TNR Program

The Facts

• One female cat and her offspring can produce up to 400,000 kittens over 7 years!​
• The Decatur Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation has sponsored over 500 cat spays/neuters through the TNR program since 2012
• Feral cats brought in by the public to the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center are saved by our BARN program

What is TNR?

The Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program began in Macon County in 2012. This program is a cooperation between participating veterinarians, our foundation and concerned citizens of Macon County. The purpose of TNR is to neuter feral cats in Macon County and return them to outdoors or to a good barn home so as to improve their lives. Studies have shown that neutering feral cats not only reduces cat populations but by returning them to the neighborhood where they were trapped, will prevent new feral cats from moving in and repopulating the area. Feral cats that are brought in live traps to Macon County Animal Control & Care Center are neutered and taken to barns that need “mousers”. Neutered cats are less likely to fight and cause disruptions in the area. Since 2012, DMCASF with the generous help of participating veterinarians have spayed or neutered over 500 cats.

Participation Criteria

• The cat must be a true feral cat that lives outdoors. If you can hold the cat and place them in a carrier, they do not qualify for this program.
• The cat cannot be a house cat or adopted to anyone under the impression that it will be a pet before or after the surgery
• You must contact the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center to be approved for participation
• You must borrow a live trap to trap the cat(s). Cats cannot be dropped off for surgery in cat carriers, boxes, pillowcases, etc. Only cats in live traps will be accepted.
• You must contact a participating veterinarian to schedule surgery. This will be scheduled on their availability and you will need to follow their guidelines as to when you need to drop off, pick up, etc. Each vet as their own guidelines and it will be your responsibility to understand and follow to the best of your ability.
• All cats neutered as part of the TNR program will receive a Rabies vaccination and while under anesthesia have the tip of their left ear removed. Tipping of the ear provides a universal symbol that the cat has already been neutered.