Trap. Neuter. Release. TNR. This is the method of humanely trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies, eartipped for easy identification and then returning them to their colony to live out their lives. TNR also involves a colony caretaker who provides food, adequate shelter and monitors the cats' health. TNR has been shown to be the least costly as well as the most efficient and humane way of stabilizing feral cat populations.
Through TNR, feral cats can live out their lives without adding to the homeless cat population. Furthermore, by stabilizing the population, cats will naturally have more space, shelter and food, and fewer risks of disease. At the same time, nuisance behaviors such as spraying, loud noise and fighting are largely eliminated and no more kittens are born. Yet, the benefit of natural rodent control is continued. TNR also helps the community's animal welfare resources by reducing the number of kittens that would end up in their shelter, lowering shelter kill rates and creating more space for the cats and kittens who come to them from other avenues. If feral cats are sterilized and live in a colony that has a caretaker, their life span may reach more than ten years.
Studies have proven that trap-neuter-release is the single most successful method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies with the least possible cost to local governments and residents, while providing the best life for the animals themselves. And as this cat overpopulation problem was created by humans, don't we owe it to the felines to solve it in the most humane way? This service is provided to the community at no cost by licensed veterinarians and volunteers with one goal in mind: reducing the enormous number of homeless, unwanted cats.
SPAYING/NEUTERING HOMELESS CATS:
- Stabilizes the population at manageable levels.
- Eliminates annoying behaviors associated with mating like yowling and spraying
- Is humane to the animals and fosters compassion in the neighborhoods.
- Cuts down on fighting and transference of diseases
- Is more effective and less costly than repeated attempts at extermination
- Cats live longer healthier lives
WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THE CATS IN MY COMMUNITY?
Fill out our TNR Application. With your assistance we will work together to get the cats in your area spayed/neutered at no cost to you.
and the Feral Cat
So, what exactly is a feral cat? Feral cats are homeless cats, the wild offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrollex d. Many of them were born in the wild; others are pets who were abandoned or have become lost. As pack animals, feral cats tend to live in colonies which can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and backyards. These cats are elusive and do not trust humans so trying to socialize a feral cat is not always possible, and not always in the best interest of the cat. What is in their best interest is having them spayed or neutered, ending the cycle of reproduction which is the most harmful element affecting homeless cats in our communities. A pair of breeding cats can have two or more litters per year, which can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period. And this overpopulation problem carries a hefty price tag. In Los Angeles over 10,000 cats are killed in city shelters every year. Statewide, more than $50 million is spent by animal control agencies and shelters for overpopulation expenses which is why Los Angeles has a mandatory spay neuter law in place. For a list of free and low cost spay/neuter services click here.
Currently the city of Los Angeles uses the unsuccessful and heartbreaking trap and kill method when it comes to feral cats. The current 'catch and kill' method, where animal control picks up feral cats and euthanizes them is a method with little gains to show. Millions of cats die in U.S. animal control pounds and shelters every year. The pounds and shelters say these animals are "euthanized." But true euthanization is only when an animal is terminally ill or untreatably injured -- these animals are killed. This is unacceptable. Feral cats have a right to live. Aside from this fundamental point, statistics have proven that it costs more to trap and euthanize cats than it does to trap and sterilize them. SO what to do? Kitty Bungalow practices TNR.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
