Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
The Humane Approach to Outdoor Cat Control and
Proven Method to Reduce the Number of Homeless Cats

“Discover the compassionate solution for feral/outdoor cats and kittens that really works and can happen right in your own backyard. TNR (Trap Neuter Return) is the humane, non-lethal method of population control for outdoor cats and kittens that is more effective than the traditional method of trap and kill and is more reflective of a caring society.”
Alley Cat Allies

Trap Neuter Return includes humanely trapping the cats bringing them to a vet clinic or a low cost spa/neuter clinic for spay and neuter, vaccinations and micro-chipping and then returning them to where they are living, continuing to feed, provide shelter and keep an eye on their health and well-being.

“A feral/outdoor cat is an unsocialized cat. Either he was born outside and never lived with a human family or he is a house cat that has strayed from home, and over time has thrown off the effects of domestication and reverted to a wild state. Outdoor cats avoid human contact. Adult outdoor cats are like wildlife and usually cannot be socialized and are most content living outside.”
                                                                          Alley Cat Allies

PAWS Chicago is a sponsoring organization for outdoor cat caregivers under the TNR Ordinance of Cook County**

Facts
  • TNR is the most humane and most effective way of controlling outdoor cat populations.
  • When cats are removed from an area, other outdoor or stray cats move in to take advantage of the food source, so removing outdoor cats only temporarily solves the problem.
  • TNR has been used with success across the US and all over the world.
  • TNR prevents unwanted cats and kittens from being born, relinquished and euthanized at Animal Care and Control
  • A vaccinated, sterilized colony of outdoor cats poses no rabies threat to humans (raccoons, skunks, and bats are the most common carriers of rabies) and will deter other outdoor cats from moving into the area.
Trap Neuter Return Workshops

PAWS Chicago and Alley Cat Allies offer six FREE TNR workshops each month in the city of Chicago. Each workshop includes information about how to do TNR, the Cook County TNR Ordinance, trapping tips, video and hands on demonstration and resources for the Chicagoland area.  Click here for the workshop schedule.


Steps for Conducting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in Your Area

RENT TRAPS. If you do not own traps, you may rent them from an animal welfare group. PAWS Chicago Lurie Family Spay/Neuter Clinic rents humane traps for a refundable $50 deposit we accept cash, credit card or personal check. The rental is per trap and you are allowed to rent two traps for a two week period. PAWS Chicago will fully refund your deposit upon the return of the traps. To pick up traps come to the Lurie Clinic located at 3516 W. 26th Street on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Sundays between 8:00AM and 6:00PM.

SPAYING/NEUTERING. No appointment is necessary. Limit 5 outdoor cats per customer on weekends and 10 cats per customer on a weekday. Cats must be at least 2 months old and weigh 2 lbs. or more. All cats must be in a covered, humane trap. PAWS Chicago offers free surgery for outdoor cats with a $20 charge for ear tipping, rabies and distemper vaccine, ear cleaning, wound cleaning, flea, tick and parasite treatment, and antibiotic. Micro-chipping is available and highly suggested for an extra $6**. The Lurie Clinic is located at 3516 W. 26th Street and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sundays, drop off is 7:15AM-10:00AM and pick up is same day between 4:30PM-5:30PM. Please call 773-475-9410 for more information.

In addition to the regular days and times, please observe the following special openings and closings for the clinic.

(**The Cook County TNR Ordinance requires all outdoor cats to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped.)

PREPARE THE TRAPS. Create a sign stating, "Rescue in Process – Do Not Remove," and attach a copy to each trap. Unlatch the rear door so you can get your hands inside the trap. Be sure to re-lock the rear door before trapping. If your trap does not have a rear door then secure the front door open with a twist tie so that it won't keep falling shut while you work. Fold newspaper lengthwise and place it inside the bottom of the trap to disguise the wires. Do not use newspaper if it is windy. Place approximately one tablespoon of bait along the very back of the trap. You can use a lid or container for this if you wish. Now drizzle some juice from the bait along the trap towards the entrance in a zigzag pattern. Place about one-fourth teaspoon of bait in the middle of the trap on the trip-plate, and one-fourth teaspoon about six inches inside the front of the trap. The cat will move his paws trying to get the zigzagged bait, thus springing the trap. It is important not to leave too much bait in the front or middle; this may satisfy the cat and he will leave without setting off the trap. Covering the traps with a towel or sheet is also suggested, leave the trap uncovered front and back so to the cat it appears as if they can go straight through the trap. Always cover the cat when trapped.


