By Rebecca Henry, DVM
SNIP House
The signs of fall are evident at the SNIP House. Leaves blanket the front yard and it's dark by the time our last patients go home
with their caregivers. Fall also brings a lot of industrious people and their animals to the SNIP House.
In recent weeks thoughtful people have trapped and brought in high numbers of feral (wild, unsocialized cats) cats for neutering,
vaccinations and worming treatments. These folks volunteer their energy and time to care for these cats before the cold winter
settles into Central Oregon. Of course, we welcome ferals in the winter as well.
Not only do we get wonderful people taking time to trap and bring in these cats, but we also have many people asking us for the
new and improved versions that are available for adoption at our clinic. Many people with barns will attest to the value these cats
have at shops, farms, barns and homesteads. While unspayed and unvaccinated and sickly cats may be a detriment to a property,
these "value-added" cats are more healthy and energetic-- and can better focus on vermin control.
While they still need the basics-- food, water and shelter-- the savings in reduction of rodent-related problems far exceeds this
nominal investment. Plus, one gets a little room in their heart to know they have done a good deed for a homeless companion animal.
Call the SNIP House for more information on our Trap-Neuter-Return and trap lending programs at 447-6444.
Following are excerpts from an excellent article from Alley Cat Allies (www.alleycat.org), detailing our struggles and strides in
helping our community's cats:
"Few people set out to become feral cat caregivers. Most often they come across feral cats by accident and follow their instinct to
help. The first impulse is to feed the cats. We advocate feeding because food and water are necessary for survival. Not feeding
the cats and hoping they will go away is not realistic. They can't go away and they may eventually starve, but they will continue to
reproduce.
Every jurisdiction faces the challenge of ever-increasing cat complaints and the need to reduce the numbers of feral and stray
cats. And here's a surprise: feral cat advocates share that goal and want to help you reach it.
In many places, animal control personnel are restricted in many ways, to responding to complaints about feral cats by trapping and
euthanizing as many of the complained-about cats as possible. But we know now, that more than 30 years of trapping and killing
cats has done nothing to reduce the feral cat populations. In fact, communities using this approach generally have as many or
more cats than ever.
Why?
Simply removing cats only makes that territory and food resource more available for other cats to move in. This is called the
"vacuum effect". And it has been observed worldwide. Feral cats are prolific breeders-- often having 3 litters a summer, and they
rapidly reestablish their numbers in such a vacuum. The only effective method to reduce feral cat populations is to spay and
neuter-- to sterilize and stop reproduction. This is the first step.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the complete process that helps reduce feral cat numbers. It is a full-scale sterilization,
vaccination/treatment and management program that addresses both the immediate and long-term goal of reducing feral cat
numbers.
In TNR, stray and feral cats are humanely trapped (the SNIP clinic has traps available for this program), then evaluated, vaccinated,
treated for parasites, and neutered by a veterinarian. Kittens are often tamable, so taming and placing kittens back into homes is a
cornerstone of reducing these numbers. Healthy feral cats are returned to their outdoor territories to be monitored and cared for
by neighborhood volunteers.
While this may sound complicated and expensive, it turns out to be very cost- effective. TNR averages about 1/2 the cost it takes
to trap, hold, euthanize and dispose of feral cats at a typical animal control facility. It also frees up people to do more of what they
love -- more positive animal-related work, which is extremely valuable and hard to put a price on, wouldn't you agree?
It is important, at this point, to dispel a myth about TNR. Caregivers to do not ask for these colonies. Feral cats naturally congregate
in colonies. Caregivers work with the natural dynamics of colonies, which are that the cats within the group know each other and
are content to live together even after sterilization has altered their behaviors (often for the better)-- that is, no more breeding and
fewer objectionable mating behaviors.
Is TNR a quick solution? Well, there is no quick solution. But TNR does begin working from the very first day it is implemented.
Adopting out kittens and friendly cats can often reduce feral cat colonies by half. No more kittens are born. Adult cats are
healthier and live out their natural lives. Caregivers trap newcomers and bring the cats to the clinic for sterilization and treatments
and release them back into the same environment to prevent the "vacuum effect". Or, they are found homes on farms and
properties that know the value of these cats!
For more information about the SNIP House's TNR and trap lending programs, call 447-6444. We help feral cats and we help our
community!
