What is TNVR?
TNVR Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return, better known as TNVR, is a humane, comprehensive strategy for improving the lives of community cats and reducing their numbers. With TNVR, community cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated against rabies and surgically ear tipped on one ear (the universally recognized sign of a cat who has been TNVR’ed).
Once TNVR’ed the cats are released where they were trapped to the care of dedicated, responsible caretakers who feed and provide shelter for them. Their health is monitored and newcomers are removed for TNVR or adoption if tame. This method has been proven over the last 30 years to be an effective alternative to euthanasia and a benefit to the community.
Spaying and neutering a community cat will get rid of most nuisance behaviors, such as spraying, and the ‘fighting’ and “yowling” associated with mating.
How to conduct TNVR
Alley Cat Allies is the recognized authority on community cats, and their website, www.alleycat.org, provides a wealth of information on all subjects related to community cats and TNVR. In fact, their site has so much information that it may seem a little daunting. Below are links to PCFCC’s “Trapping Instructions” and to two publications on Alley Cat Allies’ website that we believe have good, concise, summaries of TNVR.
- Trapping Instructions – A one page summary of trapping basics
- Trap-Neuter-Return for Community Cats – The Basics – A two page brochure from Alleycat Allies website describing the TNVR process
- A Step by Step Guide to Trap Neuter Return – A more in depth treatment of how to conduct TNVR from Alleycat Allies website
Community cat in a trap awaiting its surgery at TCAP spay/neuter clinic. Following post-op recuperation, the cat will be returned to its home site where day-to-day needs will be met by its colony caretaker.
Cats can and do live long, healthy lives in the outdoors if proper food, water and shelter is available. This is Jamie, a colony cat who was TNVRed about four years ago. He is healthy and happy and living in a colony taken care of by a Panther City Feral Cat Coalition member.
Ebony was trapped at the Ft Worth 5th Avenue TNVR project. While waiting to become old enough for spaying, Ebony became socialized and later was adopted into a loving forever home. Her unsocialized mother was spayed, vaccinated and returned to the community cat colony in the care of a dedicated caregiver in keeping with the PCFCC mission.