (I found this http://www.catrescue.com.au/  and this http://www.moggies.com.au/  on google).  She has to start there and find out what her neutering options are.  Of course, if she can afford it, she can go through her regular vet but that can be expensive!

The rescue organizations are good for information and support and may be able to lend her a trap or otherwise help her when it comes times to get him into the carrier.  If she has a big enough carrier, she can feed him inside it for a week or so before the neutering appointment.  Same can be down with the trap, if she uses that.

She will need a room ( a spare bathroom is ideal) to use for him to recuperate.  Males usually only need 12-18 hours after surgery but if she has any plans to bring him inside, this will be a good chance to assess the chances for that.

In the US, neutering is usually accompanied by rabies and distemper shots.  I also always get combo testing to make sure I know what I'm getting into and my rescue group's clinic offers ear treatment, antibiotics and/or worming if requested.  They are not cheap but the cat walks away from me in relatively good health!  At a minimum, I would recommend the rabies and distemper shots.

Tell her that Blackey will calm down after the neutering and she may be surprised at how much more friendly he becomes.  As he gets used to regular meals and interactions, he may turn out to be a very nice pet.

Hope this helps!

I agree with Ondine.

Your friend will probably need a humane trap; she should refrain from feeding Blackey for at least 24 hours to make sure he is good and hungry--better chance that he'll go in the trap.

Depending on what diseases there are in Australia, Blackey should be dewormed and possibly tested for FIV/FeLK (the latter ONLY if she plans on trying to make Blackey a house pet and if she has other cats).  And perhaps vaccinated against Feline Chalmydia and cold-type/flu viruses.

Thanks you two.. I'll copy and paste your replies into an email for her (she's not big on forums).

She treats Blackey as 'her stray' and will cover all the costs.

We don't need rabies shots over here, but she has a good vet and I'm sure they'll cover all the bases.  I'll give her the info to be sure.

I'm so glad she's finally doing this!

Yeah, no reason to make it complicated. She can just start feeding him in the carrier, and then when she's ready, simply close the door. She should make sure her vet is OK with handling scared, semi-feral cats---some vets are oddly not OK with this (you would think any vet should be able to handle a scared cat. . .but evidently not). having the vet apply some Revolution while he's out would take care of any ear mites, worms, and fleas.

Thanks, Willowy.. I sent that info on.

Willowy said:

Yeah, no reason to make it complicated. She can just start feeding him in the carrier, and then when she's ready, simply close the door. .

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Absolutely. Especially if you can "pat" this cat while it eats. I can't tell you how many barn ferals over the years I have caught this way. I set up a crate and only feed them in the crate. Since they are already used to my presence while they eat, it makes it so simple. I prop open the door for a few days with a rock to secure the door. On vet day, I take the rock away first, then put in the food, the cat goes right in and I quietly close the door. Very, very easy this way with a cat who is already used to you being near during meals. Good luck with Blackey!!!