Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return

Many people assume that the quick solution of removing feral cats will make everything better. Yet eradication programs have proven to be ineffective because new cats just move in. Trying to simply remove feral cats from their territory – whether to trap and kill, euthanize, rescue, relocate to another site or place in a sanctuary – does not lower the number of feral cats. New cats replace the old ones and nothing much changes in terms of overpopulation and nuisance behavior. There is something about the location that brought the original cats there that will keep bringing more cats to the location, whether it is shelter or food source. This pattern is termed the vacuum effect.

Leaving the cats where they are and spaying or neutering them through TNVR is the only hope for improvement. Sterilizing the cats breaks the reproductive cycle and the combination of sterilization and attrition can gradually lead to a reduced population.

Benefits of Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return (TNVR) Programs:

• TNVR programs stabilize feral/free-roaming cat populations by ending reproduction. The population will eventually decline.

• The nuisance behavior often associated with feral and free-roaming cats is dramatically reduced; including the yowling and fighting that come with mating activity and the odor of unneutered males spraying to mark their territory. Noise of cats fighting over mating rights is eradicated. Male urine spray smells are eliminated.

• Calls to authorities about cats decrease significantly and community morale improves.

• TNVR improves cats’ lives. Cats live healthier, more peaceful lives after TNVR.

• TNVR protects cats’ lives. Nearly 100% of feral cats entering shelters are killed because they cannot be adopted.

• TNVR stops wasteful spending. Catching and killing cats has been a futile effort used by animal control and shelters across the country for decades. Continuing an approach that is clearly not working is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

• Public health benefits of maintaining healthy, neutered, rabies-vaccinated feral cats in their environment through TNVR far outweigh any possible public health threats.

TNVR stabilizes the population, results in lower animal control costs, taxpayer dollars, reduces nuisance complaints by residents, addresses neighbor concerns, alleviates public health concerns, improves the cats’ lives, saves and helps the entire community reach a solution that benefits everyone. Support of TNVR, along with an aggressive public education program emphasizing the benefits of spaying and neutering, is critical in the effort to stem the feral and free-roaming cat populations.

For long-term success, TNVR must be a collaborative effort. Collaboration is especially important when TNVR is practiced on a community wide scale. Members of the local animal welfare community, including shelters, rescue groups, veterinarians, and colony caregivers, must work together. The municipality — including animal control officers, public health officials, and elected officials need to be partners in the effort. Community residents should be educated and consulted so they do not resist or resent the process.