TNR Texas

19/11/2024

Rescue groups are often in need of fosters. If you have the time, space, and heart, please think about reaching out to local groups. This also helps the animal get adopted more quickly and into the right home as more information is gained about the animal which enables pairing with the right adopter.

HUGE thanks to those who already foster... you are truly life-savers!

15/11/2024

For those in the DFW area:

From the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection:

Mark your calendar! TCAP will host a Free Fix Day on Wednesday, November 27. This is our 11th and Final Free Fix Day of 2024 due to the Christmas holiday!

During our Free Fix days, TCAP offers FREE sterilization and rabies vaccines for feral and community cats. This event will take place at six TCAP clinics: Arlington, Burleson, Denton, Garland, Hurst, and Weatherford! 75 cats will be seen at each location on a first-come, first-served basis.

We’re announcing this opportunity first to the DFW Feral Caregivers community. There’s no limit on the number of cats per caregiver, and no appointment is required. Cats must arrive in individual live traps or pet carriers, and all cats will receive an ear tip.

Each cat accepted will receive a voucher for a free spay/neuter for another cat at a future date. Trap One, Get One! You will be able to make an appointment for a free feral spay or neuter at a future date using the voucher you receive. This voucher also includes a rabies vaccine.

Please stay in line if you are outside of the first 75 cats. Our team will provide one voucher per cat present for sterilization vaccine for the next 75 cats! You will be able to make an appointment for a free feral spay or neuter and rabies vaccine at a future date using the voucher you receive. Only those already in line with cats will receive the voucher. The line cuts off no later than 9 am!
Our total impact per location is 225 cats!

Important Notes:
*Any additional fees for in-heat, cryptorchid, or pregnancy procedures will be covered by TCAP
*Caretakers will be responsible for any additional elective services such as vaccines, pain medication, or viral testing at the time of service
*Cats must be presented in live traps or pet carriers
Thank you for being a vital part of our community effort. We’re excited to continue supporting you and the feral and community cats in your care!

15/11/2024

Reposting again since the weather is starting to get colder.

Here are the best tips for keeping community cats, sometimes called outdoor or feral cats, warm and comfortable in the winter.

11/11/2024

10/11/2024

A few tips for those of you who are working on putting together winter shelters.

~Make sure the hole is high enough so that it is warmer inside and the straw does not come out so easily.
~Line the inside walls and roof with mylar to help reflect the cat's warmth. This really makes a difference!
~Spray the outside so it blends in better if they will be placed where you prefer not to attract a lot of attention.
~Raise the shelter on 2x4s, a pallet, bricks, etc. to keep it warmer and less like to have water seep in. It also might deter any bugs from entering.
~And use STRAW... not hay or blankets or towels.

08/11/2024

As long as there are not enough homes, we do the best thing we can do. TNR.

We shared this over the summer and the more cats we encounter the more true it becomes. 😞

This has become an unfortunate reality.

A lot of people don't agree or think rescuers are terrible people if they return friendly cats outdoors instead of adopting them into homes. I get messages every single time I release a friendly cat, as if there is some magical option to utilize that I just haven't thought of yet. 😭 The plain and simple truth is there are not enough homes. Fosters and shelters are overflowing. Space and time is limited, especially for me, because my holding areas are already booked for the next TNR cats.

I see the well-intentioned comments online. I see the frustrated posts aimed at shelters and rescues. "Please someone help!"

We are all frustrated, too ‼️

We are frustrated that people refused to spay/neuter their pets even when help was offered to them. 😾 We are frustrated people would rather leave their cats breeding than get an ear tip. 😾 We are frustrated that mom wants her kids to "experience" the birthing process. 😾 We are frustrated that free kittens turn into more free kittens. 😾 We are frustrated it has gotten to this point. 😾

Is releasing a friendly cat ideal? 👎🏼 Of course not. But sometimes, despite efforts to find a home, it's the only option we are left with. The most important thing is to encourage folks to spay and neuter! What they do after that is usually dependent on the resources available to them in their area.

Thank you, Lisa Karst, for your words.

