Dexter's Kitties Inc. on Facebook

Trap-Neuter-Return

 

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a crucial strategy in feline welfare, but it often comes with bittersweet realizations. Picture some adorable (but older) kittens in their colonies – now imagine if they had been rescued just a few weeks earlier. They could have been cuddling in loving homes, living safe, comfortable lives as cherished indoor pets. Instead, they have grown past the ideal socialization window, making adoption a challenge. This is where TNR becomes vital!

 

The next best thing we can do for these outside cats is to fix them, fix them and fix them. 

 

While we can’t turn back time, we can prevent the cats from perpetuating the cycle of unwanted litters. Female kittens start breeding at four months, delivering their first litter at six months; and they often have up to THREE litters a year (typically 4-5 kittens per litter)! Most of the kittens don’t make it in the harsh outdoor elements beyond five weeks, but those that do survive breed and multiply quickly. Unfixed males will fight much more aggressively for food, mates and territory than fixed males. By humanely trapping, neutering, vaccinating and returning feral cats to the environment they know, we not only control the population, but also give these cats a chance at healthier lives.

 

TNR is not the ideal adoption ending we would wish for every cat, but it is our most powerful tool to improve lives and create a more compassionate community for both humans and our feline neighbors.

 

Good to know: A tell sign of a fixed outdoor cat is an ear tip (see picture). This means someone has taken the time to fix this cat. Eartipping is the universal sign of an altered community cat. The tip of the left ear is removed in a straight line cut.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: You can make a difference in the following ways:

 

1)     If you see a homeless cat, consider feeding them to get them used to trusting you and hanging out in a certain area. Most outdoor cats have to hunt, and dig through trashcans to survive where natural settings are becoming more developed. 

 

In conjunction, reach out to your local rescue organizations and try to get the cat trapped and fixed. You may be asked to help monitor the trap and/or transport to the vet and back, but often there is heavy coaching and support. Don’t delay, reach out before that cat has kittens and/or starts fighting.

 

2)     If you see kittens that are big enough to walk on their own steadily, grab them before a predator does. A kitten that lives outside past six weeks is exponentially harder to tame, nurture to health, and find homes for. If you wait too long, many rescues hesitate taking them in because of the increased difficulty to tame and adopt older aged cats. 

 

3)     Donate to your local rescue – help purchase traps, food, and pay for spay and neuter appointments. If you would like to contribute to Dexter's Kitties, please click  here .