Resources
TNR and Colony Management Education
This paper retrospectively examines a TNR program—began in 1992—that resulted in the elimination of hundreds of cats from the Newburyport, Massachusetts, waterfront. An estimated 300 cats resided in the area at the commencement of the TNR program; none remained 17 years later. Up to one-third of the cats trapped were sociable and adopted into homes; the remainder were sterilized and vaccinated before being returned to the waterfront, where they declined in number over time due to attrition. A compelling narrative emerged from the available evidence concerning the effectiveness of TNR as a management practice. The paper underscores the need for establishment of standardized data collection and assessment practices.
This paper by the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACC&D) brought together a team with diverse expertise to create a realistic simulation model of FRC populations. The process relied a lot on concepts and work from wildlife biology (we define some of these concepts and related terminology in Appendix A). One of our main goals was to identify the most effective and cost-efficient ways to reduce the size of FRC populations over a 10-year period when using sterilization-based management. We also compared these to lethal approaches.
It is natural to think that feral kittens should be brought inside. Each case is different but in the majority of the cases, according to this article authored by prominent veterinarians indicates they can do just as well if left outside with their mother.
This is a Neighborhood Cat presentation that is an excellent resource for cat colony managers
Colony Caretaking Tips and Tricks Presented by Neighborhood Cats - Updated for 2023!