Paws of PA

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TNR: WHO IS IT GOOD FOR?

Is TNR Good for Cats?

From the June 2008 edition of Cat Fancy, page 38

Alley Cat Allies (ACA), finding that caregivers often don't find time to keep good records, nevertheless sees that TNR is successful on both objective and subjective levels, and perhaps never more so than when viewing the individual cats of a managed colony. These cats are not scrawny or sickly. As ACA states about TNR, "All of us who have seen happy, health feral cats rolling in the grass, sunning themselves on fences, and trotting purposefully on some mysterious feral cat mission know that this is success of the highest order."

Is TNR Good for the Public?

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as an effective means in which to: (1) improve public health and safety, (2) reduce nuisance behaviors, (3) redirects valuable shelter and/or animal control donation/tax dollars to cruelty issues, (4) save taxpayer money (5) improve neighborhood and constituent relations, (6) reduce nuisance calls; and (7) reduce euthanasia of healthy cats at the shelter.

Most cat-related calls to Animal Control, Police Departments, and Shelters involve complaints regarding mating behaviors displayed by unsterilized cats, including but not limited to:

Yowling, fighting, spraying
Unhealthy and sick kittens
Roaming cats
Cats in gardens, yards
Cats in garbage
Want to "get rid of" the cats (see the Vacuum Effect)

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) has been proven time and time again to be the only viable method which addresses these issues surrounding cats termed as feral. TNR is a full management plan in which cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, ear-tipped, rabies vaccinated, and returned to the location in which they were initially trapped. Ear-tipping is an indication of the cat being sterilized. TNR is the most cost-effective and viable method to reduce the population of feral cats. Feral cats are unsocialized offspring of unsterilized domestic cats. Feral cats, while dependent on humans for food and veterinary care, cannot realistically be tamed and are not suited to living indoors with humans.

Studies show that over 70% of kittens supplied to shelters come from this population via pet intact cats of low-income who roam, become lost and breed these feral cats who continue the cycle. Feral cats are afraid of people and are unadoptable - as such they should never enter the shelter system in the first place.

Benefits of TNR:

An immediate reduction in the mating behaviors is realized after the animal is altered using the method called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
There are deterrents available to discourage cats from entering gardens and yards (see How to Live with Cats in Your Neighborhood and Why do Cats do That?).
To keep cats out of garbage, feed them on a regular schedule. Feeding will ensure they are not starving and will keep them out of your and your neighbor's garbage cans.
It is impossible to "get rid" of the cats much as it would be to eradicate squirrels, birds or turn the sky blue to green. TNR is a management plan.

A recent scientific survey revealed that 81% of Americans - believes that leaving a stray out outside to live out his life is more humane than having the cat caught and killed, even if they knew the cat would die a traumatic death in two years (see What Americans Really Think About Stray Cats). In fact, Americans believe it so much that they have organized nonprofits to address this issue via TNR programs and spay/neuter clinics - of which we are representative. For-profit businesses have begun offering tools to this segment of society - such as drop traps, feral cat shelters, feeding stations, and more. This issue IS a public policy issue.

Additional benefits of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR):

The rodent population in these areas would be out of control if it were not for the cats. In controlling the rodent population, the cats are also halting the spread of disease.
Managed colonies (spayed and neutered cats) also teach compassion for cats, non-violence and tolerance for others, reports Alley Cat Allies, the leading expert on managing feral cats.
Cost-effective
Improves public health
Reduces shelter intake of cats
Reduces shelter euthanasia of healthy cats
No breeding of kittens
A happy neighborhood/community and shelter staff
Reduced stress on shelter staff
Allows more resources to be directed toward serious animal-related issues such as dog fighting, cruelty issues
Public perception of the shelter improves equating to more adoptions, volunteers and donations
Saves money

The majority of callers reporting outdoor cats to animal control and animal shelters are looking for help, not exterminators. Callers can't ask for services that they are not aware exist. Please considering sharing educational materials and information (attached) and online about feral cats and their inability to be adopted as well as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

To begin seeing immediate benefits to your community, please ask your local animal shelter, mayor, township or borough commissioners to change the way phone calls are handled by staff. Staff counseling individuals on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and spay/neuter will spread the word quickly and you and your community will begin reaping the benefits of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). If you would like to view a 16 minute video online from the Humane Society of the United States that is representative of a community's success - a 15+ year old colony in Newburyport, please input the following address into your browser:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/feral_cats/

How You Can Help the Cats

Are You Feeding Stray Cats? Who can't resist the urge to put out a dish of fresh cat food and water for the stray cat that knows you look out the window to see if she is there every night? Scenarios like this are played out day after day in neighborhoods and communities across the country and around the world.

There is nothing wrong with you helping this free-roaming cat. It actually gives you a feeling of accomplishment and fills our human need to care for those whom we deem as less fortunate.
But why is it we feel that we are the only ones who do this? As if we are hiding a deep secret, we are relieved to learn that we are not alone. Many people feed stray cats and provide even more help. Thousands of us work together every day to reduce feline homelessness through Trap, Neuter, Return or TNR.

Why Do These Cats Needs Our Help?

Left unaltered, free-roaming cats continue to reproduce creating more homeless kittens. Through TNR, free-roaming cats live out their lives without adding to the homeless cat population. According to scientific studies, free-roaming cats gain weight and live healthier lives after being altered. TNR programs are proven to stabilize and significantly reduce the size of free-roaming cat colonies. By limiting free-roaming cat populations, fewer unwanted and homeless cats are taken to shelters and euthanized.

Spay / Neuter A Cat or A Colony

If you know of a colony of unaltered free-roaming cats that you would like to manage, check out our resources page for information on locations that loan humane traps. Then start a TNR program. Prior to starting any TNR program, contact neighbors or businesses in the area to let them know of your plans and to insure that any owned cats are kept indoors while you are actively trapping.

Set Up A Feeding Station or Shelter at a Feral Cat Colony

Feeding stations and shelters for free-roaming cats are relatively easy and inexpensive to set up. There are many options available from elaborate buildings to simple plastic bins.

How Can PAWS Help Me Help the Cats?

PAWS offers FREE spay/neuter services for feral/free-roaming cats. Cats receive a basic health exam, rabies vaccination and spay/neuter surgery. We also perform an ear tip to clearly identify the cat as altered in order to avoid future trapping/transport for surgery that is not needed. These services are all offered free of charge although PAWS does accept donations for services provided.

For more information on the PAWS TNR program, click here.

Help PAWS win a $25,000 Grant!

Vote for us at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $25,000 to help pets in need.

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $25,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes - a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.

Think how many animals we could help for $25,000!

Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from September 29 through December 14, 2008. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Vote today!

Visit: www.theanimalrescuesite.com

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