TNR

TNR stands for Trap, Neuter, Return. It is the process used by the Hello Street Cat company to neuter stray cats, helping to control the stray cat population. Cats are sometimes captured using the TNR process to treat injuries, rather than neutering. The method is also used for vulnerable cats, such as very young kittens.

A TNR trap room with a cat inside the sack

Hello Street Cat has released various reports on their TNR statistics, showing how TNR has been effective in neutering stray cats. On the other hand, the process isn't perfect, with cats sometimes managing to escape at various stages. Hello Street Cat is still working to improve the procedure.

Trap

This is the first step of TNR. Usually, a Mechanical Trap Room is attached to the feeder to catch the cat. It includes a sack extension, which allows the cats to be captured and handled. When the cat enters the trap, the door will be manually closed - patiently and slowly, so they do not get alerted as the human approaches. Once it is closed, the cat will be maneuvered into the bag. The sack is then unattached from the feeder and the cat is taken away.

Trained professionals are usually hired to carry out the process, as some cats can struggle and attempt to escape. This ensures the safety of the cat and the people involved with trapping them. If a cat is smart enough to escape or not go inside the trap, other methods may be introduced, such as a drop trap.

Neuter

Neutering is an operation that removes the cat's ability to reproduce. During this step, the cat is taken to a veterinary clinic to undergo the operation. They usually remain at the clinic until they have fully recovered. However, there have been some instances of cats escaping pre-emptively, such as Mr. Grandpa and Ms. Toast.

Return

After their time at the clinic, there are two options for the cat. Typically, they are either adopted into a home or released back into the wild. Sometimes, cats who have been taken for TNR later return to their feeder, such as Big Faced Brother.

TNR Ear Clip

Cats who undergo TNR usually have one of their ears clipped, leaving a small but visible marking. This is to keep track of which stray cats have been neutered. If a cat is seen with an ear clip, we can assume that they have been neutered.

The cat's ear is clipped during the neutering operation. It heals very quickly, and causes no harm to the cat.

Ear clippings usually take two forms - a straight line or a circular dent. Sometimes, they will clip a certain ear to coordinate what gender the cat is (left ear for males, right ear for females). This is something to note when figuring out what a cat's gender is.

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  A cat with a circular ear clipping

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  A cat with a straight ear clipping