Trap-neuter-return saves lives of feral cats

She showed up in my backyard with her one surviving kitten. They would hide whenever I approached. Back then I didn’t know a lot about cats, but I did know I did not want that mother having any more litters! And then there was the kitten …

So I contacted a friend well-versed in cat welfare, who gave me a crash course on Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR.

According to Alley Cat Allies, an organization dedicated to stopping the breeding of feral cats without killing, Trap-Neuter-Return is an effective and humane way to stabilize feral cat populations. Cats are trapped and taken to a veterinarian, where they are neutered (or spayed) and vaccinated. Kittens and socialized cats (friendly to humans) are placed into loving homes. Healthy, adult feral cats (fearful of human contact) are returned to their colony site, where they are often provided continuing care by volunteers.

Unfortunately, myths of “wild” cats persist.

Why not take trapped cats to the local animal shelter? They’ll tame or humanely euthanize them, which will solve the problem, right?
Wrong. Removing animals from an area may temporarily reduce their number in that given spot, but two things happen: intact (“unfixed”) survivors continue to breed, and other cats move in to take advantage of the newly available resources. They breed prolifically, quickly forming a new colony. This “vacuum effect” is well-documented and is a no-win situation. And feral cats are almost always untamable.

Wild cats kill birds, don’t they?
In fact, humans are to blame for the declining bird species and habitat destruction. An Ohio State University study released this year concludes that urbanization is the chief cause of declining populations of migratory birds. A 2005 study by the U.S. Forest Service estimates that six times more birds are killed annually by flying into buildings and power lines than by cats.

Don’t feral cats spread disease and generally live miserable lives?
Nope. According to ACA, the incidence of disease in feral cat colonies is no higher than among owned cats. They generally live healthy lives and are content in their outdoor “homes.”

The bottom line is that Trap-Neuter-Return works. No more kittens are born. The population stabilizes, and the cats’ lives are improved. The behaviors and stresses associated with mating, such as yowling or fighting, stop. Everyone wins.

So what about my mother and daughter cats? I TNR’d the mom, and she now lives in my garden where I provide food and water daily, along with adequate shelter. Over the past four years, she has allowed me closer to her, but I don’t think I will ever be able to pet her.

Since the kitten was old enough to be weaned, my husband and I decided to adopt her as a companion for our other, older kitten. While it made me sad to separate mother and daughter, I knew it was ultimately the right thing to do.

If you know of cats living outdoors, you can help stop the cycle of feral kitten births. Ask your veterinarian, animal shelter or local rescue groups if they know anyone doing TNR. You can also find all the help you need at the ACA’s Web site, www.alleycat.org. Take it from me: TNR is an extraordinarily satisfying — and lifesaving — experience.