TRAP/NEUTER/RETURN

Community Cats Need Our Community's Help

Outdoor community cats can be lost or abandoned pets that are friendly or cats born outside that are not socialized to humans (sometimes referred to as "feral" cats). Because they do not have owners, they need our community's help.

Together, we can get these cats sterilized and vaccinated to prevent their population from growing larger, to improve the quality of their lives, and to reduce or eliminate nuisance behaviors such as spraying, yowling and excessive noisemaking, and fighting.

We provide spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations to community cats for FREE.

We need your help in trapping these cats, bringing them to the clinic for surgery, and releasing them back to their outdoor homes! 

What is TNR?

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the most humane and effective method available to stop the overpopulation of community cats and to stop kittens from being born outside just to die a terrible death from disease, exposure or parasites.

HOW IT WORKS:

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TRAP

  • A colony ( group of cats living outside together) is identified and targeted.
  • The cats in the colony are trapped utilizing a humane, live-release trap.
  • We rent traps for a $60 cash deposit, which you get back when the trap is returned. We can waive the rental fee in financial hardship situations.

  • For more information on how to TNR see Scooter's Tips at Give Them Ten and Alley Cat Allies.

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NEUTER

  • On Tuesdays only, from 8:30 - 10 am, we accept walk-in trapped cats that were trapped in Hamilton County only. If you are trapping in other counties or do not want the cat ear-tipped, please email us at contactus@ucancincinnati.org to make an appointment.
  • The left ear of the cat will be “tipped” - the universal sign that the cat has been sterilized. Ear-tipping is a safe and swift procedure done while the cat is sedated.
  • The cats recover at UCAN from surgery overnight.
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RETURN

  • The "fixed" and vaccinated cats are picked up promptly at 7:30 a.m. the day after surgery. Please be on time, as we need to clean the feral cat shelves for that day's surgery.
  • Cats are returned to their outdoor colony to live happier and healthier lives.

 

Rules for Trap/Neuter/Return of Community Cats

 Please follow each of these rules, as they enable us to best care for cats and keep our staff safe.

  • Feral and semi-feral cats MUST be brought in a Tru-Catch, Havahart or other humane trap that is at least 30" long and 10" wide for the safety of our staff. We DO NOT accept feral cats in carriers, wire cages, boxes, etc. Please do not use a racoon or small trap for cats - they do not give the cat enough room to recover safely in after surgery. Please do not zip-tie or use other devices to keep traps closed so our staff can quickly access the cat; properly operating traps should stay closed on their own.  We inject the cat with anesthesia through the trap and do not get it out until it is unconscious.  So, please do not put anything unsafe in the trap such as breakable items, bowls, towels, blankets, etc. Pee pads or newspaper on the bottom is fine.
  • If too many trapped cats come in on any day, we may hold the cat(s) over until the next day for surgery or not accept any more cats that day due to not enough space. Please check our website or Facebook page before trapping cats to make sure we are accepting them that day. 
  • Only one cat per trap - no exceptions. It is not safe for two cats to be sedated or to recover from surgery in a trap together.
  • Only two trapped cats per person per day.
  • Kittens must be 8 weeks old and weigh at least 2 pounds.
  • All trapped cats will be ear-tipped - no exceptions. If you do not want an ear-tip, make an appointment for the cat at ucancincinnati.org.
  • All cats aged 3 months or older will be given a rabies vaccination because it is required by Hamilton County law. Cats will also be given an FVRCP vaccine and parasite treatment.
  • At no additional charge, trapped cats may be given antibiotics, subcutaneous fluids, tapeworm treatment, or other care recommended by our veterinarian at the time of surgery to help in their recovery and keep them healthy.
  • We recommend providing cat shelters for outdoor cats when it is cold outside.  While we shave as little as possible to still maintain a sterile surgical area, the cat will still have a shaved area and needs a warm place to recover. Use straw not hay for warmth.

If you choose to have a trapped cat tested for Felv/FIV and it tests positive, we will still perform the surgery. There is no option to not have the surgery performed. We will not euthanize a cat solely because of a positive test result.

If you have any questions regarding these regulations, please call or email us at contactus@ucancincinnati.org before bringing in a cat.

Winter Community Cat Surgery Protocol

For their safety, we do not accept outdoor cats in traps for surgery if it is 35 degrees or below on the day you trap OR it is forecasted to be 35 degrees or below during the 2 – 3 days after surgery. We take the safety of all pets very seriously. If cats with shaved bellies recovering from surgery are put back outside in frigid temperatures, they can die of hypothermia or other complications. A cat's energy should go into recovery after surgery, not trying to stay warm.

The only exception is if you have a safe, heated environment in which the cat can recover for 2 - 3 days after surgery, where it will have access to food and water (i.e., a temperature-controlled garage, barn, basement, etc.).   

To ensure cats have a safe and healthy recovery when trapping in cold weather, you should make sure they have a warm, dry shelter that they are using before trapping so they can stay warm during recovery.  You can make or purchase shelters specifically designed for outdoor cats.  Always use straw for warmth, not hay which soaks up moisture, becomes moldy and can cause allergic reactions in cats.

Thank you for helping community cats!

PLEASE do not leave traps unattended or out overnight. People may hurt the cats, steal the traps or the cats could overheat in the hot weather or freeze in the cold weather. To learn more about feral cats and proper trap-neuter-return procedures, visit the Alley Cat Allies website at alleycat.org

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UCAN reserves the right to refuse to perform surgery on any cat that is determined by our veterinarians to be unfit for surgery or any cat brought in without compliance with these rules.