Step-by-Step Checklist for Feral Cat TNR

Refer to the reference materials elsewhere on the site for details about any of these points.

1. Learn all you can about trapping feral cats and the TNR process.
   
   
2. Determine what you plan to do with each member of the colony after its surgery. If you are going to return cats to the site, be sure you have a caretaker lined up; this may or may not be you. Be extremely careful about picking up moms with nursing kittens-you must find the kittens if you trap the mom. It is very likely that in spring, summer, or fall, an un-spayed female either has kittens or is pregnant.
   
   
3. Get permission from the land owner to work on his property.
   
   
4. Find out what "special deals" exist for paying for surgery at the time and for the area where you plan to work. Select a vet or clinic who will work with you. Learn:
   
   
   • when you can bring the cats,
   • how many cats you can bring at a time,
   • how much it will cost, etc.

   
   Select your vet carefully for working with feral cats:

   • Not all vets work with feral cats.
   • Not all vets will help you with the price.
   • Not all vets will tip ears.
   • Not all vets will spay a pregnant cat.
   • Most vets will not spay a lactating female until she has finished nursing for two weeks.
     
     

NOTE: Many vets have additional fees for office visits, pain medication, ear notching, pregnancy, etc. Find out ahead of time.

5. Feed the cats you plan to trap at the same time and at the same place for at least a week or two before trapping. Skip this feeding on the day before you trap. This ensures that the cats will be really hungry.
   
   
6. Acquire your trap(s). More is better.
   
   
7. To acclimate the cats to the trap, you may want to feed the cats inside the trap with the door wired open for a few days before you trap.
   
   
8. On the day of trapping, be sure you have the following things:
   
   
   • trap(s)
   • bait(s)
   • something to cover each trap newspaper string (in case you have to trip a trap manually)
   • something to clean your hands
   • paper towels
   • water
   • gloves
   • extra towels
   • enough space to transport the traps inside your car
   • a place to hold each trapped animal overnight
   • an appointment or arrangement for spay/neuter with a vet the next day
     
     
9. At the time and place where you have been feeding, bait the traps and set them out. You may want to put newspaper in the bottom. You may want to cover the traps even before you trap, depending on what the cats are used to seeing.
   
   
10. Perform whatever "leaving" ritual your cats are used to. Stay out of sight. Don't let them see you watching.
    
    
11. Check the traps from a distance every 30 minutes. DO NOT LEAVE THE TRAPS UNATTENDED, especially if there are fire ants nearby, the weather is hot or cold, etc.
    
    
12. As soon as you see a captured cat in one of the traps, cover that trap so the cat will not thrash around and hurt itself. You may want to leave the trap where it is (with the cat sitting quietly), or you may want to move the trap to your car. Both approaches may spook the cats; pick the one that you think will work best.
    
    
13. Using gloves, carry the traps with cats to your car.

    NOTE: If you trap a raccoon or possum by accident, release the animal and re-bait the trap. You may want to clean the trap first if it smells bad.
    Use your foot to turn the trap over rather than touching it; if you have to touch it, wear gloves.

14. Using gloves, move the traps with cats into your safe, quiet holding area.
    
    Avoid places where fire ants can get into the traps.
    
    DO NOT OPEN THE TRAPS.
    
    Set the traps on newspaper or hay or something to absorb waste--don't try to put a litter box in the trap.
    
    Do not feed or give the cats water after about 10:00 in the evening before surgery.
    
    
15. On the surgery day, using gloves, re-load the traps and cats into your car and take them to the vet. For each cat, also take a separate carrier and a soft towel. After surgery, the vet will place each cat in a carrier, where it can recover.
    
    
16. When you arrive at the vet's office or clinic, specify:
    
    
    • that you want dissolvable sutures,
    • whether you want the cats' ears tipped,
    • which shots you want,
    • whether you want to test the cats for Feline Leukemia or FIV,
    • whether you want to de-worm the cats,
    • whether you want to treat for fleas,
    • any other medical attention the cat needs, and
    • when to pick up the cats.
      
      
17. After the surgery, pick up the cats in their carriers. Pick up the traps, too. Get documentation of rabies and sterilization for your records.
    
    Also, for your records, take a photograph of each cat. Tape the rabies tag to the back of a photograph of each cat for later identification.
    
    
18. Let the male cats recover overnight before releasing them.
    
    Give females an extra couple of days before releasing them--spay surgery is more traumatic than neuter surgery. If you need to hold a cat more than one night, put it into a large dog crate, where you can set up a litter box, food, water, and place to hide from you.
    
    
19. For the cats you are going to return to the colony, release the cats where you trapped them. Just open the doors of the carriers and get out of the way. Notify the caretaker to watch the cats for several days for signs of infection or illness.

    For the kittens or strays you are going to tame, set up a room or cage where you can catch them easily and hiding places are minimal. Keep the new cats apart from your other cats until you know they are healthy (2 weeks or so). Before you add them to an existing cat population, be sure the cats do not have ringworm, fleas, Feline Leukemia, FIP, FIV, etc.
    
    For the cats you plan to relocate, learn more about the process before you make the arrangements.
    

20. Clean the traps and return or store them.
    
    
21. Continue this process until all the cats in the colony have been sterilized.
    
    NOTE: Some people prefer to trap and sterilize all the cats before returning any of the cats to the colony. This prevents unwanted trapping of already-sterilized cats instead of the ones that still need surgery, but requires a dedicated holding room.
    
    
22. Complete any record-keeping for the colony.
    
    
23. Congratulate yourself on having prevented many, many unwanted kittens from being born, and on giving the sterilized cats healthier, happier lives!
    

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