TNR: Trap, Neuter, Return

Kittens at the Animal Adoption Center of Blount County. Photo by Kristin Yarbrough — Yes, these kittens at the Blount County shelter are adorable — but will they find homes? Will there be space in the shelter for all of the cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies brought in? By sharing low-cost spay/neuter options and by sterilizing your animals and your community's resident cats, you help save lives.

how to help feral & friendly community cats

Trap, neuter, return (TNR) is the only effective and humane method of stabilizing populations of feral and friendly community cats. Healthy adult cats are sterilized, vaccinated against rabies, ear-tipped, and returned to the location at which they were found. The cats' good condition is evidence that they already have food and shelter and are likely to continue thriving; and sterilization is healthy, reduces undesirable behaviors like yowling and fighting, and of course, ends reproduction.

Catch and kill approaches do not work because of what is called the vacuum effect, in which more kittens are born and more cats move in to take advantage of the food available in a community. Catch and kill is cruel, ineffective, and a waste of tax dollars.

TNR stabilizes cat populations by preventing new kittens from being born, saving tax dollars and lives. For a thorough explanation of TNR, see Alley Cat Allies' guide, and this keynote address by Dr. Kate Hurley is worth watching in its entirety.

Reduced-cost spay/neuter for feral and community cats is available through Alabama Spay Neuter in Irondale. Make an appointment for the cats hanging around your house. Transportation is available from Oneonta and other areas for $8.
For help with costs, your county's shelter (Animal Adoption Center of Blount County or Pell City Animal Control Center in St. Clair) may be able to contribute.
Traps can be borrowed from Blount County's shelter and Alabama Spay Neuter, or purchased from Tractor Supply and other retailers. Alley Cat Allies provides recommendations and guidance on traps.

If you need assistance with trapping, transport, or expenses, please ask your neighbors, request help on Facebook local groups, etc. With TNR, cats can live healthy lives in your community.