Targeted Trapping
For TNR to be sufficiently effective at preventing population growth, a minimum of anywhere from 75%-94% of cats need to be sterilized depending on the size of the colony. This is best accomplished by catching as many cats in as short an amount of time as possible, a technique known as “targeted” or occasionally “mass” trapping. Targeted trapping aims to trap every cat in a group or location for TNR. This will reduce free-roaming cat populations, provide human care for groups of outdoor cats, as well as help decrease euthanasia rates at local shelters.
Targeted trapping helps improve the life of all cats in a group, as well as neighbors in the surrounding areas. It leads to fewer nuisance complaints and less predation, as well as an increase of rabies vaccines, improved animal welfare, and no more kittens born in the group. Additionally, it is also easier to obtain important information such as medical records, tracking sheets, and amounts of time and money spent on trapping. This information will help you in the future, as well as help demonstrate your success.
Getting Involved
If you are already part of a TNR effort, you may be receiving calls from the public regarding community cats. Start a spreadsheet and make a record of information from callers, including things such as:
Another good idea is to petition for calls by placing an ad in the local newspaper, posting on Facebook, etc., with a number that concerned citizens can call about community cats. Use a number other than your home phone number and ensure that callers’ information will be kept private. Yard signs and door hangars are also useful for specific neighborhoods. Additionally, many animal shelters are aware of where large cat groups are located. You can try contacting them as well for further information.
Involvement in the community is also useful for the next stages, as strategies for mass-trapping large colonies hinge on careful control of feeding times and locations. If other members of your community put out food for the local cats, you will need to make sure you have their cooperation to ensure targeted trapping success.
Pinpointing Groups of Cats
Using the information you’ve gathered from the public and/or shelters, you can determine where large groups of cats are located. Large colonies tend to have multiple areas where they seek food and shelter; while feral cats may have ranges up to or exceeding two miles, it is much more common for them to remain within a territory of around a quarter of a mile. Using programs such as Google Maps, you can plot reported sightings and see areas and neighborhoods where residents are making reports about cats. These locations are the areas where you will want to focus your trapping efforts.
In addition to the location and size of the colony, you will also want to make note of:
The Community Cats Podcast recommends that you allow at least 3 weeks of reconnaissance before beginning to trap.
Establish a Targeted Trapping Plan
After determining the target areas, decide which one you will begin with. Do some research on the group, such as where the cats live and who is feeding them. Next, speak with the neighbors and inform them of your plan. This is an important part of the process, as this is also a time where you can listen to any concerns the neighbors may have, as well as inform them about the project. A sense of involvement among the community will mean that neighbors will more likely be cooperative and supportive of the plan. Also discuss with the neighbors about their own cats, as it is important that their cats are spayed/neutered as well. Let them know when you will be trapping, so that all pet cats can be kept indoors. If necessary, arrange for unfixed pet cats to be spayed/neutered. Then, establish a plan for the trapping, transporting, vet visits, and returning of the cats.
For very large (20+ cats) colonies, it is recommended to encourage cats to congregate all at once by establishing a single consistent feeding time each day. This is a major reason that community involvement is important; the cats will not starve if your neighbors don’t leave food out for them, no matter how much they insist that they will surely perish! Making sure that there is one source of food to which the entire colony must gather is vital to the success of large-scale targeted trapping efforts.
For additional information, please refer to the TNR Step-by-Step section.
Record your Progress
Be sure to keep records for every cat you trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return or adopt, as well as all the pet cats you spayed or neutered. You can ask the clinic(s) to fill it out. The more detailed records you maintain, the more successful you will be in petitioning for future contributions and recruitments, as well as demonstrating that the program is valuable to the community.
Over time, the number of cats in the groups you target will stabilize. After the trapping, encourage caregivers to continue to monitor the groups as well as trap and neuter any new cats who join the group. Obtaining positive statements from caregivers and neighbors can also serve as good evidence that the program is successful and beneficial to the community.
Targeted trapping will help keep trapping not only organized but also allow for more cats to be helped in the most effective way possible. Both community cats and neighbors alike will benefit from these efforts.
References
Targeted trapping helps improve the life of all cats in a group, as well as neighbors in the surrounding areas. It leads to fewer nuisance complaints and less predation, as well as an increase of rabies vaccines, improved animal welfare, and no more kittens born in the group. Additionally, it is also easier to obtain important information such as medical records, tracking sheets, and amounts of time and money spent on trapping. This information will help you in the future, as well as help demonstrate your success.
Getting Involved
If you are already part of a TNR effort, you may be receiving calls from the public regarding community cats. Start a spreadsheet and make a record of information from callers, including things such as:
- Full name
- Address
- Phone number
- Location of cats
- Number of cats
- Group history (how did the group start, how long ago, etc.)
- If the cats are being fed/by whom
- Owner of the property where the cats are located
- Purpose of the call (concern, desire to help, etc.)
