Spotlight on Ferals

Aside from the damage to the environment and to wildlife, the cats still face hazards in suburban and rural areas. Coyotes, great-horned owls, raccoons, people shooting/bee-bees and poisoning them.

They still tend not to get regular vet care and stay current on shots - one time dewormer and flea treatment are not acceptable.

We'll have to agree to disagree. The only real compromise to truly protecte cats and wildlife is to enclose the colonies.

I understand your point of view and respect it and if they were living in the city and under cars, etc. you are correct. The cats in the colony I'm caregiver for all have food, shelter, and me every day checking on them. We all do the best we can and believe how we feel is right way to do it. I respect your feelings, please respect mine.

Free-roaming cats are not 'safe and protected'.

I'm a staunch supporter of TNR since I was able to connect with a local group called TripleRPets headquartered in Willow Springs, Illinois. They selflessly came out and took care of them. My small colony is now safe and will be protected. Since the females are spayed, no fights happen. I am a stauch supporter. Anyone needing help in the Willow Springs area, please contact www.triplerpets.org regarding your ferals.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I LOVE cats - always have. I know this concept is difficult for staunch TNR advocates, but there ARE people in rescue who care about cats, but are opposed to TNR.

I don't think any particular method is going to make a dent. TNR has not (as noted by the AVMA) - out of the 60 to 100 million ferals not even one percent has gone through TNR. I think education is our best shot, but TNR undermines that. How do we tell Joe to take care of his cat, alter it and keep it under his control when we are dumping cats back outside to live and die on the streets?

And although the numbers are just too high to make any real dent, an area can be given back to wildlife if the cats are trapped and the food is removed - no vacuum effect then.

Personally, I'd rather socialize to adopt. If socialization or a sanctuary or enclosing the colonies are not options, then euthanize.

As for large reductions, I don't think we will get anywhere until maybe an oral sterilization method is developed - something that can affect millions rather than thousands or hundreds of thousands. Right now, TNR does not result in statistically significant reductions and colonies don't die out.

To TNRdoesNotWork:

Obviously, you are anti-TNR. Do you hate cats, or do you just have a better way to reduce the free-roaming cat population?

Please... share with us... we trappers would love to know an easier way.

Balanced? Are you sure you read the right article? There were just TWO sentences about opposition to TNR and in the column on the left about six or seven pro-TNR links. The article was severely biased and therefore not good journalism.