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Introduction“If we keep ‘em in a cage, at least they’ll be safe.” Thishas been the reasoning of numerous well-meaning catrescuers in the past. Surely the operative words here are “atleast” for we would have to admit that, for an animal or ayoung child or any of us, a lot more than safety is requiredif anything resembling a normal, healthy life is our goal.Happily, there is a better way, a veritable win-win situation.For feral cats, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) is the answer.My own concept of feral cats was limited by theglimpses I had caught of them over the years. Pitiful, thincreatures with runny eyes and weeping sores. Most of themwere sick or lame, scurrying along the alleys or underneathcars parked at the curb. My heart broke but what could I doif the cats wouldn’t even let me come close.photo: Petr SalidarIt was Bryan Kortis who explained TNR to me andshowed me my first managed feral cat colony. Late on a midwinter afternoon when thetemperature was below freezing with ice underfoot and a promise of more snowtomorrow, Bryan led me through a maze of Upper West Side alleys and courtyards,around rows of garbage cans and under rusty fire escapes. I had steeled my mind andemotions for the pitiful sight I knew I was about to witness. Was I ever in for a surprise!We rounded the last corner into a small courtyard. To my left the space was enclosedby a three-foot stone wall topped by an enormous chain link fence. I scarcely had time toturn to my right, where four large Styrofoam boxes were held up off the ground by stacksof bricks because one second after we rounded that corner, a series of furry bodiesexploded out of those boxes, hit the pavement, streaked for the fence, flew up, cleared thetop, hit the ground running on the other side and disappeared into the twilight of thealleys beyond. In the four or five seconds that they had been visible, I had seen brighteyes, rich, thick furs, rippling muscles and a feat of athletic prowess I had never imaginedpossible for a cat. My heart leapt for joy.“They’re beautiful,” I cried. “They’re healthy and clean and strong.”“They’re a managed colony,” Bryan replied. He led me over to the Styrofoam boxes.“These are insulated shelters. They cost about twenty-five dollars each. Stick your handinside. Don’t worry, the cats have all gone.”I peeled the glove off my icy fingers and reached through the little round door in theside. The box was like an oven!Now, with this handbook, anyone can manage a feral colony. Everybody’s ferals canbe strong and happy and proud. The book is beautifully organized; the instructions arecrystal clear and logical.May your path be as full of wonder and laughter as mine has been ever since thatwinter evening when I discovered the intriguing world of feral cats.Anitra Frazier (author, The Natural Cat)October, 2004 [reprinted from the 1st edition of the Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook]3