The document describes tips for conducting trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs for feral cat colonies. Some key points include: 1) Neuter females before males to reduce breeding and population growth more quickly. Females should be the priority for neutering. 2) Work with local food providers who feed the cat colonies to make the cats more comfortable with humans before trapping. 3) Involve local veterinarians as allies to help neuter cats and gain their support for TNR programs in the area.

1. TNRTNR
Ian MacFarlaine VNIan MacFarlaine VN
Neutering Manager, Cats ProtectionNeutering Manager, Cats Protection

2. Good morning.Good morning.
Has anyone here been abducted by aliens?Has anyone here been abducted by aliens?

3. It happened at nightIt happened at night

4. It happened at night…It happened at night…

5. There were bright lightsThere were bright lights

6. There were bright lightsThere were bright lights

7. A mysterious craft appearedA mysterious craft appeared

8. A mysterious craft appearedA mysterious craft appeared

9. The mother ship contained a smaller craftThe mother ship contained a smaller craft

10. The mother ship contained a smaller craftThe mother ship contained a smaller craft

11. Aliens got out of itAliens got out of it

12. Aliens got out of itAliens got out of it

13. A hatchway openedA hatchway opened

14. A hatchway openedA hatchway opened

15. We were drawn by a strange forceWe were drawn by a strange force

16. We were drawn by a strange forceWe were drawn by a strange force

17. The door closed behind us and they took us back toThe door closed behind us and they took us back to
the mother shipthe mother ship

18. The door closed behind us and they took us back toThe door closed behind us and they took us back to
the mother shipthe mother ship

19. They took us to a weird labThey took us to a weird lab

20. They took us to a weird labThey took us to a weird lab

21. Where we blacked out and were probedWhere we blacked out and were probed

22. Where we blacked outWhere we blacked out
and were probedand were probed

23. Then they took us back to where we were abductedThen they took us back to where we were abducted
fromfrom

24. Then they took us back to where we were abductedThen they took us back to where we were abducted
fromfrom

25. Were left with a weird markWere left with a weird mark

26. We were left with a weird markWe were left with a weird mark

27. About CPAbout CP:
• We have a standWe have a stand
outside – come and seeoutside – come and see
us!us!
• And now… someAnd now… some
learning!learning!

28. Why TNR?Why TNR?
• Moral argumentMoral argument
• More effectiveMore effective
• Kinder to peopleKinder to people
• Cheaper than shelteringCheaper than sheltering
• Good PRGood PR
• RewardingRewarding

29. Good TNR:Good TNR:
Involves the communityInvolves the community
Neuters enough cats to stabiliseNeuters enough cats to stabilise
Legal, supported by authorities / vetsLegal, supported by authorities / vets
Accepts it cannot solve all cat prob-Accepts it cannot solve all cat prob-
lems but can help distinct groups oflems but can help distinct groups of
cats in a districtcats in a district
Considers education and theConsiders education and the
neutering of owned catsneutering of owned cats
Looks at environmental aspects suchLooks at environmental aspects such
as waste disposalas waste disposal
Takes a nucleus/district approachTakes a nucleus/district approach

30. Bad TNR:Bad TNR:
 A low cat survival rateA low cat survival rate
 Is ineffective because neuteringIs ineffective because neutering
of colonies is not completedof colonies is not completed
 Is ill equippedIs ill equipped
 Does not run alongsideDoes not run alongside
education or neutering of pets,education or neutering of pets,
so pets repopulate coloniesso pets repopulate colonies
 Excludes locals leading toExcludes locals leading to
suspicion and poor compliancesuspicion and poor compliance
 Excludes local vets, leading toExcludes local vets, leading to
suspicion and no continuation.suspicion and no continuation.

31. Problems…Problems…
• Public Health argumentPublic Health argument
• Legalities of capture, return toLegalities of capture, return to
site, ear tippingsite, ear tipping
• Required to hold before neuterRequired to hold before neuter
• Veterinary skills lapsedVeterinary skills lapsed
• Equipment inadequateEquipment inadequate
• Trapping skills poorTrapping skills poor
• Feeder collaboration poorFeeder collaboration poor
• Exponential passive foodExponential passive food
sourcessources

32. How many cats?How many cats?
• Colonies mostly 1 male per 2 femalesColonies mostly 1 male per 2 females
• Females related, males within the colony will be a fewFemales related, males within the colony will be a few
older toms then lots of males below 1 yearolder toms then lots of males below 1 year
• X 1.4X 1.4

