Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR), also called Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return is the only humane way to control stray or community cat populations.
Through our experience, the process typically consists of the following:
Cats are humanely trapped, in a cat-sized trap (no rodent or “kitten” traps). Traps are covered with towels or small blankets to keep the cats calmer.
Cats are neutered* through a TNR program or private vet.
Their left ears are “tipped,” a universal indicator that the cat has been altered.
Clinics vary on what else they offer while the cat is in their care, but the Rabies vaccine is standard and usually included in the cost. In general, they are vaccinated and treated for other obvious issues like fleas, ear mites, or tapeworms (usually at additional cost)
Cats are returned to whomever trapped them to recover for a minimum of 24 hours before being released** back to where they were trapped. Personally, we transfer to individual, large dog kennels and hold them for no more than a week to give them the best chance to heal.
*neuter means to remove and animal’s sex organs and applies to males and females
**The key to TNR being effective, is the returning of the cats from where they were trapped. Removing the cats to return them elsewhere disrupts their family dynamic within their colony and creates a “vacuum effect” in the location they were removed from. The Vacuum Effect occurs when community cats are removed from or killed at a location, opening the territory for new cats to move in and creating a never ending cycle of suffering and frustration.
This is just a brief summary of the process.
Alley Cat Allies does a great job of explaining it in detail.
The Copacetic Cat 