Sturgeon Bay and Door County, Wisconsin
TNR N = Neuter
An unsprayed female cat, her mate, and all of their offspring,
producing two litters a year, with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter
can total 12 cats in one year; 67 cats in two years; 376 cats in
three years; 2,107 cats in four years; and 11,801 cats in five years.
Tails Up!
Sexing Cats: What to look for
Discovering the sex of feral cats requires close observation
and perhaps even a set of binoculars! Look at the picture below.
The difference between a female and an unneutered male is a bit
dramatic. The same cannot be said for the neutered male and the
female. The female looks like an upsidedown exclamation mark,
and the male loos like a colon (:) with a wide space between the
dots. Do your best to determine sex, as vets will want to know.
Be sure to keep a chart or written record of each cat you trap.
You can find a good sample chart here: Colony Tracking System.
Vets, Exams, Surgery, Shots
Vets:
As yet, we have not found a vet in Door County to work
with ferals. The closest place is Cats Anonymous
in Green Bay. But
whether you go across the street or drive 40 miles, the requirements
are the same. You will need an appointment with a flexible clinic,
because cats are unpredictable. You may have to negotiate the
numbers of cats that can be done at one time. Have an agreement
ahead of time about euthanasia for extremely ill cats and how to
handle pregnant females as well as what treatments you agree to.
Please also read: Working with a vet.
Exams:
A physical exam under anesthesia is a good practice. It is
*not* standard practice to test for FIV or FeLV. Flea treatment can be
done if necessary. Ask the vet for copies of all records.
Surgery:
Each cat will require spay or neuter under the anesthesia
that can be administered while the cat is in the trap. Ask the vet to do
an ear tipping by cutting a snippet off the top of the left ear. This will
mark the cat as neutered in case it is ever trapped again.
Shots:
Rabies vaccination should be given to each cat. Be sure to
discuss with the vet exactly what if any shots you agree to ahead of
time as shots will be given under anesthesia also, and the likelihood of
trapping a cat again is very low!
One Other Word:
Negotiate and be clear ahead of time.
Ask the staff to put clean papers in the traps and to put the cats
back into the traps for recovery. Ask the vet for a Good Samaritan
discount, and go here to explore getting a S/N certificate:
Friends of Animals.
In all things TNR: Safety, yours and the cats’, is
the primary concern. To ensure safety, attention
to detail and patience will serve you well.
Never take risks. Never touch a feral cat.
After surgery, keep the cat in the covered trap. The cat needs a safe,
temperature controlled place to recover. Monitor the cat carefully
until it is fully awake and alert. Plan to keep the cat at least 24
hours, less if the cat is fully awake and does not need medical at-
tention. Most cats can be returned between 12 and 24 hours. Return
a nursing mother once she is wholly awake.
Wait at least eight hours after surgery to place containers of food and
water in a trap. You can do this by raising the door a few inches (wear
gloves). If you do not have a trap divider or separator, you can slip two
or three dowels through the trap to make a simple fence that will pre-
vent the cat from escaping. If the risk of scratches or escape is too
great, then do not feed the cat.
For a detailed discussion of aftercare, go here:
Post Surgery