07/11/2024

In case you did not know this. 😻

Soon after Disneyland opened in 1955, a group of feral cats took up residence in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Walt Disney and his staff adopted most of them into their homes, but a few remained in the park — and it was enough to start an entire clan of feral cats. It’s estimated that over 200 cats live in Disneyland, and there are feeding stations located around the park to keep the cats fed and happy.

06/11/2024

We are reaching out today to try to find assistance for a situation in Ranger TX which is about an hour west of Fort Worth and and an hour east of Abilene. There seems to be no active rescue groups in that area to help.

A woman who is on SSDI disability is feeding cats that are living in an abandoned house across the street. She has indicated that there are 17-18 6 to 8 week old kittens, 2 pregnant females, another 2 females that also need to be spayed, 3 intact males (2 can be pet as well as one of the pregnant females. She has 8 cats living inside with her that she has rescued and those are all fixed but cannot add any more. She has limited finances and is worried that she cannot continue to care for them much longer and without help. This colony WILL continue to multiply.

She needs:
Cat Food
1 or more traps
Help getting cats to a clinic for spay/neuter
Foster homes for kittens
Rescue groups that can take in a few cats or kittens
Funds for spay/neuter if a no-cost option is not found

If you can help in ANY way, please post a comment below or message us or send an email to [email protected] and we will connect you with her.

Thank you....
It takes a village.

06/11/2024

In most cases, cats will figure out how to use shelters on their own. Here are a few things you can do to attract them if it doesn't seem like your cats are using the shelter:

▪️Be patient. Some cats need a lot of time to get comfortable with a new shelter.
▪️Loosely fill the shelter ½ to ¾ full of straw, NOT HAY. Replace the straw every year.
▪️Remove any door flaps on the shelter. While doorway flaps help keep cold air out and warm air in, they should not be added until after your cats are used to going in and out of the shelter.
▪️Do not place food in or near the shelter. Cats instinctively avoid sleeping near food as it attracts other cats and wildlife (predators).
▪️Location is important. Place the shelter where your cats are already hanging out. More feral/less social cats typically want to shelter farther away from humans. The more secluded the shelter, the more likely cats are to use it.
▪️Place the shelter near natural cover, as opposed to out in the open where your cats may not feel safe. Cats prefer to move along walls, hedges or other natural barriers and boundaries. Place the shelter under or up against a building, fence, tree, porch, bush or some type of overhang.
▪️Place the shelter with the entrance facing away from the wind, rain and snow.
▪️Make sure the shelter is on a flat surface. A wobbly shelter could discourage cats from entering.
▪️It’s possible that your cats have another shelter where they feel safe. They may already have a shed, crawlspace or some other shelter they prefer.
▪️When all else fails, try a new location, but only after giving your cats plenty of time to explore and get used to the current location.
(We thank FeralVilla.com for this great advice!)

THANK YOU to the caregivers who have taken the time to build a feral cat shelter. Protection from the elements is critical, especially during the cold months, and your thoughtfulness will no doubt save many lives this winter.

05/11/2024

This seems particularly relevant to me lately. My heroes are those contributing to a positive outcome for those they encounter.

"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. " Bob Marley

05/11/2024

What weird thing(s) does your cat eat that is not actually food?

What "Roses are..." song describes your cat? 🌹

03/11/2024

Did you remember to reset any clocks that don't automatically adjust????

30/10/2024

'Tis the season.... 🧟‍♂️👻🎃

30/10/2024

🎃 Halloween festivities are underway, bringing extra risks for our pets. If you're handing out candy or hosting guests, please take a moment to lock your cat(s) in a secure room, away from the commotion. Each time the door opens, there’s a chance for them to dart out, get lost, or face other dangers. Eliminating the possibility of your cat getting out is the best way to keep your cat safe this holiday. 🚪🐈

29/10/2024

Today is National Cat Day!

Photos of the cats you care for (community cats and/or pets) are encouraged!

28/10/2024

We totally missed posting this yesterday! But we think black cats deserve more than one day to be appreciated and pampered! Feel free to add photos of black kitties who have stolen your heart!