SET THE TRAPS. Take the traps to the trapping site and place them on stable ground – make sure they will not rock or tip. Stagger the traps and place them facing in different directions. Try to think like a cat and place the traps where it will be tempting. Move quietly and slowly, and try to remain relaxed so your mannerisms will not frighten cats away. Set and cover the traps. Leave the area quietly. A cat is unlikely to enter a trap if you are standing nearby. You will want to periodically check on the trap quietly from a distance – to see if you’ve trapped a cat and also to make sure that the trap hasn’t been stolen. You do not want to leave a cat in the trap for too long, unattended traps may be stolen, damaged, or set off. Someone who does not understand your intentions may release a trapped cat. If you happen to trap wildlife such as a raccoon or an opossum, release them immediately and step back for them to escape, most will run in the opposite direction but be cautious.Trapping an outdoor cat may take some time. Be patient. It may take the cat a few minutes to go into the trap. Make sure the trap is sprung, and the cat securely trapped, before you approach the trap. If you come out too soon you may frighten the cat away. Keep the cat covered from this point forward.


PLACE CATS IN HOLDING AREA. Try to trap the night before or the morning of the day you will bring them to the clinic for their surgery. You will need a place to keep the trapped cats until you drop them off for their spay/neuter surgery. Covering the traps will help to keep the cats calm. It is normal for the cat to thrash around inside the trap. It is very tempting to release him, but he will not hurt himself if the trap is covered. If a cat has already hurt himself, do not release him. Most injuries from traps are very minor, such as a bruised or bloody nose, or scratched paw pad. If you trap a severely injured or sick cat, rush him to a veterinary clinic (please note that PAWS Chicago does not operate a full service veterinary clinic). Make sure they are in a place where it is dry and warm. They can stay in a basement, ventilated/heated garage, mud room or bathroom in their traps. It is possible for a cat to die from hypothermia when confined in a trap outside in cold weather. A simple guideline: If it is too cold outside for you, then it is too cold for the cats. Do not leave cats in traps exposed to excessive heat or sun.


BRING CATS TO SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC. The PAWS Chicago Lurie Family Spay/Neuter clinic is located at 3516 W. 26th St., between Kedzie Ave and Central Park.. Drop off time is between 7:15AM-10:00AM. Pick up time is between 4:30PM-5:30PM. All outdoor cats need to be brought to the clinic in a humane, covered trap, plastic is suggested for protecting car seats and recovery space but never suggested for covering traps. After surgery, allow the cats to recover overnight in the same traps, still covered. Female cats usually need to be held for 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Male cats can be returned to the trapping site 12 to 24 hours following surgery as long as they are fully awake and do not require further medical attention. Make sure all cats are fully conscious and alert before release. Recovery space can be a basement, ventilated/heated garage, mud room or bathroom - be sure to keep the cats in their humane traps, and do not recover them outside where they are prey to weather and other animals. The same evening after their surgery you may give them a few teaspoons of food and water, carefully open the trap to place food and water and to replace soiled newspaper, repeat the next morning and the following evening until you release the cats. Do not be surprised if the cats refuse to eat, that often happens because of the stress of the situation. Be sure to keep the area they are recovering in quiet, keep them covered and interact with them as little as possible.


RETURN! Release the cat in the same place you trapped him. Open the front door of the trap and pull back the cover. If the trap has a rear door, pull the door up and off, pull off the cover, then walk away. Do not be concerned if the cat hesitates a few moments before leaving. He is simply reorienting himself to his surroundings. It is not uncommon for the cat to stay away for a few days after release; he will return eventually. Keep leaving food and water out; he may eat when you are not around. Never release the cat into a new area. Relocating cats without the proper steps can endanger the cat's life. He will try to return to his old home, and may become lost or attempt to cross major roads. Also, outdoor cats form strong bonds with other cats in their colonies. Separating a cat from his colony members and leaving him alone in a new environment will cause stress, depression, and loneliness.


MAINTAIN. As an outdoor cat care giver you are now responsible for seeing to the feeding, and shelter of your colony as well as keeping an eye on the overall health of the cats and registering with a sponsoring outdoor cat organization**.


Here are some links to and inexpensive outdoor cat housing and winter pet care tips.