Another good idea is to petition for calls by placing an ad in the local newspaper, posting on Facebook, etc., with a number that concerned citizens can call about community cats. Use a number other than your home phone number and ensure that callers’ information will be kept private. Yard signs and door hangars are also useful for specific neighborhoods. Additionally, many animal shelters are aware of where large cat groups are located. You can try contacting them as well for further information.
Involvement in the community is also useful for the next stages, as strategies for mass-trapping large colonies hinge on careful control of feeding times and locations. If other members of your community put out food for the local cats, you will need to make sure you have their cooperation to ensure targeted trapping success.
Pinpointing Groups of Cats
Using the information you’ve gathered from the public and/or shelters, you can determine where large groups of cats are located. Large colonies tend to have multiple areas where they seek food and shelter; while feral cats may have ranges up to or exceeding two miles, it is much more common for them to remain within a territory of around a quarter of a mile. Using programs such as Google Maps, you can plot reported sightings and see areas and neighborhoods where residents are making reports about cats. These locations are the areas where you will want to focus your trapping efforts.
In addition to the location and size of the colony, you will also want to make note of:
- How many cats need to be spayed or neutered, and if any have been ear-tipped to indicate previous sterilization;
- Whether there are any pregnant or nursing mothers, and if/how many kittens are present; if there are kittens, get them out and into foster situations before you start trapping.
- Your nearest clinic(s) and their availability;
- How much space and equipment you will need to capture, transport, and safely hold an entire colony of cats.
- Do you have a place to hold the cats for 24 to 48 hours while they recover after sterilization?
The Community Cats Podcast recommends that you allow at least 3 weeks of reconnaissance before beginning to trap.
Establish a Targeted Trapping Plan
After determining the target areas, decide which one you will begin with. Do some research on the group, such as where the cats live and who is feeding them. Next, speak with the neighbors and inform them of your plan. This is an important part of the process, as this is also a time where you can listen to any concerns the neighbors may have, as well as inform them about the project. A sense of involvement among the community will mean that neighbors will more likely be cooperative and supportive of the plan. Also discuss with the neighbors about their own cats, as it is important that their cats are spayed/neutered as well. Let them know when you will be trapping, so that all pet cats can be kept indoors. If necessary, arrange for unfixed pet cats to be spayed/neutered. Then, establish a plan for the trapping, transporting, vet visits, and returning of the cats.
For very large (20+ cats) colonies, it is recommended to encourage cats to congregate all at once by establishing a single consistent feeding time each day. This is a major reason that community involvement is important; the cats will not starve if your neighbors don’t leave food out for them, no matter how much they insist that they will surely perish! Making sure that there is one source of food to which the entire colony must gather is vital to the success of large-scale targeted trapping efforts.
For additional information, please refer to the TNR Step-by-Step section.
Record your Progress
Be sure to keep records for every cat you trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return or adopt, as well as all the pet cats you spayed or neutered. You can ask the clinic(s) to fill it out. The more detailed records you maintain, the more successful you will be in petitioning for future contributions and recruitments, as well as demonstrating that the program is valuable to the community.
Over time, the number of cats in the groups you target will stabilize. After the trapping, encourage caregivers to continue to monitor the groups as well as trap and neuter any new cats who join the group. Obtaining positive statements from caregivers and neighbors can also serve as good evidence that the program is successful and beneficial to the community.
Targeted trapping will help keep trapping not only organized but also allow for more cats to be helped in the most effective way possible. Both community cats and neighbors alike will benefit from these efforts.
References
- “Targeted Trapping-Organize Your Efforts and Help More Cats.” Alley Cat Allies, www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/targeted-trapping-organize-your-efforts-and-help-more-cats/.
- Clark, Alisson. “We've Been Trapping and Sterilizing Stray Cats for Decades. Does It Work?” University of Florida News, University of Florida, 7 Aug. 2019, https://news.ufl.edu/2019/08/does-sterilizing-stray-cats-work/.
- Coe, Seraiah T., et al. “Free-Ranging Domestic Cat Abundance and Sterilization Percentage Following Five Years of a Trap–Neuter–Return Program.” Wildlife Biology, vol. 2021, no. 1, 11 Feb. 2021, https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00799.
- Kellogg, Cecily. “Science of Roaming Cats.” FIGO, FIGO Pet Insurance, LLC, https://figopetinsurance.com/blog/science-roaming-cats.
- Kortis, Bryan. "Targeted TNR: Making an Impact." Delaware Animal Rescue Summit, May 19, 2016, Neighborhood Cats.
- Petrie, Kristen. “Mass Trapping Success: Here's What You Need to Know.” The Community Cats Podcast, 30 Aug. 2022, https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/mass-trapping-success-heres-what-you-need-to-know/?mc_cid=04bd8e126d&mc_eid=fe629f1d8b.
- Yates, Diana. “Researchers Track the Secret Lives of Feral and Free-Roaming House Cats.” Illinois News Bureau, University of Illinois, 26 May 2011, https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/205315.
- Zielinski, Sarah. “The Secret Lives of Feral Cats.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 31 May 2011, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-secret-lives-of-feral-cats-179790776/.