SNIP House
The signs of fall are evident at the SNIP House. Leaves blanket the front yard and it's dark by the time our last patients go home
with their caregivers. Fall also brings a lot of industrious people and their animals to the SNIP House.
In recent weeks thoughtful people have trapped and brought in high numbers of feral (wild, unsocialized cats) cats for neutering,
vaccinations and worming treatments. These folks volunteer their energy and time to care for these cats before the cold winter
settles into Central Oregon. Of course, we welcome ferals in the winter as well.
Not only do we get wonderful people taking time to trap and bring in these cats, but we also have many people asking us for the
new and improved versions that are available for adoption at our clinic. Many people with barns will attest to the value these cats
have at shops, farms, barns and homesteads. While unspayed and unvaccinated and sickly cats may be a detriment to a property,
these "value-added" cats are more healthy and energetic-- and can better focus on vermin control.
While they still need the basics-- food, water and shelter-- the savings in reduction of rodent-related problems far exceeds this
nominal investment. Plus, one gets a little room in their heart to know they have done a good deed for a homeless companion animal.
Call the SNIP House for more information on our Trap-Neuter-Return and trap lending programs at 447-6444.
Following are excerpts from an excellent article from Alley Cat Allies (www.alleycat.org), detailing our struggles and strides in
helping our community's cats:
"Few people set out to become feral cat caregivers. Most often they come across feral cats by accident and follow their instinct to
help. The first impulse is to feed the cats. We advocate feeding because food and water are necessary for survival. Not feeding
the cats and hoping they will go away is not realistic. They can't go away and they may eventually starve, but they will continue to
reproduce.
Every jurisdiction faces the challenge of ever-increasing cat complaints and the need to reduce the numbers of feral and stray
cats. And here's a surprise: feral cat advocates share that goal and want to help you reach it.
In many places, animal control personnel are restricted in many ways, to responding to complaints about feral cats by trapping and
euthanizing as many of the complained-about cats as possible. But we know now, that more than 30 years of trapping and killing
cats has done nothing to reduce the feral cat populations. In fact, communities using this approach generally have as many or
more cats than ever.
Why?
Simply removing cats only makes that territory and food resource more available for other cats to move in. This is called the
"vacuum effect". And it has been observed worldwide. Feral cats are prolific breeders-- often having 3 litters a summer, and they
rapidly reestablish their numbers in such a vacuum. The only effective method to reduce feral cat populations is to spay and
neuter-- to sterilize and stop reproduction. This is the first step.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the complete process that helps reduce feral cat numbers. It is a full-scale sterilization,
vaccination/treatment and management program that addresses both the immediate and long-term goal of reducing feral cat
numbers.
In TNR, stray and feral cats are humanely trapped (the SNIP clinic has traps available for this program), then evaluated, vaccinated,
treated for parasites, and neutered by a veterinarian. Kittens are often tamable, so taming and placing kittens back into homes is a
cornerstone of reducing these numbers. Healthy feral cats are returned to their outdoor territories to be monitored and cared for
by neighborhood volunteers.
While this may sound complicated and expensive, it turns out to be very cost- effective. TNR averages about 1/2 the cost it takes
to trap, hold, euthanize and dispose of feral cats at a typical animal control facility. It also frees up people to do more of what they
love -- more positive animal-related work, which is extremely valuable and hard to put a price on, wouldn't you agree?
It is important, at this point, to dispel a myth about TNR. Caregivers to do not ask for these colonies. Feral cats naturally congregate
in colonies. Caregivers work with the natural dynamics of colonies, which are that the cats within the group know each other and
are content to live together even after sterilization has altered their behaviors (often for the better)-- that is, no more breeding and
fewer objectionable mating behaviors.
Is TNR a quick solution? Well, there is no quick solution. But TNR does begin working from the very first day it is implemented.
Adopting out kittens and friendly cats can often reduce feral cat colonies by half. No more kittens are born. Adult cats are
healthier and live out their natural lives. Caregivers trap newcomers and bring the cats to the clinic for sterilization and treatments
and release them back into the same environment to prevent the "vacuum effect". Or, they are found homes on farms and
properties that know the value of these cats!
For more information about the SNIP House's TNR and trap lending programs, call 447-6444. We help feral cats and we help our
community!
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Addressing the
Feral Cat Problem
Feral Cat Problem