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weather. In addition, thoughtful location of feeding stations and shelters can help reducetensions with neighbors.Starting at least two weeks before the trapping, the cats should be fed at the sametime and place as consistently as possible. Establishing a feeding pattern will let you getto know the colony. How many cats are there, what condition are they in, are anyadoptable? Knowing all this ahead of time allows you to schedule an appropriate numberof surgical slots, line up foster homes if needed, arrange extra veterinary care for anyspecial cases and, in general, explore your options in a more relaxed way than will be thecase if you wait until the cats are trapped before you figure things out.A reliable feeding pattern will also make the trapping much easier because the catswill be trained where and when to show up. Feral cats are very habitual creatures. Youwon’t have to go searching throughout the territory for them – they’ll come to youinstead at the appointed hour.Train the cats to come eat at an hour that will work best for youwhen it comes time to trap. Also, cats are rarely on the prowl when themercury climbs so summertime trapping works best if you train feralsto come for meals early in the morning or after sunset when thetemperatures are cooler.Step three: Secure a holding spaceDuring the trapping and after the spay/neuter surgery, the cats will need to beconfined. Except during the actual surgeries when they are sedated, the cats shouldremain in their traps at all times. This is for the safety of anyone working with the catsand to prevent escapes. Using the techniques described in this handbook, the trapseffectively double as cages and the cats can be comfortably housed and fed in them.The holding space where the cats are kept in their traps must be warm, dry andsecure. It could be a garage, basement, warehouse, empty room in an apartment orenclosed porch in the summertime. Any space will work where the temperature can bekept warm, the cats can be protected from the elements and no threat of harm will bepresented by other animals or people not associated with the project. Trapping willnormally take place over two or three days, then post-surgical recovery time may also lasttwo or three days, so the time the cats are held will usually run from four to six days.Step four: Schedule spay/neuter and arrange needed equipment &transportationOnce you’ve educated the community on what you’re doing, set up a feeding patternand counted the cats, and found a suitable holding space, you can safely schedule yourspay/neuter date. Whenever possible, mass trapping – the TNR of an entire colony atonce - is recommended. Mass trapping is the most efficient approach to TNR and bringsthe quickest results. However, your ability to mass trap may be constrained by the costand availability of spay/neuter, the availability of traps, your time limitations or the sizeof your holding space.14