Trap-Neuter-Return Programs: What Are They and How Do They Work?

According to the ASPCA, the number of feral cats, cats that are born and raised in the wild and in turn difficult or impossible to tame and adopt out, that roam homeless is estimated to be somewhere in the tens of millions. As a result of overpopulation, local communities often turn to inhumane solutions, including eradication and relocation, to try to fix their wild cat problem. The fact is that these solutions are only temporary, and rarely work well. The best solution to the problem of feral cats in your local community is to implement a Trap-Neuter-Return program.

What is a Trap-Neuter-Return Program for Feral Cats?

A Trap-Neuter-Return program, as described by the ASPCA, is a program that helps reduce the feral cat population in a humane manner by "trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies, and then returning them to their colony to live out their lives." Rather than inhumanely killing cats at will, a trap-neuter-return program looks to reduce the feral cat population over a period of time through birth control.

Trap-Neuter-Return Programs: Helping Feral Cats

According to the ASPCA, Trap-Neuter-Return programs help feral cats immensely. By reducing the overall population of feral cats over time, the theory is that there will be more resources for feral cats to use to live out the rest of their lives after they are trapped and released back into their colonies.

Additionally, the ASPCA notes that neutering and spaying has medical benefits for the cats who undergo the procedure, including a reduced risk of cancer in females and the elimination of the risk for testicular cancer in males.

Trap-Neuter-Return Programs: Benefiting the Community

While Trap-Neuter-Return programs help feral cats lead longer and healthier lives in their confined colonies, they also help the community that has to cope with them. Trap-Neuter-Return programs, over time, help communities learn to co-exist with their feline neighbors.

The physical procedures of spaying and neutering reduce the risk of the community having to deal with testy feral cats, as female felines will no longer be in heat and in turn tom cats won't be attracted to the area. Additionally, as the ASPCA notes, nuisance problems associated with feral cats such as "spraying, excessive noisemaking and fighting are largely eliminated."

With Trap-Neuter-Return programs in place, local communities can learn to live side by side with their feline neighbors. Truly, these programs benefit all involved.

For more information on feral cats, including information on how to handle feral cats in your community and how to help feral cats, visit the ASPCA's Feral Cats FAQ page.