How do you prepare to trap 20+ cats for TNVR?

Successful TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) starts long before the traps are ever set! When you're planning a large project, preparation is everything. Here are a few key steps we take before trapping day:

Get Property Owner Approval
Before making any plans, confirm that the property owner supports the TNVR project. Having everyone on the same page from the beginning helps ensure a smooth process and prevents issues later on.

Schedule Surgeries
Secure surgery appointments before trapping begins. We try to allow at least one day for trapping beforehand and a couple of days afterward for recovery and monitoring.

Create a Feeding Schedule
Cats are creatures of habit! Feeding at the same time each day helps them develop a routine, making it much easier to know when they'll be at the colony on trapping day.

Communicate With the Community
Let nearby residents and feeders know the trapping dates. Reducing feeding locations and withholding food until trapping is complete is incredibly important. If food is available elsewhere, the cats may never make it to the traps!

Trap Train
A few days before trapping, we place deactivated traps with food inside so the cats can get comfortable entering them. When trapping day arrives, many are already familiar with the traps, making the process quicker and less stressful.

In these photos, you'll see some of the cats we've been trap training over the past week. TNVR takes planning, patience, and teamwork, but every surgery means fewer kittens, healthier cats, and a better future for the colony.