International Training - TNR

Ian MacFarlaine RVN – Neutering Manager

TNR•Principles of Trap Neuter & Return (not Release)

•Generally use “catch” for dogs and “trap” for cats

•Process of trapping free-living cats, neutering them and returning them to the same spot where caught. Where resources allow, selecting suitable cats for rehoming in the process

Considerations1. Welfare & safety of cats & people 2. Neuter the whole colony 3. Work with feeders, residents and

landowners. Communicate4. Select/use the right equipment, 5. Being prepared for the work.6. Planning for the unexpected 7. Hygiene. 

Outcomes and PrinciplesOutcomes we want:• Stabilise & reduce colony• Prevent injury stress & trauma.• Maintain reputation.

Principles:• Cats in & out of TNR as fast as

possible - release next day for males / flank spays; hospitalise a maximum of 2 days for pregnant spays.

• Surgery with minimal complications.• Clear policies and procedures

Cat and Dog TNR DifferencesAttitudes

•Return-To-Site more likely to be tolerated in cats

•Cats often more tolerated

•Cats viewed (wrongly) less as a key rabies species. Dogs seen as a priority.

• Municipal authorities with good dog control are more likely to be interested in developing cat control. Those with no animal control tend to be dog-biased as this is the priority.

Cat and Dog TNR DifferencesExecuting:

•Vehicles – larger, specialist vehicles / equipment for dogs

•Capture method (Traps for cats vs. Traps / Net for dogs)

•Recovery more significant for dogs

•Pre/post-op facility & housing more significant for dogs

•Capacity - (3 cats = 1 dogs in terms of resources, cost, time and space)

Obstacles to cat TNR• Legal to trap0?

• Legal to feed?

• Legal to return?

• Removal favoured?

• Money!

• Vet capacity / skills / cost

Working with vets – 1 skills

• Vets who can safely neuter cats

• Where cat neutering isn’t done widely, skill levels may have fallen

• Look at local options first

• Support training of locals

Working with vets – 2: Incentives• Brings clients into practice

• Volume of work

• Keep skills up

• Discount, then negotiate every 4th cat free

• Communicate and allow them input.

• Send thank you cards etc

• Pay bills on time

• If you have an issue with your vet, deal with it before you consider going elsewhere

Trapping

• One chance• First intervention should

always be neutering• Do not trap to vaccinate

before you neuter – unlikely to catch again

• Always plan ahead, organise, have the right equipment

• Works best when feeders are on-side

Equipment

• Don’t try TNR without having the right equipment.

• Costs to ship – collect from conferences, ask holidaying friends / relatives to bring back with them. Crush cage 3.7kg, traps around 6kg.

• SNIP International • Learn how to use it

properly

Automatic traps

Great for:

- 1 or 2 cats

- Wary cats

- Last of colony while others at surgery

• Label Traps• Monitor and supervise if on

public-accessible land (whether legal or illegal)

• Do not leave unsupervised if on accessible land

• If on enclosed, private, access-controlled land, check every 3-4 hours (no more than) or get householder to monitor.

• Someone out there needs to invent a texting trap!

Automatic Traps….

1. Wrong Cat

2. Not actually a cat

3. Food gone, no cat

Manual traps

….are great because…

• Trap what you need• Priorities• No repeat trappings• Doesn’t require pedal activation• More than one cat: reduce number of cycles• No mechanism• Quick clearance (record being 27 minutes for 13

cats)• (Cats which enter a trap together will be safe to

remain together. Can easily split)

Drop CagesDrop Cages

www.metalcote.co.uk – “Dropper basket”

www.MDCexports.co.uk – “Nurse’s Best Friend with end door”

Transferring•Prop against wall, solid object – car wheel or bumper and steady other end with your foot

•Cover cage you want the cat to go into

•Blow on cat to get it to move across

www.mdcexports.com –

“Trap Transfer Restrainer”

“Trap divider” – ACES www.animalcare.com

“Restraining Comb” – MDC www.mdcexports.co.uk

CAT LOGSHEET

About the cat: It’s from

Stray/Feral

Owned

A shelter

Location Details Name of feeder or volunteer

Name of site where the cat was caught

Address: Street, Lane etc

Date & Time Caught

Cat Details Colour of Cat

Coat length

Short hair

Long

hair

Sex (know for definite?)

Male

Female

Don’t Know

Can the cat be handled?

Yes

No

Don’t know

Box and Carrier Details The cat was brought in

Its own cage or box

A trap

Our Cage

After the op

needs to go back in the same box / trap

)--- needs to be recovered in a different box|: details:

Any comments for the vet team EAR TIP: Yes: Straight cut ; No: do not tip Veterinary Details Time of surgery

Male or female

Any Problems?

Type of suture

Help your vets by...

• No pre op exam, but can still communicate concerns – use forms! Observant!

• Weigh cat – vets love it• How long since it ate and drank –

fluids – tell vet.• Surgeon needs to know how to

handle ferals. Refer if unsure…

Can we fix it?

• Wildlife rehabilitation principles -

• Can it survive after release?

• What is the context of where it is going back to?

• Is it fair to put it through treatment and confinement?

• What does the trapper think?

Can we fix it?

• Find those ferals

• Trap those ferals

• Neuter those ferals

Can we fix it?

• Find those ferals

• Trap those ferals

• Neuter those ferals4th Generation hard-to-catch feral. RF No function - PTS

Lets talk pussy....

• No nose

Lets talk pussy....

• No nose

No nose – unable to thrive - PTS

Friendly male outdoor cat. Feeder able to feed individually hence oral dose. Neutered, debrided, cleaned and returned. Did fine!

Recent non-traumatic eye condition. Flu, debilitated. PTS. (If simple recent injury trauma to eye, would enucleate, hosp and release)

Minimal dentals!

Ear tipping

Ear tipping

Ear tipping

=

Releasing

Releasing

• Check weather conditions (public perceptions important)

• Release exactly to the same spot where caught• Put food down at site• Males and flank spay females : Morning following

surgery is fine• Midline spays, Pyos, heavily pregnant – late on

following day or second morning after• Dependent on vet’s skill, technique• Minimise captivity – welfare / disease / stress /

anorexia / hygiene if kept in

Thank you!