Overview of TNR Project

Often, folks make the ultimate decision of trapping feral cats without knowing how to go about it and what it entails to trap a cat. To successfully carry out a TNR task, serious planning has been put in place. Adequate preparation will make the process straightforward, thereby helping you and the cats. There are seven steps of you to consider if you want to be successful with your TNR project.

Knowledge

Get enough firsthand information on working with cats. The knowledge can be very vital for you. You can go through videos, books and online pages to get abreast with all the information you need

Know the neighborhood

Various people within your community and neighborhood, interact with the feral cats in one way or the other daily. Each of these persons has their own perception, views, and feelings about cats and it is essential you have this information with you. Your neighbors could be friendly or positive towards cats, and the only way for you to find out is to ask them about their opinion and what they know about the cats. You can give out TNR pamphlets explaining the benefits of TNR to the neighborhood. Take permission from owners if you need access to their properties and recruit the services of volunteers and feeders for the trapping task. Remember gaining the cooperation of your neighborhood and community will go a long way in making your task easier for not just you, but for the cats as well

Create a feeding routine and set out shelters

Create a feeding routine and stick with it for as much as you can. Put at the food at the same place and time on a daily basis. Cats like to follow habits, and they will follow the feeding schedule you engineer for them, this means that they will still show up the same time when you want to trap them. Take an inventory of the number of cats around and look out for those with special needs like the little kittens. Put out shelters in the vital places. You can also put out feeding stations if you haven’t done so.

Suitable holding space

Provide a suitable holding space for the cats that would provide adequate housing conditions for the trapping process. The trapping process takes about a week from start to finish; two-three days to trap, one day to carry out the neuter surgery, and three days recovery period. Ensure the holding space is 65^oF, dry with good cover from rain and well secured. You can use a basement, garage, spare room or an empty office.

Plan for the spay/neuter, transportation, and traps

After taking inventory on the number of cats you are dealing with, find a spay/neuter service provider, preferably a cost-friendly one and make the necessary appointments. Get traps and other vital equipment from trap banks, or you can purchase if it is in your pocket range. Plan for transport as well for the entirety of the process. You can also get the services of a volunteer or two to help.

Time to work

Now is the time for trapping. Keep hold of the food for a day or two before the trapping begins so as to keep the cats very hungry. Making the cats hungry s an essential part of the trapping process. Leave the trap out for two to three days and allow the cats to come in one after the other. After they’ve all entered decide to transport them to the clinic and take them in their holding space after the surgery for recovery. Return them back to their territory after the recovery period. If you had any problem catching any of the cats, keep trying again and again till you get all of them even after the spay/neuter day has passed.

Caretaking

After all, has been done, the cats need to go back to their routine and what you need to do at this point is to provide food and shelter on a regular basis for them. Be on the lookout for new cats that will join up with the group and ensure there are no issues with the neighbors. At the end of the day, you’ve done a great job for the feral cats.