TNVR (Feral Cats)

Cat Tales Rescue NC advocates for Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release, or TNVR, as a humane approach to feral cat management. TNVR involves trapping feral and free-roaming cats in humane traps; transporting them to local clinics to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped; and then returning them to their original location.

Why TNVR?

  • It’s Effective

    TNVR stabilizes feral cat colonies by stopping the breeding cycle. It provides a relatively simple way for non-profit groups and community members to join the effort to reduce cat overpopulation and save lives.

  • It Improves Cats’ Lives

    Spaying and neutering cats reduces mating behaviors — such as roaming,fighting, and pregnancy — that can lead to injury and disease. With TNVR, cats are vaccinated for rabies and FVRCP, making them less susceptible to infectious diseases. Spaying and neutering also eliminates the risk of certain cancers and infections in cats.

  • It Makes Cats Better Neighbors

    Spaying and neutering reduces nuisance behaviors such as fighting, yowling, and spraying. It stops breeding, which means no more surprise kittens and an eventual decline in the cat population.

  • It Saves Lives

    Feral cats are not socialized to humans and cannot be adopted. TNVR stops the unnecessary killing of feral cats and reduces overall shelter intake numbers by reducing the number of homeless kittens born every year.

How to Implement TNVR

If you want to support the health and well-being of feral and free-roaming cats in yourarea, Cat Tales Rescue NC has resources to assist with TNVR efforts. We’ve outlined the basic steps below, but feel free to contact us if you have questions before getting started.

  1. If you know of one or more free-roaming cats in your neighborhood, first make sure they don’t belong to someone. Ask your neighbors and/or post a query and photos on your neighborhood list serve or Nextdoor.

  2. Once you feel confident the cats do not have an owner and are in need of TNVR,the next step is to get them on a consistent feeding schedule to make trapping faster and easier. Put food out at the same time every day so that the cats’ behavior becomes more predictable.

  3. While you are establishing a consistent feeding schedule for the cats, you may contact Cat Tales Rescue NC for guidance and to borrow humane traps and other equipment to help the trapping process go smoothly. We can also provide cat food and information on where and how to arrange neuter/spay surgery.

  4. Never trap a cat until you have a specific plan of where and when to take the kitty for their veterinary care.