Got Feral Cats? Get T-N-R!
Got Feral Cats? Get T-N-R!
Call 228-863-3354 ext. 129 or 130 for information about our FREE* Trap • Neuter • Return program to humanely reduce the suffering of homeless cats.
What is a Feral Cat?
Feral cats are the wild offspring of unaltered free roaming domestic housecats. They are also the product of pet owners who abandoned the animal and have failed to spay and neuter them.
These wild offspring are born outdoors and usually are hidden by their mothers. They have little or no human contact in the first few months of life so they view people as a danger. Feral cat colonies can be found everywhere.
The life of a feral cat is difficult. They are more at risk of disease, often on the edge of starvation, and they suffer abuse or other hazards living outdoors. Left on their own, they breed future generations who face the same fate.
Feral cats are often described as disease ridden nuisances responsible for endangering native species. As a consequence, they are often rounded up and because they are unadoptable, exterminated.
The Feral Cat Problem.
Removing and killing feral cats DOES NOT reduce their population. Because feral cats are territorial, this only opens up the territory for more cats to move in and start the breeding process all over again.
A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven year period.
Unspayed, females spend most of their lives pregnant and hungry, as will their female kittens that survive. Unneutered tomcats roam and fight to win mates (continuing the cycle) and often suffering debilitating wounds in the process. Half of all feral kittens die within the first year.
T-N-R: The Humane Solution.
Trap – Humanely capture feral cats that can’t be handled by using traps.
Neuter- Spay or Neuter the cats and confine them safely until they recover.
Return- Return the cats to their original habitat.
Trap • Neuter • Return is a proven program in which stray and feral cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered by veterinarians and returned to their familiar home. TNR is more effective and less costly than repeated attempts at extermination and more reflective of a caring human community.
With TNR feral cat populations are gradually reduced. Nuisance behaviors such as fighting, yowling and spraying are virtually eliminated. The spread of disease and malnutrition are greatly reduced. And the cats live healthy, safe and peaceful lives in their territories.
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Since HSSM began TNR we have spayed or neutered over 1,700 cats. We would like continue our operations to humanely reduce the enormous number of homeless, unwanted cats.
If you, or someone you know is caring for unowned strays, let them know about our services. EDUCATION is the KEY- so make others aware of the problem and tell them how they can help.
There are an estimated 60 million homeless cats in our country.
* Feral cat spay/neuter surgeries are available for FREE for Harrison County residents only.
