Here in Hamilton, with our harsh weather conditions and industrial landscapes, it’s crucial to keep Community Cat populations manageable. The best, more efficient way to accomplish this is TNVR, or Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return.
It’s Hip to Snip: Come along on a Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate & Return Day for Community Cats in our Clinic
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Fun Feline Fact: Hamilton is home to an estimated 30,000 - 45,000 free-roaming, unowned “Community Cats”.
Community cats are found around the world, and in some cases, are a celebrated part of local culture. In Istanbul, Community Cats, or, “sokak kedisi” are a key component of tourism and are seen as members of the community.
Caring for Community Cats, while working to stabilize and reduce their population numbers is one of the most complex issues facing animal shelters across North America today.
What is Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return?
Like so many other animal welfare organizations, the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA’s (HBSPCA) Community Cat program relies on years of scientific research, as well as discussion and input from those in the field.
Trap
The community cats are trapped in humane live traps with the instruction of the HBSPCA and the hard work, often over multiple weeks, of their dedicated Colony Caregiver.
Neuter (or Spay)
Once brought into the HBSPCA on dedicated TNVR days, the cats are then admitted to our Animal Hospital where they await same-day spay or neuter surgery to prevent further reproduction.
Vaccinate
While they are under sedation for their surgery, they are also given routine vaccines to keep them healthy.
Return
After a day of recovery at the HBSPCA’s onsite recovery centre, the cats are picked up by their Colony Caregivers and returned to the exact location they were trapped. The cats are then free to roam, but can no longer reproduce.
Behind the Scenes at a TNVR Day
Come along for a behind the scenes look at a TNVR day at the HBSPCA. These are dedicated days, often on a weekend where our onsite Companion Animal Hospital is dedicated purely to spay/neuter surgeries for Community Cats in Hamilton. Our program coordinators work with registered Colony Caregivers to schedule trapping for these days to hopefully increase the number of Community Cats in the program.
7:00AM: The HBSPCA Community Cat team is ready for intake. Several intake forms are prepared for Colony Caregivers as well as identification collars for incoming cats.
8AM: In the Animal Hospital, the surgical team is prepping vaccinations and medical charts, ensuring that surgical and recovery areas are clean and sterilized in anticipation for the day’s patients.
8:30AM: Colony Caregivers begin to arrive with the Community Cats they were able to trap the evening before. The intake team works with them to learn more about the incoming felines, if there are any known injuries or issues and what to expect in the return phase.
9:00AM: Community Cats enter the Companion Animal Hospital in a queue, where our program leader does a thorough visual assessment of the cat’s physical condition, notes if they are male or female (if possible) and the animal care team begins the process of fear-free sedation.
9:20AM: A sedated community cat is brought to the surgical team. Its vitals are measured as the surgical site is prepped. During the course of the spay or neuter surgery, the community cat also receives a microchip, assigned to their Colony Caregiver, as well as a tip on the left ear - a visual marker that he or she is an unowned but altered Community Cat. This way, if they are ever trapped again, they can be immediately released, rather than being readmitted to the TNVR program.
9:35AM: Once surgery is completed, the Community Cat heads to the recovery unit, where a dedicated recovery volunteer monitors vitals and observes as the effects of sedation wear off and the cat becomes alert again.
9:45AM: Once the Community Cat is stable in recovery, they are moved to our state-of-the-art recovery center, where they will continue to be monitored during their resting period until their Colony Caregivers arrive to pick them up in the afternoon. The recovery center features temperature controls, soothing soundscapes and anti-stress measures such as Feliway to encourage a stress-free recovery. Surgery on all Community Cats continue into the early afternoon from here.
The Benefits of TNVR
Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return programs are a vital part of a one-health approach, addressing challenges and presenting benefits for both the community and its roaming cat populations, including:
- A reduction in “nuisance” behaviours often exhibited by unaltered cats, such as spraying, yowling and fighting.
- Increased health in community cat populations due to vaccinations.
- A decreased risk of interaction with pet cats as populations of community cats decrease over time due to spay/neuter.
- Balanced populations, leading to less ‘unwanted’ cats being surrendered to rescues and shelters, allowing for more room in shelter and kennel spaces for animals in need.
Want to Support Community Cats and TNVR Efforts?
You can learn more about our efforts to support community cats in Hamilton and how you can get involved here.
Perhaps you don’t live in a neighbourhood with a high population of community cats, but you still want to help?
You can make a donation to support our programs OR, you can simply spread the word.
