Starting a TNR?

[Argentin]

Hello everyone!

I live in a fairly rural area. Most people around me have dogs, but apparently there is a large stray cat community. We found a stray 3 years ago up a tree, he was only partly feral and adjusted very quickly but refused to be an indoor cat. Pretty sure he is Norwegian Forest cat mix. Will post photos sometime to see what everyone here thinks cause I'm curious.

Then we found a kitten last month on our front porch. Starving lil guy. I think I've seen his mother and siblings when driving home. Is it possible to start a small scale TNR in my area to try to prevent more starving kitties showing up on my porch? I just feel so bad, I want to catch (and keep) his siblings but our house is too small and we can probably only afford one more spoiled cat lol.

 

[fionasmom]

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)

Organize your Community for Neighborhood TNR

How to Implement an Organizational Trap-Neuter-Return Program

This is a very lovely idea on your part and there are numerous online resources. Alley Cat Allies, who operate one of the largest TNR programs in the country, are the sources above. They are very explicit in their steps and directions, but it does not have to be overwhelming. There are numerous other sources online, too.

You might want to see if anyone in a general area nearby is doing anything, in which case you could join in or help.

The basics you will need will be access to a vet or a low cost spay/neuter clinic where the cats can be taken. If there is not one, you might approach a local vet to see if they will work with you for a reduced cost. Traps, of course, and instructions on how to use and hold the cats (which you already may know), some kind of organized transportation, and people who will help you.

If you intend to trap and fix cats who come onto your property, which is basically what a lot of us do without running an actual TNR operation, that will work, too. You will still be filling a great need and preventing a huge number of unwanted kittens from being born.

 

[Norachan]

Yes, absolutely. That's a great idea.

Have you Googled TNR groups in your area to see if they can give you some advice or help you start off? They might do courses on how to TNR, lend traps or be able to put you in touch with some low cost feral friendly vets.

 

[di and bob]

Yes, it would be a GREAT idea, to prevent more suffering. The TNR'd cats prevent others from moving in too. I have done this a lot now, even spayed the neighbors cats after asking repeatedly to have him do it because of all the kittens coming over starving. The cheapest traps I have found are at Tractor Supply if you have one around, or a farm supply store. They were 29.99 for a large and a small trap a two years ago. Talk to the vets in your area and see what their 'volume discount' would be, they always take some off. The bigger city near us has a TNR program and a couple of times a year had huge discounts on spaying /neutering. When I got down to just a couple of cats left to do, I used the old string on a bottle holding the door open' trick, to be selective when I trapped them, it was amazing how many went right back into the trap after being spayed! ALL THE LUCK!

 

[allmykitties]

Yes--I called mine the "Starfish TNR" in my head (referencing the Starfish Story) since I knew that I wasn't going to really make a huge dent in the problem (there is a part of town near the interstate full of fast food restaurants and there is a huge colony living near the dumpsters), but I could handle the tiny colony that was forming between my house and my next-door-neighbor's house (we are in town, but in a rural county in southern IL).

My Tiny TNR Project

I concentrated on the females and the two surviving kittens when I started (they are now happy housecats as they are approaching their 3rd birthdays this year).