Measuring Success TNR: Trap, Neuter and Return

Impact of TNR to Improve the Lives of Feral and Stray Street Cats

Sharon Warner Methvin, PhDDepartment of Anthropology, Mt. Hood Community College, Portland, OR

Smethvinn@gmail.com

Animals Benefit our Lives

Provide Love and CompanionshipReduce Stress Increase our HealthKeep us ActiveWhat Else?

Benefits

Stray Street Animals Suffer Hunger and Cold and are all Alone

Some Stray Animals are Treated Cruelly and Die Painful Deaths

All Stray Animals Deserve our Attention and Kindness

TNR can Help Stray Street Animals Everywhere. In the US….

And in China (Lingu Temple)

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is practiced in many cities in the US, including my hometown by the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. TNR is a process where caregivers who are feeding street cats trap them in humane traps. They then take them to a spay/neuter program and after recovery, return the cats to where they are feeding them. Adoptable cats and kittens are placed in homes whenever possible.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)

The goal of the program is to reduce suffering for existing street cats and prevent the births and suffering of future generations.

TNR

The catLong-term health and well-being of the animal

The colony Stabilization of the increase of the feral population within the colony

The caretakerStability in caregiver responsibility for the feral colony

Benefits of TNR are in Three Areas

TNR teaches compassion and responsible cat care. While TNR actually reduces the number of cats breeding, it also opens the door to educating people about the importance of spaying and the plight of feral and stray cats. Trapping and killing teaches young and old that it is okay to create unwanted offspring and then kill the surplus - leaving no room for education or compassion for life.

TNR is the compassionate approach to feral (wild) and stray cat overpopulation.

The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon is a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program for feral and stray cats living in Oregon. The goal of the program is to reduce suffering for existing feral cats and prevent the births and suffering of future generations. The program's services are targeted for feral and outdoor stray cats who have caregivers feeding them. The caregivers trap the cats, bring them to a clinic, and return the cats to where they are being fed with a commitment to feed the cat(s) on a permanent basis.

The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon

FCCO is the first statewide mobile spay/neuter program exclusively caring for feral cats in North America and one of the strongest feral cat programs in the country. Founded in 1995, FCCO will spay/neuter 6,000 cats this year and has altered over 75,000 cats since it began 20 years ago. An average of 100 cats are neutered on each clinic day.

FCCO in Oregon

In addition to being spayed or neutered, each cat who participates in the program receives FVRCP (distemper) and rabies vaccines and topical flea prevention; is treated for ear mites and other minor medical conditions; and has his or her right ear tipped (see photo at left) for future identification.

Vaccinations

Ear tip

Today we have a 24-foot mobile hospital, designed specifically for spaying/neutering feral cats, with three separate rooms: a surgery suite with room for three veterinarians to operate simultaneously; a prep area, complete with sink and autoclave; and also an anesthesia room. Services provided cats on the truck are the same as at our clinic.

It began when one doctor had a dream 20 years ago

Mobile Clinic

Commercial Kitty Lone Mom/Tom Hobo Barnyard Kitty Residential Cluster

Types of Stray Street Cats

A lineage, commercial kitty, who often has had at least two of her own litters.

Workers tend to feed and create innovative shelters.

Adult cats are quite feral but well adapted to environment; kittens may be caught and adopted.

Commercial Kitty

Commercial Kitty Archetype

Mama

Commercial Kitty in China

Usually an abandoned stray that over time may become more scared and wild

Usually wanders the neighborhood searching for a safe place to live, often with offspring from one or more litters

May search and/or compete with other animals for food and/or territory

May find/trust a new caregiver and settle into the new yard or even home

Mom/Tom Neighborhood Hobo

Mom/Tom HoboTuxedo Kitty

Lone Neighborhood Stray in China

Born into the farm colony in a rural area Usually and offspring of a mamma cat that

was dumped and showed up one day or was herself born into the colony

Those who survive beyond kittenhood tend to be healthy and well adapted to the environment

Some baby barn kittens are tamed by the caregivers and adopted out

Adult barn cats

Barnyard Kitten

Barnyard Kitten

Chocolate Chip

Rural Barnyard Cat in China

May be in the shed, garage, green space Single family houses, apartment complexes,

trailer parks Two or more generations of feral or

abandoned cats who stay Often an extended lineage of collateral and

lineal offspring

Residential Cluster

Residential Cluster

Mr. Monroe

Residential Cluster in China

Apartment Residential Colony

My experience with TNR:US

Trapping the Colony

Setting the Trap

Friendly Cats can go in Carriers

Transport to Clinic

Surgery

Post Surgery Monitoring

Post Surgery Release

My Experience with TNR in China

Setting the Trap

Trapping Success

Transfer for Transport

Surgery Preparation

Surgery Assist and Monitoring

Surgery and Recovery

My Apartment in Beijing

Monitoring Post Surgery

Ready for Release

Virgin ColonyFirst time Trapped

Colony Undergoing StabilizationReached 50% Rate

Colony Undergoing MaintenanceReached 80% Rate

Colony TNR Success

People sometimes feel overwhelmed and wonder what difference they can really make in a world of suffering. In a world where knowledge is power, I hope this talk has inspired you and provided you with knowledge, strategies and examples of the power of YOU to make a difference!

The Power of One

An old man was strolling along a beach one day. In the distance he saw a young boy and girl reach down, pick something up and throw it back into the sea. Drawing nearer, he saw that the sand was littered with thousands of small stranded sand dollars. The children were patiently picking them up, one at a time, and returning them to safety below the water. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Saving sand dollars," replied the children as they continued about the job at hand. "But the beach is littered with dying sand dollars. What possible difference can you make by doing this?”The young girl bent over, picked up another, and threw it back in the water with all her might. Then, turning to the old man, she said with all the wisdom of a child:

"I made a difference for that one."

The Sand Dollar

Attention Creates Change

The first official TNR community project in Nanjing will be conducted this month at Lingu Temple where a few cats were sterilized last year. Approximately 25-30 cats are cared for by the temple monks. One elderly monk at the entrance to the temple feeds around 15 cats faithfully every morning and evening. Others lounge blissfully and safe inside the temple grounds. The temple has posted four large notices that address the kind treatment of the temple cats, and all animals, and the promotion of TNR as a humane alternative to killing other beings.

The Story of Fu

If You Can’t Do Really Great Things, Then

Do Little Things Really Great!