TNR

I've been managing a colony of ferals. Two years ago I was able to TNR all but two in the colony. But within three months all the cats we "fixed" disappeared. Of course we missed a male and female so they continued to breed. Their numbers do rise in the summer but eventually returns to about 8-10. I've been afraid to TNR any more because they disappear. A few have become friendly with us but generally fear strange people. Has anyone else noticed this? Is TNR making them less able to care for themselves in the wild?

mmkoplin said:

I've been managing a colony of ferals. Two years ago I was able to TNR all but two in the colony. But within three months all the cats we "fixed" disappeared. Of course we missed a male and female so they continued to breed. Their numbers do rise in the summer but eventually returns to about 8-10. I've been afraid to TNR any more because they disappear. A few have become friendly with us but generally fear strange people. Has anyone else noticed this? Is TNR making them less able to care for themselves in the wild?

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I have had a few that have not returned after TNR.  Yet TNR should not be stopped as you really need to stop the breeding.  Some of the cats are very traumatized by the experience so they do not return.  I do believe they find an alternate food source.  Some of the cats also may have multiple locations where they hide out and eat.  Please do not stop the TNR process. 

Just because the cats don't return it doesn't mean they are less able to care for themselves.  It just means they chose not to return and move along.  TNR is the best you can do with the cats or soon you will be over run with cats.  It is also very difficult for cats to continue having litter after litter.  Please continue TNR.

One thing that happens is that cats may become friendlier after being spayed/neutered so they might start hanging around someone's house and eventually get adopted as a pet. So sometimes it's a good thing when they "disappear". True ferals are also pretty mobile and some of them will move from neighborhood to neighborhood. But they still aren't reproducing, wherever they go! So it's a good thing to TNR, even if "your" ferals don't stick around all the time.

Being spayed/neutered doesn't affect their ability to take care of themselves. They actually do a lot better when they don't have mating, territorial concerns, or babies to worry about.