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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is TNR?
TNR stands for Trap, Neuter, Release. This is the most
effective and safest way to help feral cats. The cat(s)
needs to be trapped since feral (wild) cats can not
and do not want to be touched. Next, the cat(s) are
spayed (female) or neutered (male) at a Veterinarians
office. Lastly, the cat(s) are returned to the same
location and given shelter and food by a caregiver.
TNR is much more effective in reducing the homeless
cat population compared to euthanizing. Permanently
removing the cats from a particular site will create
a vacuum effect; bring in more cats once the first round
is removed. TNR will reduce the colony and keep the
number of cats healthy and reduce the number of cats
since they are not able to reproduce.
2. I have a cat in my yard that
I feed but I can’t touch it, what
should I do?
You will need to trap the cat, bring him/her to a local
participating Vet who will spay/neuter a feral (wild)
cat and release the cat back into your yard and continue
to feed it. This process is known as TNR (Trap, Neuter,
Return). TAILS can lend you a trap and show you how
to use it as well direct you to a local Vet.
3. There’s a mom cat and
kittens living under my porch, what should
I do?
The kittens need to remain
with their mother for 8 weeks. Once the
kittens are 8 weeks old and are able
to eat solid food, you will need to take
the kittens and get them adopted through
a local Vet, shelter, friends, etc. Once
the kittens have been away from the mom
cat for a day or two, you will need to
bring the mom cat to a Vet to get spayed.
The reason you wait a day or two before
bring the cat to be spayed is so her
milk can dry up before she gets spayed.
Once she is spayed and has had at least
24 hours to recover in a safe, enclosed
space, you will need to release her back
under your porch or in your yard. It’s
very important that you continue to feed
the cat and be her caregiver.
4. I have cats in my yard that are
always making noise and getting into fights,
what should I do?
Male cats stake their
territory by “spraying” and
female cats will howl & cry when they are in heat
to attract the males. The only way to stop
this behavior is to spay and neuter all the cats. You
will have to do TNR (trap, neuter, return) on the colony
of cats but this can be done one cat at a time or two
at a time, etc. You will need to come up with a plan
with your Vet to see how many cats they are able to
see at a time and are comfortable doing. You can call
TAILS to borrow a trap and get a listing of local Vets
in your area.
I have a cat that comes around my house
but the tip of his ear is missing, what
does this mean?
When a feral (wild) cat has been spayed or neutered,
the tip of his/her ear is notched. This is known as
an “ear notch” or “tipped ear”.
This indicates that this particle cat has already been
spayed or neutered so that the cat is not trapped and
brought to the Vet for a procedure that has already
been done.
5. I have a cat(s) in my yard and
I want them removed, what should I do?
Do not call TAILS, we are a spay/neuter group only
and do not have a shelter of any kind. TAILS will only
give assistance if the cats can go back to the same
location and have a caregiver who can monitor the cat(s)
and feed them on a daily basis. You will have to contact
your local Animal Control Officer for further assistance.
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