TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
anesthesia, already processing the rabies vaccine and possibly also dealing with flea
and/or ear mite medication. Furthermore, according to the manufacturers’ own
instructions, these vaccines require a booster three to four weeks after the initial dose,
which is unlikely to ever happen with a feral. A more holistic approach to promoting
feral health, including adequate shelter and good nutrition, is far preferable than
excessive and possibly ineffective vaccinations.
If a cat is older and the services are available and affordable, it’s an excellent idea to
have the cat’s teeth examined and treated. The time of spay/neuter might be the only
opportunity to provide dental care which, by preventing gum disease and mouth
infections, could prolong the cat’s life by many years. This may not be practical if the
clinic is only set up for spay/neuter or affordable if you’re dealing with a large number of
cats. But keep it in mind as something to do when you can.
Veterinarians experienced with early age spay/neuter can perform the surgery on a
kitten who is either eight weeks old or weighs two lbs. Likewise, a pregnant female can
be aborted up until just before giving birth if the veterinarian is experienced and
comfortable enough performing the procedure. Lactating females or females in heat also
can be spayed by veterinarians familiar with working on them. Very early-age
spay/neuter, abortion of late term pregnancies and spay/neuter of lactating females or
females in heat should not be attempted by a veterinarian who is untrained in these
procedures.
• Eartipping
The universal sign of a neutered feral cat
is a quarter-inch, straight line cut off the tip of
the left ear. While the cat is sedated and
unconscious, the tip of the left ear is clamped
off with a hemostat and then swiftly removed
with a sharp blade. The wound is cauterized
to prevent bleeding and the hemostat removed.
Performed properly, the procedure takes less
than a minute, there is no bleeding and no
apparent pain or discomfort when the cat
regains consciousness.
While the universal practice is to tip the
left ear, along the West Coast of the United
States, including California and Oregon, the
right ear is tipped instead. Find out what the standard practice is in your area and adhere
to that. If there is no standard yet, then stick to the left ear for uniformity’s sake.
It’s easier to see an eartip out in the field when you are looking at the cat from
behind. Binoculars can also be very helpful in this regard.
Eartipping serves several vital functions. It allows caretakers to quickly identify
whether a cat in the colony is neutered or needs to be trapped. During trapping
operations, the left ear of a cat who is caught can be checked immediately to see whether
he should be released right away. Eartipping also gives animal control a visual cue for
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