I Took the Trap Neuter Return Course, Now What?

 
 

If You Have obtained Your TNR Certificate,
Start Here:

First, be assured that you are not alone. Many hundreds of dedicated people have taken the TNR course and are willing to help you.

Google Group - An email group has been set up for feral cat colony caretakers in the GTA. Please fill out the form on our Forums page to join. Once approved, you will be added to the group.

CCT InfoLine - Is a service offered by Community Cats Toronto - the originator of the TNR course. Click on Contact Us, and complete the form outlining your question or concern and providing as much detail as possible. You can generally expect a reply within 24 hours or less.

Do A Colony Census

If you manage or establish a feral colony, no matter how small, do a colony census. List each cat in the colony, noting its colour, length of hair, special markings, whether ear-tipped or not and any other distinguishing feature or behaviour. Note the microchip number if there is one. If not, endeavor to have each cat microchipped so that it can be traced if needed in future. Any vet, Toronto Humane Society (THS) or the Toronto Animal Services (TAS) will check for a chip for free. Use information from feeders and/or your own observations to determine the age of each cat and note this in your census.

Register your Colony with CatStats

CatStats is a private database maintained by our organization that enables ourselves and approved Coalition members to determine where colonies are located, who is managing the colony, the number of cats in the colony, and measure the success of the program.

Teach your colony cats to become trap-friendly

From time-to-time you may need to trap your cats to transport them. You can do this by putting food in a trap so that the cat becomes accustomed to going into the trap.

take Basic Steps to TNR Your Cats

Plan:

  1. Assess trapping site, reserve traps

  2. Make TNR appointment (THS, TAS & Toronto Street Cats)

  3. Label all traps

  4. Pre-fill surgical consent forms and microchip information

  5. Make recovery arrangements and recover cat(s)

  6. Return to colony site and release

Book TNR surgery appointments

Contact any of the TNR Clinics listed on our site. Check their online calendar for this drop-in service. At Toronto Humane Society, appointments cannot be made in advance.

Contact Toronto Animal Services, and/or Toronto Street Cats to book surgery for each cat. Make sure that you have transportation and a recovery plan for the cat or cats after surgery.

Get your traps in order

Contact the Toronto Feral Cat Recovery Centre to reserve a box or drop trap loan. Traps are available at no cost to anyone who has completed the TNR course, although trap divider forks require a small deposit.
Contact the Ontario SPCA in Markham to borrow a trap.
Each TNR facility has different requirements for the kind of traps that they allow. Check in advance. All clinics prefer or require a 2-door feral cat trap.

Purchase a trap of your own or request to borrow one from another caretaker through one of our groups.

Trapping Cats

Review your notes from the TNR course. You may also want to view the video found at on how to set a Tomahawk 2-door trap. Another useful resource is the website of Neighborhood Cats, based in New York City. Check traps to ensure that they’re in working order. If trapping or setting surveillance cameras on private property, ensure that you have permission to be there.

Surgery Day - What to Do and What to Expect

Trap and take the cat(s) to the surgery at which you’ve booked an appointment at the pre-arranged time. At the surgery, the cat(s) will be given a health check, vaccinated, and neutered.

You can pick them up the same day. Toronto Humane Society will hold the animal until the next day if you request.

Recovery from Spay-Neuter Surgery

Normal surgery recovery takes between to 24 hours for neuters to 48 hours for spays. A newly spayed or neutered cat can be cared for in a quiet, warm indoor place for 1-2 days for recovery. The cat may also be taken to the Toronto Feral Cat Recovery Centre on Progress Ave, where it will be cared for and kept for two or three days. There is no charge for this service. Make an appointment beforehand via their website.

Returning the cat after recovery

Following recovery, feral cats should be returned to the place where they were trapped. Alternatively, they could, with prior arrangement, be taken to

Toronto Humane Society, Toronto Animal Services or to a cat rescue where they would be observed to determine whether or not they are socialized to humans. If they are, they can be surrendered and put out to a foster home and/or offered for adoption. If they are not, they should be returned to the location where they were trapped. Ensure that the neutered cat will be fed, sheltered and monitored at their destination.

Ongoing Colony Care

Food: Provided that the caretaker has a certificate from the TNR course they are eligible for donated cat food when available. Contact tscfood at gmail dot com (reformat this your email - it is spelled this way here to avoid spam) to be added to the list of caretakers wanting cat food. You will then be notified when food is available.

Shelters for feral cats can either be made or purchased from Toronto Street Cats or from the Ontario SPCA. The shelters are designed for winter and sold at the cost of materials. If you’re interested in making your own shelter, ask for a design using the Community Cats Toronto information request form.

A useful item you might want to have on hand is a plastic covering to keep the trunk of your car clean. (Dollar Store plastic shower curtains/ plastic table cloths/ puppy pee pads, or covers for traps will serve.)