Hello, October! Hello, Fall! What does this time of year bring thoughts of? Cooler days, less sunshine, apples, Halloween? This season is full of changes to our daily lives. It’s also a reminder that Winter is on the way – and with it, for many of us cold, snow, and icy winds blowing.
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Photo courtesy of Purr Photography |
Now is a good time to consider your neighbor. No, not the humans in the house next door or across the street. The neighbor that lives in your area with no roof, no furnace, no shelter from those cold winds – your neighborhood stray cat.
Through Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR), you can ensure at least that the little furries won’t be multiplying into litters of babies that can’t survive the harsh elements of Winter. TNR works very simply; strays are trapped, transported to a place that will neuter or spay and “ear-tip” them for future reference, then taken back to their “neighborhood”, the colony they’ve lived with.
By eliminating the possibilities of propagation, a colony of cats can be kept to a limited number – and thereby manageable for the people who take it upon themselves to ensure the kitties have food and a place of refuge. These people, colony caretakers, do us all a great service, but none greater than for the cats themselves that can’t help it they were born outdoors.
The cats benefit by reducing hormones in males that lead to territorial fighting, and females that no longer endure pregnancy after pregnancy. TNR helps bring peace and harmony, and stability, to a colony. The nights are quieter, there is less urine-marking, and man lives with nature rather than fighting against it.
Perhaps the greatest result of TNR is when a cat trapped is found to be quite docile, domesticated and fully capable of being someone’s pet. When that happens, a cat is rescued off the street and placed in a loving home.
Now that makes my heart warm!
Excellent post! Life is so tough for precious animals left to fend for themselves. Thank goodness TNR is beginning to catch on. It’s the only humane solution.
I agree, Debbie – the only humane solution. And it’s really so simple, there’s just no excuse. Thank you for stopping by!
What a great program!
Hope that it continues to do good for all our societies!
xo
Luna
I think these programs are great. There are a lot that happen in the Vegas hotel parking lots
Swing on by for a visit some time!
Kari
dogisgodinreverse.com
@Luna – it really is, isn’t it? There are some people who are against it, prefer to kill the cats, but it has been proven that doesn’t stop feral cats from the area – new ones just move into the opened territory. This is just so humane.
@Kari In Vegas – That’s great to hear! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is a wonderful post!!! We love feral cats and are big supporters of TNR in our area!
Your pal, Pip
Howdy! We have a similar program here in Canada but it starts with the owners as well. It is seriously encouraged to get all your pets neutered and spayed and banish the old wives tale that they are unhappy if they don’t have a litter first. My babies, (two cats and a big dog) were fixed when they were young and nobody is complaining here. They are well cared for and happy to have a warm spot by the fire. Thanks for the post it was great to know others are doing the same.!
Hi Kim and CindyLu,
To echo the preceding comments, an excellent and thoughtful post. What you have alluded too, makes perfect sense.
It is estimated that in the UK alone, there are over a million feral and stray cats and within London over a thousand. So it’s something that needs to be redressed, more fully, here.
Kind wishes, Gary
Aha, an archived posting. Nonetheless, the message is the same. Which means, I have now sent it through the various social networks! 🙂