What Is TNR & Why Does It Work?
What Is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)?
The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) states that the method of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane and effective way to manage cat colonies. FCA has adopted this method to handle stray cat & dog populations in Culebra.
Trap-Neuter-Return is successfully practiced in hundreds of communities. Now in practice for decades in the US after being proven in Europe, scientific studies show that Trap-Neuter-Return improves the lives of feral cats, improves their relationships with the people who live near them, and decreases the size of colonies over time.
Free-roaming cats are humanely trapped by FCA volunteers & sterilized by participating vets. After recovery, the cats are returned to the place where they were living. Cats that are friendly and comfortable with humans may enter our adoption program after being sterilized and vaccinated. It is important to have all of the cat colonies sterilized in order to prevent any unwanted breeding of cats.
TNR is an alternative to other programs that aim to control free-roaming cat populations, such as trap-and-kill programs and relocation, Sadly, many communities still opt to control populations of cats using old methods like euthanasia and poisoning. These methods are cruel and ineffective.
The goal of TNR is to reduce unnecessary cat suffering, death, and euthanasia and to reduce undesirable behaviors associated with unsterilized, unowned cats. TNR is more humane and beneficial than trapping and euthanizing cats, relocating them, or doing nothing.
Reasons To Support It
Through TNR, cats can live their lives without adding to the homeless cat population. After being spayed or neutered, cats living in colonies tend to gain weight and have a healthier life. Neutered cats are less likely to develop certain cancers, and neutered male cats also reduce the risk of injury and infection, because they have a lower instinct to fight with other cats
Colonies that are involved in TNR diminish in size over time. It quickly stabilizes feral cat populations by instantly ending reproduction and by removing socialized cats from the colony. Mating behaviors cease, like roaming, yowling, spraying, and fighting. Cats tend to roam less after neutering, which is beneficial for their safety and reduces conflict with neighbors. Spaying also means that cats do not go into heat and no other cats are attracted to the area. With decreased competition for mating, animals are also less likely to suffer injuries as they are more affectionate towards each other after neutering, spending more time in groups and fighting less. Animals become better neighbors. Studies confirm that once TNR stops reproduction, and therefore mating behaviors, the animals’ relationship with residents improves. Colonies become quieter as behaviors like yowling, barking and fighting stop, calls to authorities decrease significantly, and community morale improves.
If cats are sterilized and live in a colony that has a caretaker, their quality of life and lifetime are improved because they have greater protection of space and food, and are less at risk for disease.
Attempts to permanently remove animals from an area always fail because of a natural and scientifically-documented phenomenon known as the vacuum effect. In basic terms, whenever animals are removed, new ones move in, or the surviving ones left behind, breed to capacity. As a result of the vacuum effect, other approaches to feral strays are not only cruel and pointless, they are also completely ineffective at stabilizing populations.
While relocation sometimes seems like an attractive option, relocation is also ineffective for the same reasons: it puts the vacuum effect into motion. It also endangers animals lives and causes them undue stress and suffering. Even in the best case scenarios, relocation can be very dangerous for strays and ineffective. Relocation is stressful and since community animals are not socialized to people they can be unpredictable. Community strays bond to their outdoor homes and will try to go back. Some animals have died in the process, when people misguidedly believe that their life will be better someplace else.
Trap-Neuter-Return also creates opportunities for outreach, education, and cooperation. Trap-Neuter-Return does more than just produce immediate results and boost the cats’ public image. Usually, neighbors are relieved just to learn that something is being done to stabilize the cat population. Caregivers can also take further steps to address concerns, such as constructing discreet feeding stations to gradually move cats out of areas they are not wanted. Animals living in a neighborhood will be there whether they are cared for or not. Trap-Neuter-Return establishes a point of contact for concerns about the cats and for resolving any community concerns.
With Trap-Neuter-Return, FCA help stabilize the population humanely, improve animals’ lives, address neighbors’ concerns, and help the entire community reach a solution that benefits everyone.
What Is The Ear Clip For & Why Is It Important?
The ear clip is a widely accepted means of marking a stray cat that has been spayed or neutered - also often identified as part of a colony of care. The ear clip is a humane surgical removal of 1/4 of the tip of the left ear. The procedure is performed by a licensed veterinarian, usually in the same operation when the cat is spayed or neutered. The ear clip is especially important since it prevents the stress of a re-capture of an already spayed or neutered cat, and more importantly, an unnecessary surgery.
How To Help
FCA also needs volunteers who can care for these colonies, assisting with food and keeping an eye on the health of the cats.
If you know of a colony of feral cats and want to help, reach out to ask for assistance. Trapping young kittens/puppies and volunteering to foster and socialize them so they can be adopted out is also an excellent way to help community cats/dogs in your area. If a colony has no caregiver, you might also wish to volunteer your time to feed the cats, keep an eye on the cats’ health and undertake other tasks of colony management.
FCA always welcomes more volunteers to help with all these efforts!
