My city has a trap, fix, and release program (free) for feral cats that I have recently started doing. My question is....Is this really the humane thing to do I have mixed feelings about this and I was hoping you all could ease my conscience. I am a huge cat lover and wish I could keep and domesticate these cats but there are so many out there.......am I doing the right thing by letting them go back in to the wild to fend for themselves?
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Feral cats - trap fix release program
- Thread starter ltlteror
- Start Date
Yes, it is the right thing to do. Very good your City Fathers has the wisdom to realize it, and even - pay for it. 
These cats we do talk about has already survived on their own, so we KNOW they do manage outside. Otherwise they wouldnt be here, they would already had perished.
So, although it is a terrible sin to dump a home cat, it is no sin at all to return such a proven survivor, a veteran of life outside.
And being neutered/spayed, their life gets easier in many ways. So also the survival gets easier.
They also get easier to adopt for spontan adopters later on.
Besides, such TNR:ed cats usually do get some help henceafter, with food, some surveillance if somebody get sick, some protection...
Kittens and apparently tame cats are usually adopted in well carried TNR:s programmes.
Now, if the resources were unlimited, we could surely foster and adopt most of these cats. Practically all of them. But we do have seldom or never such resources. So we try to foster these we can foster, and return the rest.
Believe me, Itlteror, you ARE doing The Right Thing.
Good luck!
Welcome to our Forums!
These cats we do talk about has already survived on their own, so we KNOW they do manage outside. Otherwise they wouldnt be here, they would already had perished.
So, although it is a terrible sin to dump a home cat, it is no sin at all to return such a proven survivor, a veteran of life outside.
And being neutered/spayed, their life gets easier in many ways. So also the survival gets easier.
They also get easier to adopt for spontan adopters later on.
Besides, such TNR:ed cats usually do get some help henceafter, with food, some surveillance if somebody get sick, some protection...
Kittens and apparently tame cats are usually adopted in well carried TNR:s programmes.
Now, if the resources were unlimited, we could surely foster and adopt most of these cats. Practically all of them. But we do have seldom or never such resources. So we try to foster these we can foster, and return the rest.
Believe me, Itlteror, you ARE doing The Right Thing.
Good luck!
Welcome to our Forums!
of course it is ideal to find homes for a feral cat to be socialized, but those are few and far between. given what the alternative to tnr is for these cats - certain death - tnr is without a doubt the ideal answer.
to me this really sums up why tnr is so important -
"Well-intentioned people argue that it is our humane responsibility to kill feral (cats) kindly, rather than let them face the rigors and perils of an uncertain future. When I observe a recently caught feral cat...I see a being not altogether unlike myself. If I were that feral (cat) - facing an immediate...death, or a chance at life - replete with all the perilous uncertainties it holds - I would choose life. And so for these feral (cats), I can choose no less." - Cole McFarland, Jr.
to me this really sums up why tnr is so important -
"Well-intentioned people argue that it is our humane responsibility to kill feral (cats) kindly, rather than let them face the rigors and perils of an uncertain future. When I observe a recently caught feral cat...I see a being not altogether unlike myself. If I were that feral (cat) - facing an immediate...death, or a chance at life - replete with all the perilous uncertainties it holds - I would choose life. And so for these feral (cats), I can choose no less." - Cole McFarland, Jr.
GOOD FOR YOU! And thank you for taking an interest in helping control the feral cat population. These cats will be much better off sterilized fending for themselves than being intact, breeding, fighting etc. They will be much healthier even if they still have to survive on their own without a caretaker. Do what you can for some but IMO it is always best to trap as many feral cats as you can and just release them back. They survived before you and will survive (and thrive) after you release them. I think about all of the feral kittens I am saving by not having to be born into such a cold, harsh and uncertain life filled with many dangers and diseases. 
and a big 
for all you are doing. 
and a big for all you are doing. - Joined
- May 20, 2013
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I live in moreno valley, ca and am currently caring for a good size group of feral AND unsteralized cats. I can't afford to pay to get them all fixed. My friend told me the ASPCA in san bernardino does it for free. I would appreciate any info anyone has on what I can do to help these poor cats. I currently have a mom w/ 5 kittens in my room and know of 2 other moms that had litters but don't know where they are. I have 2-3 other females currently pregnant so you can see how my "helping" them by giving them food has kinda backfired because the group will soon be doubled. I don't have the $ the fix them and soon won't have the $ to continue to feed them all. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.
Call the ASPCA in San Bernadino, and every other animal welfare organization within your preferred driving distance. Ask about volunteers to help you transport the cats, borrowing carriers/traps/etc., and other details. California has a lot of good animal welfare programs so i'm sure you can find someone to help
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