Community Cats
You see them in every neighborhood in Wilson County and around the farms and ranches outside of neighborhoods - free-roaming cats. They don't seem to have anyone taking care of them, and there seems to be an endless supply of kittens. What can we do?
The Plan
Based on ideas proven to work across the country, the Community Cat Program is an initiative aimed at managing and improving the welfare of feral and free-roaming cats and our community. We recognize that not all cats can or should be brought indoors or adopted into homes, and instead focus on humane methods to address their needs and reduce their population.
Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return
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Trap: We use humane traps to capture free-roaming cats in a targeted area.
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Neuter (Spay/Neuter): Cats are spayed or neutered to prevent them from reproducing. Free-roaming cats that have been fixed have their ears tipped to serve as a visible marker that the cat will not reproduce.
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Vaccinate and Provide Medical Care: Cats are also given vaccinations and receive any necessary medical care.
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Return: The cats are returned to their home where they were trapped. This step is crucial because it prevents new cats from moving into the area, maintains the cats' territory, and allows them to continue their lives outdoors while preventing further reproduction.
Why TNVR?
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Population Control: By spaying/neutering and preventing reproduction, these programs help reduce the number of free-roaming cats in the community.
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Improved Health: Cats that go through TNR programs often experience better health because they receive medical care.
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Reduced Nuisance Behaviors: Spaying/neutering reduces mating behaviors such as yowling and fighting, which can be disruptive in neighborhoods.
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Conservation: By stabilizing feral cat populations, these programs can help protect local wildlife from predation.
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Humane Approach: Community cat programs take a compassionate and non-lethal approach to managing feral cat populations.
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The Result
With this approach, in a few years the free roaming cat population in the targeted area will be significantly reduced.