- Winter Pet Tips

- Outdoor Cat Housing


Outdoor Cat Free Food Pantries
Treehouse Humane Society - Chicago based, feral program and food pantry
773-784-5488 x 231
www.treehouseanimals.org

Felines, Inc. - free outdoor cat food pantry
773-465-4132
www.felinesinc.org


FEEL GREAT! You’ve saved the lives of many cats and improved the living quality of our outdoor cat friends. WE THANK YOU!!!

(Each community has different laws regarding free roaming animals. Please check with your local government regarding the laws in your area**)


**TNR Ordinance in Cook County

In October of 2007 Cook County passed a TNR Ordinance making it legal to practice TNR in Cook County. As an outdoor cat care giver you are required to spay/neuter, vaccinate, ear tip and micro-chip the cats in your colony, be responsible for the feeding, sheltering and overall health of the cats and to be registered with a sponsoring organization. PAWS Chicago is one of five sponsoring organizations in Cook County. As a sponsoring organization PAWS Chicago can help with concerns that arise from being an outdoor cat caregiver and can aid in the return of an outdoor cat that has been inadvertently picked up. If you would like to be registered with PAWS Chicago please fill out and send back the Colony Caregiver Application found below and be prepared to submit the Colony Tracking Form also found below. For more information about the TNR Ordinance call 773-475-9410 or email us at outdoorcats@pawschicago.org. For more information about other sponsoring organizations go to www.tnrchicago.org.

- Cook County TNR Ordinance

- Outdoor Cat Colony Caregiver Application

- Outdoor Cat Colony Tracking Form


Vouchers

For those in serious financial need, we do have a volunteer for voucher program to help defer the cost. Please call 773-475-9410 for more information.


Finding Homes for Friendly Cats and Kittens

Outdoor cats who have not been socialized to humans are not good candidates for an adoption program as this would be extremely stressful for them. If there are cats in your colony that are friendly and that you can handle, or if there are kittens under three months of age they may be eligible for our program.  Kittens need to be taken into the home for socialization, we suggest a dog crate or bathroom and handled every day. Do not take kittens away from their mother before 6 weeks of age. You may contact our intake team at admissionscat@pawschicago.org or call them at 773-475-9462. There is a waiting list, a relinquishment fee and all cats need to be friendly and test negative for FIV and FeLV and be current on their distemper vaccine. Newly vaccinated cats must be vaccinated at least 10 days or more prior to admission. The wait time varies depending on the amount of calls we receive, please call to inquire about wait time. Here are some more suggestions for finding homes and socializing kittens and cats:

- Tips on Taming Feral Cats and Kittens

- How to Find Homes


Lurie Family Spay/Neuter Clinic
3516 W. 26th Street in Little Village between Kedzie and Central Park
Chicago, IL 60623
773-521-7729 (SPAY)


Outdoor Cat Services
Outdoor Cat Package $20 (PAWS Chicago offers free surgery for feral cats with a $20 charge for ear tipping, rabies and distemper vaccines, ear cleaning, wound cleaning, flea, tick and parasite treatment, and antibiotic.)
* Please Note: The Feral/Outdoor cat fee will be $25 for those outside of Chicago.
Micro-chip $6
FIV/FeLV Test $12

TNR Results In:

  • Healthy and well-cared for, but gradually diminishing cat colonies
  • An immediate reduction in complaints about behaviors associated with unsterilized cats, including spraying, fighting, roaming and breeding
  • Fewer rodents in your neighborhood

Thanks to our friends at Alley Cat Allies for providing PAWS Chicago with ongoing information and support on TNR.. Please visit Alley Cat Allies’ website at www.alleycat.org for comprehensive information on TNR and www.alleycat.org/chicago for information about FREE TNR workshops in you area.


Additional Outdoor Cat Resources:

Local
Tree House Humane Society - www.treehouseanimals.org
773-784-5488 x231

Triple R Pets – www.triplerpets.org
708-878-9207

PACT Humane Society – www.pacthumanesociety.org
630-375-7017

Chicagoland Stray Cat Coalition www.chicagolandstrays.org
773-517-5199

National
Alley Cat Allies – www.alleycat.org

Neighborhood Cats – www.neighborhoodcats.org

Humane Society of the United States – www.hsus.org

Contact Us:
 outdoorcats@pawschicago.org
773-475-9410