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What is TNR?
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane, non-lethal solution to the massive overpopulation of cats which results in heartbreaking numbers of cats euthanized each year.
TNR is the process by which:
- Free-roaming cats that do not allow
human contact are trapped using humane box traps.
- Friendly adoptable cats and young
kittens are placed for adoption.
- The remaining feral cats are taken to a
veterinarian for disease testing, sterilization, vaccinations and ear-tipping.
- After recovering from surgery, the cats
are returned exactly to where they were trapped. A volunteer caregiver
provides food & water daily, ensures adequate shelter and monitors the cat's
health for the remainder of the cat's life, which averages 3-4 years.
- The caregiver continues to monitor the colony, ensuring
newcomers are TNRd asap.
TNR benefits cats and humans
- The breeding cycle stops.
- The cats are healthy and vaccinated. Sterilization
provides added benefits such as eliminating the chance of cancer in the
reproductive organs.
- Spraying, fighting & caterwauling are significantly reduced
or eliminated, since these behaviors are related to mating.
- The cats roam less, decreasing their chances of being hit
by a car or otherwise coming into harm's way.
- Over time, the colony size decreases, theoretically, in
time to a natural end.
- Tax savings. In Chicago's northwest and western
suburbs, municipalities that employ the proven unsuccessful "trap and kill"
method to population control spend on average $70 just for a veterinarian to
administer the lethal injection. That does not include the Animal
Control Officer's time, the holding facility, or other resources. Feral
cats can be vetted for as little as $20.
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