LIFE OF A CAT TRAPPER – TNR
This film is rather long, but shows you every aspect of trap, neuter, return, and the pitfalls of trying to be successful at it.
Tag: trap
STARTING A NEW TRAPPING EVENT
Sadly, in Texas, the start of our warm season is a good time to trap because Mama’s have usually weaned any kittens they may have and it is safe, for the kittens, to take Mom. Click on the entry title here to get details on how to start a new trapping event.
ANTS IN THE SUMMER IN TEXAS
I am trapping in the summer in Texas. It is not my favorite time of the year to trap, but it is that time when you get get Moms who have recently weaned their kitties. Our main goal in trapping is to stop the cycle of ‘multiplication’, of course, so we deal with the heat…
Trap Smart Cats
I got an excellent piece of advice from one of the TNR groups I belong to. I have a community where many of the cats have watched me trapping enough to know what happens when that trap springs. If you have that same problem, try feeding only using the traps for a couple of days,…
THE COST TO TNR
I stopped adding up what trapping – cost of food, worming meds, and gasoline for traveling has cost me. But, I can say, I enjoy seeing my TNR’d kitties living happy lives with their caregivers, so it is worth the work and cost, for me.
How To Control Community Cat Populations
EXCERPT FROM: –> 12 Year Study Article The study focused on one Israeli city (Rishon LeZion) and tried out different population-control methods over three 4-year periods. In the first, there was no population intervention. In the second, the researchers organized an intensive program of neutering of cats in half of the fifty zones of the city, while the…
STRAY, FERAL, COMMUNITY CATS
WebMD for Pets has an excellent article on the problem and solution. Some highlights from that article: * There are between 60 million and 100 million feral cats in the U.S. They are usually the offspring of cats who were lost or abandoned by their owners, and they grow up not socialized to humans. *…
VOLUNTEER TO TRAP
Addie, the Administrator of this program, has had to go out and trap on top of everything else that she does. As a fellow trapper, my heart goes out to her. She has so many other responsibilities. If you have some experience in trapping, or even if you don’t but think you would like to…
GET THE WORD OUT
At different times, will will be publishing printable flyers onto this website. We ask that all who check it, print it and circulate it. They could be informational or fundraising fliers. When we publish one, we will tell you where, when, and how to share it or hand it out. We will try to keep…
TEACH OTHERS
Are you someone who has been trapping for a while and you have gotten pretty good at it? If so, you can help by training people who want to trap but have never done it before. Or maybe you are someone who has done business and government organization fundraising. In that endeavor, the more that…
THE LAST FERAL CAT
I am currently working on two different, large colonies, in my neighborhood. Sadly, there are several more because this area seems to be a dumping ground for people who don’t live here. On one of the colonies, this week, I will be trying to trap the last of the cats. I am praying for success,…
THE ARGUMENT FOR TNR
This is a person who has had years of experience working in a TNR program. She brought up a number issues. I did not know that the life expectancy of a feral cat is, in average, 3 years. I do know that one colony I have been working in for over a year lost several…
PRE – POST SURGERY CAREGIVERS
Cats need to be held the night before and at least one night after surgery. There is usually hours to a couple of days time period from the time a cat gets trapped until the time they go in to the vet to be neutered. Once the surgery is done, they will be transported back…
VOLUNTEER TO TRAP
TNR programs are always in need of people with the drive, patience and dedication to do the essential: catch the cats. Right now, we have a set number of traps and vet appointments available. If we can get enough funds to expand out, we can get more traps and enter more community areas. We do,…
TRANSPORTING TRAPPED CATS
If you are trapping from multiple areas, keep some masking tape in your car to mark, clearly, on the trap, where that trapped cat came from so you can return them into the same area. Cats do best when they stay in the same communities. In fact, they may not survive well if you do…
BUSINESS LIAISON VOLUNTEERS
If you have ever helped with business level fundraising, we need you. Anyone who has done this knows that businesses that will donate to communities are able to give more than an individual. Having someone who has experience doing this can help by doing the actions needed or even teach other volunteers how to do…
FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEERS
Like most non-profit programs, we cannot keep the program going without money. So far, this has been done by the program Administrator and she has done a great job, but she has a LOT more to do. We need help in this area. We need volunteers to not only do the actions needed for fundraising,…
DONATIONS TO TNR
We will be posting an online method of donating to the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program. For now, we ask that you mail checks to the Polk County SPCA, (NOTING TNR PROGRAM on your check memo) to: P.O. Box 1403, Livingston TX 77351, or take them into the SPCA at 802 S. Houston Ave, Livingston. See sample here: 
Or, donate online: –> Donate To TNR Online
About
The TNR program is a self-supporting entity of the Polk County SPCA. The program was created to try to solve the feral cat problems in Polk County TX. As a mostly rural county, this problem has been well hidden, but it is extensive. –> Read More Here
TRAPPING AND AFTERCARE
This is a run-through of what TNR (trap, neuter, return) is and some basic trapping info and different trap devices. It also tells you, in a simplified way, how to set up your TNR trapping process. To get more in-depth information and instructions, go to the TRAPPING section of the website: –> How To Trap…
HAVAHART – STANDARD TRAP
I have used 2 different HavAHart traps. With the 1089, I have never lost a cat using. The 1092 is easy to setup and to release the cat, but it has one problem and that is that the gate can be pushed open by a large cat. I have learned to use carabiners to hold…
TRUCATCH TRAPPING AND BASICS
I have used the TruCatch trap quite often. The setting of the trigger is tricky, but you will learn with time. This video not only shows you how to use this style of trap, but it also shares some trapping basics. Don’t forget the carabiner to lock up the back. I would NOT suggest putting…
HOW TO USE A DROP TRAP
I have never used a drop trap, but others have so I am showing three videos here. The first shows some of the pitfalls of trapping and why a drop trap might be used. The second is a very good video showing well structured, beginner instructions, on how to best work with these traps and…
DROP TRAP
I have no personal experience with a drop trap, YET, but I am sure I will some day. I have watched someone use it thought. THE PROS: I have been told by people who have used them that this is the ‘go to’ trap for cats that have become ‘trap savvy’. They have been trapped once,…
TRUCATCH TRAP
The 30LTD TruCatch trap is a totally different style from the standard ‘gate traps’. THE PROS: The first thing is that if you are going to have a cat in a trap for a while before neutering, this is the trap you might consider your ‘go to’ trap. It is easy to get a pee…
HAVAHART TRAP
The standard Hav-A-Hart trap is pretty common. Here, in the rural area of my county, a lot of people own at least one. They are good for trapping annoying critters and taking them out to the countryside instead of in your garden (smile). THE PROS: Some people already have one or two, so no need…
HAVAHART WITH HANDLE
I bought one of these traps and still have it in my arsenal. It is a HavAHart trap with a nice, comfy, handle on the top. THE PROS: It is very easy to carry because the handle is sturdy. Also, it is very easy to open because there is an additional handle that opens ‘the…
INTRODUCTION
This website is about a Polk County TX TNR program. Trap, Neuter, & Return is a method of trying to keep the population of feral cats down. There is a lot of information on the website. PLEASE, if you are involved in TNR, use the Comment/Reply and share your own experiences. Here is a link with instructions on navigating the website: –> Website How-To
TNR FOR CATS & WHY IT IS NEEDED
TNR, Stands for Trap, Neuter, and Return. It is one way that many cities across the United States have used to control the population of feral cats in their streets. In Polk County, Texas, we have an abundance of feral cats running, not on streets, but in rural areas. Sometimes in a village, or subdivision,…