TNR For The Neighborhood By Sharon Black

TNR For The Neighborhood

When female cats go into heat, they caterwaul, roll around, and exhibit other behaviors.

The only way to avoid that cycle is to spay the cat. Feral cats need to be trapped in a metal cage that can be purchased. Most farm supply stores stock them in several sizes. They are designed for small animals.

TNR means Trap Neuter Return in the pet rescue world. That involves the metal cage trap and bait. For cats, a tin of sardines- in- water works wonders in luring them inside. Supplies to have on hand are long sticks, pieces of wood, food, and an old blanket.

1. Practice setting the trap and poking a stick through the side of the trap to release the door. Practice until it is very easy for you to set. To trap a cat that is wild or even tame, place the trap in the area where the animal is fed. It will become familiar with the trap.

2. Open the trap door and prop it open with a piece of wood. Place food inside the back of the trap. The animal will get used to eating in it, and associate the trap with food. Do this several times before the time to trap the animal.

3. When the time comes to trap the animal, put the sardines inside in a bowl, set the trap, and the cat will go in it and trip the trap door. Success! Place the old blanket over the trap so the cat will calm down and not hurt itself trying to escape.

Catch and release for cats

4. Transport to the veterinarian for its appointment. The veterinarian and assistants can anesthetize the animal in the trap when it is time to do the surgery. Vaccinations can be done also. They will return the cat into the trap or if it desired, take a cat carrier and the veterinarian will place the sleeping cat in it to recover and wake up from surgery. When it is time to pick up the animal, and after paying the bill, thank the veterinarian. He or she will know the efforts of TNR is important to you, and the neighborhood. The cat will now be healthier, gain weight, become more docile and may even let you pet it. Don’t fret if the cat doesn’t come back to eat for a few days after the surgery.

Sharon Black

Sharon Black has been writing for many years including newspapers, short stories, and as a publisher. She was born in Nebraska and has lived in Kansas most of her life. In her hometown of Smith Center, Kansas,  Willa Cather’s hometown is to the north and Bob Dole’s hometown is to the south. Sharon is a press release writer for the National Parks Arts Foundation and writes for b U n e k e  magazine. The biggest project she has accomplished is the co-writer of the TV movie Home on the Range. The movie is about the song, which is the state song of Kansas and the lawsuit surrounding it in the 1930s and finding the rightful author of the song. Sharon is distantly related to the Mississippi writer Eudora Welty.