What is Trap Neuter Return?
Community cats are the same species as pet cats, but are not adoptable. Many are feral. 'Feral' means that the cats are not socialised to people and generally avoid contact with humans. Under TNR, these unadoptable cats are neutered, health checked and treated for parasites. As a result, the community cat population stabilises and decreases.
Why not remove all the cats? Scientific evidence indicates that removing community cat populations only opens up the habitat to an influx of new cats, either from neighbouring territories or born from survivors. Each time cats are removed, the population will rebound through a natural phenomenon known as the ‘vacuum effect’, drawing the community into a costly, endless cycle of trapping and killing.
TNR helps keep community cats healthy and ends the breeding cycle, which means no more kittens. It also ends mating behaviours including yowling, fighting, spraying and roaming. Community cats in TNR programs are just as healthy as pet cats.
More and more Irish communities are embracing TNR.
Why Attend?
Individuals attend our Talking TNR sessions for a variety of reasons:
- to learn more about TNR and any local projects
- to be reassured that TNR is the solution they need
- to learn where to go for more information
- to learn solutions to unpleasant cat behaviours
- to learn how to care for cats in their neighbourhood responsibly
- to learn how local TNR projects may affect them and/or their companion animals
- to learn how to participate in an imminent TNR project
- to participate in setting up local TNR projects
- because it's FREE!
In addition, veterinary staff attend to learn the specific veterinary needs of feral cats, and how to support TNR projects; and animal welfare volunteers and workers attend to assess the relevance of TNR to their own work.
Aims & Objectives
At the end of the session, you'll know what Trap Neuter Return (TNR) is and why it's useful. In particular, you'll know why it's useful to your community and/or workplace.
Information Session Content
The depth of content will depend very much on who attends and what their interests are - concerned citizens, trappers, caregivers, animal welfare workers & volunteers and vet staff are all welcome to attend to find out what's relevant to them.
The information session can be as short as five minutes, or a long as an hour. It should start promptly (as there's loads of fascinating information to impart), so attendees are requested to arrive on time if they don't want to miss anything. Refreshments should be provided and the tutor will be available after we finish to demonstrate the equipment and answer further questions.
If time allows the session can continue in a local eatery or bar.
TNR Introductory Workshop
In addition to our Information Sessions, we also provide a variety of more detailed workshops, tailored to suit your situation.
The Introductory Workshop is aimed at volunteers interested in carrying out TNR projects. It’s also relevant to colony care-givers who are willing to help with the trapping, or simply want to know more. And it’s useful to veterinary staff, for a more holistic understanding of the concept. At the end of the workshop, participants will know what Trap Neuter Return (TNR) is, why it's useful, and the basics of carrying out a TNR project. If you've not been involved in trapping before, we’d recommend you participate in a project with experienced trappers before setting loose on your own!
Contact us if you'd like to know more.
Find Out More
If you can't make your local information session, or if you'd just like to find out more before we meet, here's some links you can check out:
- Our TNR pages - everything you could ever want to know about community cats and TNR
- TNR Manual for Ireland - all you need to know to carry out a TNR project, available for download
- Scientific Evidence - Learn more about the scientific evidence supporting TNR
- Alley Cat Allies - our gurus in the US - their pages are packed with information
- And, if you'd like to host a TNR Information Session or Workshop in your area, find out more here.
Thank you for your interest!
Related Links
TNR Galleries
Galleries with images from Limerick Feral Cats’ TNR Manual for Veterinary Nurses (see our TNR pages to read the manual).
Images of flyers, posters and forms that are useful for TNR projects & Animal Welfare generally.
20 Photos
Images of eartips and the eartipping process. WARNING: Images of surgery may distress.
7 Photos
Feral Cats Ireland are the networking group for TNR in Ireland. They publish informational leaflets, promote Feral Cats Awareness Week annually, produce the TNR Manual for Ireland and provide information and support to TNR groups throughout Ireland with their multiple member individuals and organisations.
