Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) – what is it and why should we care?

October 2025

Trap, neuter, release/return, or TNR for short, is a humane way of trapping feral, semi-feral, or community cats, then taking them to be neutered by a vet, and thereafter releasing them back into their habitat.

It is a globally practised, proven method of improving the lives of stray and feral cat colonies. The cats are trapped in a specially designed trap that is placed (under a cover) near their usual habitat, and some smelly food (like tinned sardines) is left in it to lure the cat in.

This is an example of a cat trap

Once the cat is caught, it is taken to the vets for the neutering procedure and a health check.

Usually, once the cat is neutered, veterinarians tip one of their ears to visually mark them as ‘fixed’. What this means is that a small portion of a cat’s ear gets surgically removed while the cat is undergoing the neutering procedure. It does not harm the cat, but we, humans, can then quickly recognise which individuals in a colony (e.g.) have already been neutered and don’t therefore need to be trapped again.

So, when you see a cat with a tip of their ear missing, there’s a big chance that it has been TNR’d.

How does it improve the lives of these cats?

TNR programmes play a crucial role in controlling (and reducing) feral feline populations and thereby avoiding the spread of diseases, for instance.

Instead of killing feral cats (which used to be a common thing to do, as they can’t be homed), we can take the humane approach to this issue and use the knowledge available to us. Thanks to numerous studies, we know that TNR practice is effective in helping us deal with expanding feline colonies, and advances in veterinary medicine now mean that the ‘N’, or neutering, part of the programme is basically a routine procedure for vets and cats usually recover without complications.

By neutering these cats, we release them from having to suffer the stress of constant mating and pregnancies. Neutering also helps prevent breast and testicular cancer in cats – leaving them to live happier, healthier lives.

Okay, but why should I support it, what do I get out of it, you might ask?

By neutering these cats, we also help the nearby human community who do not have to listen to the constant yowls of cats in heat anymore, for example. And happier humans mean happier relationships with the rest of the earthlings.

Another thing that TNR has going for it, so to speak, is that by helping to diminish feral feline populations, we may also be doing a favour for some species of small wildlife that the Felis Catus (or the cat) preys on, including birds, reptilians, mammals, amphibians, etc. A neutered cat will not reproduce and thereby not add more ‘perfect predators’ into the wild world. The damage one cat can do is infinitely smaller than the damage all of its offspring could cause.

And now, please allow us to give you another reason to care about TNR:

This is Peanut.

Peanut and his brother were found by rubbish bins in Cahersiveen on 18 September 2025.

They were about 4 weeks old, starving and cold. Peanut’s brother had the flu, and because it had gone untreated, he had become so congested that he was struggling to breathe properly. And when a cat can’t breathe, he can’t smell his food, which means he won’t eat. But as we all know from childhood – we must feed the cold.

We referred to Peanut’s brother as the Little One: he didn’t get a proper name, as our focus was on trying to help him get better. We don’t know how long the brothers had had to survive under the rubbish bags, or how long they had been without food, all we know is that by the time they got to KLAWS, it was too late for Peanut’s brother. By the end, he was so weak that he couldn’t hold up his head.

He passed away on 23/09/2025. May you rest in peace, Little One.

This could have been avoided. Besides being utterly tragic, this Little One’s suffering was also completely unnecessary and preventable.

There are some things we can all do to try to keep such tragedies at bay:

*Let’s neuter our pets – it is beneficial for them in so many ways, and it is a sure way of preventing unexpected, unwanted litters.

*Let’s help charities and local vets to perform Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) operations among the community or feral cat colonies. Just talk to vets or rescues and ask for advice on how to proceed when you come across a cat colony or a stray cat.

To help us with our TNR programme in South Kerry, please donate what you can here:

DONATE

Together we can help prevent the unnecessary suffering of so many little ones.

Thank you!