HEART OF TEXAS
FERAL FRIENDS
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How To TNR
Below are FIVE EZ STEPS to help get you started with TNR!This information is to be used as a guide. We always promote SAFETY FIRST, so if you have any questions about trapping, please CONTACT US or attend one of our TRAP TRAINING WORKSHOPS.
MORE INFORMATION TO BE ANNOUNCED
ABOUT A PETSMART CHARITIES TNR GRANT
FOR FREE-ROAMING CATS IN 76710.
CONTACT US for more details.
1. Determine WHICH CLINIC you will take the cat(s) to be TNR & HOW MUCH it will cost.
If you are using your personal vet for TNR, be sure to find out in advance if they will spay/neuter feral cats (some will not!) and what their office procedure for bringing in a feral cat. Also, make sure they use disposable sutures AND that they will do the left eartip (some will not!).
Area Vet Clinics that provide Affordable TNR:
Animal Birth Control Clinic
254-776-7303
3238 Clay Ave., 76711
You do NOT have to have an appointment when a feral cat is brought in a humane live trap for TNR, but you still must call ahead to confirm they have availability.
Male Cats: $25 neuter, plus $10 rabies vaccination. Ask for 1/4-inch left ear tip.
Female Cats: $35 spay, plus $10 rabies vaccination. Ask for 1/4-inch left ear tip.
If female cat is pregnant or in heat, add an additional $10.
No-Cost Grants: The ABC Clinic does have a grant for no-cost spay/neuter that includes TNR. Call the ABC Clinic to get more details!
Family Pet Care
Dr. Malone
254-772-8300
844 N. Valley Mills Dr., 76710
Call to check availability.
Male Cats: $45, includes rabies vaccination and left eartip.
Female Cats: $45, includes rabies vaccination and left eartip. No extra charge if pregnant of in heat.
2. Traps
We use the Tru-Catch Humane Traps. We have traps in our "Trap Bank" to loan out for a $35 refundable deposit, thanks to a grant from the Humane Society of the United States. You will be asked to sign a waiver if you borrow one of our traps. Please use the trap as quickly as possible and return it, as we sometimes get a waiting list.
If you prefer to buy your own, please be sure to use an appropriate sized trap (not the little rodent humane traps, no matter how small the cat).
NOTICE: Our HOTFF traps may NOT be used to trap cats to take to the animal shelter. If you do, your trap will be confiscated and your deposit will be forfeited!!
3. Trap Process
A. PRACTICE BEFORE HAND! Get familiar with the trap, learn to work it, and how to set it. They may look intimidating, but they are really very easy to use.
B. LINE THE INSIDE OF THE TRAP WITH NEWSPAPER. Will make transporting easier, catches any "accidents" and keeps the cat's toes from getting caught under the wire while transporting.
C. COVER WITH A BED SHEET! Once the cat is trapped, cover immediately with a bed sheet to keep the cat calm. Make sure the sheet is large enough to cover the entire trap, and do not "share" a bed sheet with multiple cats under it. One per trap. We have some donated bed sheets - just ask!
D. WATCH YOUR FINGERS! Safety first! When picking up the trap, do not carry with one hand underneath for support. Your fingers could slip through the wire or the cat could scratch or bite. Carry by the handle, and use the other hand to balance one end on the top of the trap. Go slowly! The cat may thrash around and you may need to set the trap down for a couple of minutes to let the cat settle down.
E. KEEP CATS COOL! Keep the cats cool by immediately moving the covered trap to a shaded area or to an air conditioned vehicle.
4. The RETURN!
Keep the cat safely in the trap overnight after surgery. HOT WEATHER ALERT - Please keep the cat in a cool place to recover. One of our caregivers lost a cat in part to a hot garage. An inside guest bathroom is ideal. The cat will be groggy and could be susceptible to injury or could fall prey if released while still groggy, but DO NOT OPEN THE TRAP! The vet clinic should be able to insert one of your small bowls at the time of surgery so you can pour water from the outside of the trap, but most feral cats will not eat or drink while in the trap... it's okay! The next morning, take the cat to the same area as was trapped. Pull back the sheet for a couple of minutes to let the cat "get the smells" that he/she is home. Then (again, watch the fingers!) open the trap and be ready for the cat's burst of freedom! Make sure that the opening of the trap is directed away from traffic, and hopefully the cat can dart into nearby brush for safety. NOTE: After the RETURN process, a cat may keep his or her distance from you and the rest of the colony for a few days. This is normal and the cat will typically show up in a few days. Just keep feeding on your regular schedule.
5. MONITOR!!!
TNR is pointless unless you monitor the colony cats daily. If any new cats show up to the colony, fix them immediately! All your efforts can be in vain if you skip this step! Keep notes if any fail to show up... call 254-754-1454 if you notice any missing. They may have been picked up by Animal Control or brought in by a neighbor, but we treat ear-tipped cats as having a "Caregiver" and we need you to let us know if one is missing so he/she can be reclaimed and brought "home."
MORE TIPS WILL BE POSTED SOON!
CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
or email us at Info@HOTFeralFriends.com
We are a group of volunteers and will try to get to your request for help as soon as possible. If for some reason you don't hear back from us in 3-5 days, email or Contact Us again!!!
ABOUT A PETSMART CHARITIES TNR GRANT
FOR FREE-ROAMING CATS IN 76710.
CONTACT US for more details.
1. Determine WHICH CLINIC you will take the cat(s) to be TNR & HOW MUCH it will cost.
If you are using your personal vet for TNR, be sure to find out in advance if they will spay/neuter feral cats (some will not!) and what their office procedure for bringing in a feral cat. Also, make sure they use disposable sutures AND that they will do the left eartip (some will not!).
Area Vet Clinics that provide Affordable TNR:
Animal Birth Control Clinic
254-776-7303
3238 Clay Ave., 76711
You do NOT have to have an appointment when a feral cat is brought in a humane live trap for TNR, but you still must call ahead to confirm they have availability.
Male Cats: $25 neuter, plus $10 rabies vaccination. Ask for 1/4-inch left ear tip.
Female Cats: $35 spay, plus $10 rabies vaccination. Ask for 1/4-inch left ear tip.
If female cat is pregnant or in heat, add an additional $10.
No-Cost Grants: The ABC Clinic does have a grant for no-cost spay/neuter that includes TNR. Call the ABC Clinic to get more details!
Family Pet Care
Dr. Malone
254-772-8300
844 N. Valley Mills Dr., 76710
Call to check availability.
Male Cats: $45, includes rabies vaccination and left eartip.
Female Cats: $45, includes rabies vaccination and left eartip. No extra charge if pregnant of in heat.
2. Traps
We use the Tru-Catch Humane Traps. We have traps in our "Trap Bank" to loan out for a $35 refundable deposit, thanks to a grant from the Humane Society of the United States. You will be asked to sign a waiver if you borrow one of our traps. Please use the trap as quickly as possible and return it, as we sometimes get a waiting list.
If you prefer to buy your own, please be sure to use an appropriate sized trap (not the little rodent humane traps, no matter how small the cat).
NOTICE: Our HOTFF traps may NOT be used to trap cats to take to the animal shelter. If you do, your trap will be confiscated and your deposit will be forfeited!!
3. Trap Process
A. PRACTICE BEFORE HAND! Get familiar with the trap, learn to work it, and how to set it. They may look intimidating, but they are really very easy to use.
B. LINE THE INSIDE OF THE TRAP WITH NEWSPAPER. Will make transporting easier, catches any "accidents" and keeps the cat's toes from getting caught under the wire while transporting.
C. COVER WITH A BED SHEET! Once the cat is trapped, cover immediately with a bed sheet to keep the cat calm. Make sure the sheet is large enough to cover the entire trap, and do not "share" a bed sheet with multiple cats under it. One per trap. We have some donated bed sheets - just ask!
D. WATCH YOUR FINGERS! Safety first! When picking up the trap, do not carry with one hand underneath for support. Your fingers could slip through the wire or the cat could scratch or bite. Carry by the handle, and use the other hand to balance one end on the top of the trap. Go slowly! The cat may thrash around and you may need to set the trap down for a couple of minutes to let the cat settle down.
E. KEEP CATS COOL! Keep the cats cool by immediately moving the covered trap to a shaded area or to an air conditioned vehicle.
4. The RETURN!
Keep the cat safely in the trap overnight after surgery. HOT WEATHER ALERT - Please keep the cat in a cool place to recover. One of our caregivers lost a cat in part to a hot garage. An inside guest bathroom is ideal. The cat will be groggy and could be susceptible to injury or could fall prey if released while still groggy, but DO NOT OPEN THE TRAP! The vet clinic should be able to insert one of your small bowls at the time of surgery so you can pour water from the outside of the trap, but most feral cats will not eat or drink while in the trap... it's okay! The next morning, take the cat to the same area as was trapped. Pull back the sheet for a couple of minutes to let the cat "get the smells" that he/she is home. Then (again, watch the fingers!) open the trap and be ready for the cat's burst of freedom! Make sure that the opening of the trap is directed away from traffic, and hopefully the cat can dart into nearby brush for safety. NOTE: After the RETURN process, a cat may keep his or her distance from you and the rest of the colony for a few days. This is normal and the cat will typically show up in a few days. Just keep feeding on your regular schedule.
5. MONITOR!!!
TNR is pointless unless you monitor the colony cats daily. If any new cats show up to the colony, fix them immediately! All your efforts can be in vain if you skip this step! Keep notes if any fail to show up... call 254-754-1454 if you notice any missing. They may have been picked up by Animal Control or brought in by a neighbor, but we treat ear-tipped cats as having a "Caregiver" and we need you to let us know if one is missing so he/she can be reclaimed and brought "home."
MORE TIPS WILL BE POSTED SOON!
CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
or email us at Info@HOTFeralFriends.com
We are a group of volunteers and will try to get to your request for help as soon as possible. If for some reason you don't hear back from us in 3-5 days, email or Contact Us again!!!
