Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane and effective solution to stabilize feral (or wild) cat populations, because it breaks the cycle of breeding and stops the killing of feral cats by shelters and pounds. TNR is a process in which feral cats are humanely trapped and sterilized by veterinarians. After recovery, they are released back to the specific location where they were trapped.

This approach allows the cats to remain in their home territory to live out their natural lives, while reducing behaviors associated with mating, such as fighting and yowling, as well as odors from territorial marking – behaviors that may be considered a nuisance by neighborhoods. TNR is more effective and less costly to taxpayers and governments than the trap-and-kill approach because it dramatically reduces the number of cats and kittens that are taken in, held and ultimately killed in shelters and animal control facilities.

Six years after widely implementing TNR, San Francisco reported a 71% decline in the rate of cats killed (both feral and domestic). In San Diego, statistics show that while the percentage of cats adopted or claimed by owners has remained fairly constant, there has been a decrease of almost 50% in the number of cats killed since TNR was adopted. Prior to implementing TNR, this number was increasing by 15% each year.

A local nonprofit organization, Tucson CARES, recently piloted a neighborhood TNR program in Dunbar Springs through a matching-grant program. In this model, each neighborhood contributes up to $1,000 to buy traps and spay/neuter the neighborhood's feral cats. Their contributions are matched by Tucson CARES. Neighbors are trained to set humane traps, to transport the cats, and to care for them after surgery and before they are released back into the neighborhood. After each project, the traps remain with the neighborhood so kittens and new cats can be trapped and altered. The long-term plan is to have neighborhoods train and mentor other neighborhoods.

What You Can Do. Tucson CARES has been overwhelmed with demand for TNR services and needs many more volunteer teams. To help promote TNR and stop the killing of our community cats, please call 990-8912 or contact susiegrover99@gmail.com.