Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR)

Why TNR?

Many communities are plagued with the problem of homeless cats. Some of these cats are “neighborhood” cats who are not cared for by anyone in particular, but seem to get by on hand-outs made by generous people. Others are “feral” cats with wild temperaments that can’t be approached by humans. While we have made great strides in encouraging people to spay or neuter their own companion cats, the stray and feral cat populations in our community continues to reproduce and contribute to Winnipeg’s cat overpopulation problem.

The Winnipeg Humane Society offers a program in which a humane trap can be rented from The WHS, with the intention to trap feral/unsocialized cats and have them spayed/neutered. (Please note, due to a limited amount of traps, they can only be rented for use through the TNR program.) The program is only available to approved, responsible applicants. The WHS views this as an alternative to the euthanasia of cats that would otherwise be unadoptable. We do ask for a minimum $20 contribution for each cat to help offset the costs of surgery and care.

Procedures

Phone: 204-982-2032
Click here to email us.

1. Qualify for the program

In order to qualify for our TNR program the stray cat must be:

  • Over four months of age.
  • Feral—a cat that is not socialized to human contact, cannot be handled and must be trapped.

Please be sure that the cat you bring in is NOT owned, and that your neighbors are in agreement with un-owned cats hanging around your house.

Call 204-982-2032 to register. Once registered for the TNR program you will be issued a surgery date.  Now, by renting a trap from The WHS, you can safely and humanely trap your cat within 48 hours of your surgery date (a longer time period is inhumane). Please be aware that due to limited numbers of surgery dates, The WHS cannot guarantee that we will have the ability to accommodate all cats within the TNR season.

2. Treat the cat

On your surgery date, our veterinarians will spay or neuter the cat. They will also vaccinate the cat and provide identification. If other health problems are discovered during the examination or surgery, you must be willing to treat the cat as prescribed or allow euthanasia.

3. Care for the cat (Being a Feral Cat Guardian)

After the surgery, you will be responsible for returning the cat to his or her home territory and providing the cat with food, shelter and ongoing care. Please be aware that cats need to be confined for 24-48 hours prior to being released.

More TNR Program Details

  • Traps are rented fromThe WHS for a maximum period of one week. A $30 refundable deposit for a trap and an additional $10 non-refundable administration fee are required. The deposit is refunded upon return of the same trap in the same condition as when lent out.  Arrangements can be made to pick up traps Monday - Friday at The WHS’s Animal Intake Department. Identification with current information including proof of address is required for the trap agreement. We appreciate your patience when renting a trap, as The WHS has a limited number available.
  • When dropping off cats for TNR, please use the clinic entrance during arranged drop-off times.  Please advise our staff that it is a TNR cat. Also please bring a crate/cage along for placement post-surgery. If you are bringing multiple cats on one day, please deliver the cats in separate carriers/traps. For safety reasons, they cannot be received if all cats are in one enclosure.
  • Any cat that bites is a public health concern and will need to be euthanized and sent for Rabies testing.
  • Any cat displaying illness will NOT be spay/neutered. The Feral Cat Guardian will be notified if treatment is possible. If the Feral Cat Guardian is able to administer treatment, the cat will be released back into their care.
  • Any cat deemed adoptable, and therefore is not truly feral, will become the responsibility of The Winnipeg Humane Society and as such, will be assessed for entrance into The WHS adoption program.
  • Post surgery, all cats need to be contained and monitored closely for a period of 48 hours. Please ensure you have an area to contain the cat.
  • All cats are vaccinated against distemper, calici, rhinotracheitis, psittaci, and Chlamydia while under anesthetic.
  • All cats are tattooed at the time of surgery; the tattoo will be registered to the Feral Cat Guardian who has registered with the TNR program. The Guardian will assume all responsibility for the cat, including medical treatment, and fines acquired if the cat is trapped by the City of Winnipeg in the future.

NOTE: The TNR program is available from April until October with exact dates to be determined pending appropriate weather conditions. Traps are not to be set when temperatures exceed 0C or +20C. All traps must be checked a minimum of every three hours and be placed in a sheltered area. If you have any questions please call 204-982-2032.