33. 10 cat colony,
wide ranging
male# 1
6 cats
13 cats,
2 males
6 cats, no male
seen
Fishing
deposit
ory
4 cats
Fishing maintenance
huts, 7 cats,
Wide ranging male # 2 1 cat,
territorial
queen
5 cats,
1 wide
ranging
queen
1
male2
cats,
3 cats.
1wide
rangin
g
queen
,
Colony of 13
cats, no
male seen
Wide ranging male # 1
Total cats – 76; Caught 72; uncaught 3 males, 1 female
Praia da Vagueira, Portugal, W/B 9th
Nov 2008Wide ranging male
number 2

34. Ten TipsTen Tips

35. Ten TipsTen Tips

36. Ten TipsTen Tips

37. Ten TipsTen Tips

38. 1: Be prepared!1: Be prepared!
• Intelligence – Recce the siteIntelligence – Recce the site
• Know your “patch”Know your “patch”
• Look for the obviousLook for the obvious
• Ask aroundAsk around
• Talk to other NGOsTalk to other NGOs
• CensusCensus
• EquipmentEquipment

39. 2. Neuter before they reproduce2. Neuter before they reproduce
• Get cats through the TNR process quickly,Get cats through the TNR process quickly,
• Clear the colony quickly and faster than cats can breedClear the colony quickly and faster than cats can breed
• Focus on one or two colonies and get the job doneFocus on one or two colonies and get the job done
• Focus on a districtFocus on a district
• Define the role of your organisation and the area it coversDefine the role of your organisation and the area it covers

40. 2. Neuter before they reproduce2. Neuter before they reproduce

41. What happened next?What happened next?

42. What happened next?What happened next?
No, not this……!No, not this……!

43. 3. Ladies First3. Ladies First

44. Neuter the females firstNeuter the females first
Let’s imagine each female produces 3 kittensLet’s imagine each female produces 3 kittens
So, after 3 months….So, after 3 months….

45. Males first?Males first?

46. Males first? Result:Males first? Result:

47. Females first?Females first?

48. Females first: ResultFemales first: Result

49. Females first: ResultFemales first: Result
We’ll show you how to trap girls first, in a minuteWe’ll show you how to trap girls first, in a minute

50. 4: Work with feeders4: Work with feeders
Food-up 24-36 hrsFood-up 24-36 hrs

51. 5: Return to site whenever possible5: Return to site whenever possible
– don’t keep them!– don’t keep them!

52. 6: Recruit local vets as allies6: Recruit local vets as allies

53. 6: Recruit local vets as allies6: Recruit local vets as allies
•Involve them in your charityInvolve them in your charity
•Give them a voiceGive them a voice
•Keep them informedKeep them informed
•Establish links with Colleges / Orders / RegistersEstablish links with Colleges / Orders / Registers
•Establish links with local veterinary schoolsEstablish links with local veterinary schools
•Work with your local practitioners to gain experience withWork with your local practitioners to gain experience with
surgery, your animals are a good opportunity to help themsurgery, your animals are a good opportunity to help them
develop their skillsdevelop their skills

54. 7: Acclimatise7: Acclimatise
• Trap-shyness - not unique to catsTrap-shyness - not unique to cats
• Causes: –Causes: –
- Foreign object- Foreign object
- Something about this trap in- Something about this trap in
particular (smell etc)particular (smell etc)
- Cats have seen previous capture- Cats have seen previous capture
• Often previous poor trappingOften previous poor trapping
• Kicks-in after 4Kicks-in after 4thth
activation of aactivation of a
traptrap

55. 7: Acclimatise7: Acclimatise

56. 8: Use a manual trap8: Use a manual trap

60. 8: Use a manual trap8: Use a manual trap
• Trap only what you needTrap only what you need
• PrioritisePrioritise
• No repeat trappingsNo repeat trappings
• Doesn’t require pedal activationDoesn’t require pedal activation
• More than one cat: reduce number of closingsMore than one cat: reduce number of closings
• No mechanism to hurt catNo mechanism to hurt cat
• Quick clearance (record being 27 minutes for 13 cats)Quick clearance (record being 27 minutes for 13 cats)
• (Cats which enter a trap together will be safe to remain(Cats which enter a trap together will be safe to remain
together. Can easily split)together. Can easily split)

63. 8: Use a manual trap8: Use a manual trap

64. 8: Use a manual trap8: Use a manual trap

65. 9: Minimise stress9: Minimise stress

66. Earphones ….Earphones ….

67. 10: Early neuter, pregnant spay, and10: Early neuter, pregnant spay, and
be willing to PTSbe willing to PTS

68. Oh go on, one more tip, and anOh go on, one more tip, and an
important one !important one !

69. A Very Important Tip !A Very Important Tip !

70. And if the law doesn’t allow you to
do it like this.… get it changed !
A Very Important Tip !A Very Important Tip !

71. ……life begins at tortie..…life begins at tortie..…
Acknowledgements to Harry Eckman, Jenny Stavisky & APAFF for some of the photos.