What is the best way to help street cats? The answer is not street feeding but a combination of street feeding and TNR.

What is TNR?

TNR stands for Trap Neuter Return.

Why TNR is important?

1. To help street cats live healthier
2. To control the population of street cats
3. To reduce the number of sick and wounded cats and kittens on the street
4. To keep the environment healthy

When TNR is done?

1. When you see healthy and friendly street cats.
2. When you street-feed, especially if you street-feed regularly. You MUST organize TNR for the cats you feed.
3. When you rescue sick cats, your goal must be to sterilize them once they recover.
4. When you find a cat colony in a dangerous environment.
5. When you see an unfixed cat anywhere!

Note: In a colony full of un-neutered male cats, please prioritize un-spayed female cats!

What is the requirements for the cat?

1. In good shape/healthy, no fever or diarrhea
2. Minimum body weight of 2kg
3. No abscesses, scabies or severe fungal infection
4. Minimum age of 4 months for female cats, please consult the vet
5. Not pregnant, very rarely the vet agrees with abortion

What are the equipment to prepare?

1. A pet cargo or cat trap or a cage
2. Gloves
3. Cat food

What are the steps to organize TNR?

1. Survey the cat colony to list the number of cats that can be fixed (sex, condition, etc).
2. Choose a clinic and coordinate with them to get them ready.
3. Use a pet cargo, cat trap, anything to ensure you can catch the cat SAFELY. Or, get extra help from the clinic or friends to catch more cats.
4. Use cat food, preferably wet food, to lure them
5. If they are timid and feral, and you don’t have the support and equipment to catch, leave them alone. You can build trust over time by feeding them regularly and create a gentle contact with them.
6. Take the cat safely to the clinic.
7. If the cat is sick, help them get better before being fixed.
8. If the cat is pregnant help them to deliver the baby safely and spay the cat once the kitten is able to eat dry food or wet food for kittens, or about 1.5 -2 months old.
9. If it is an old cat, the vet should ask for a blood test to ensure their liver and kidney are well.
10. Ask the vet to give an EAR TIP to either a male or a female cat.
11. Ask the vet to deworm and de-flea them.
12. Ensure they recover from the operation. It takes approximately two days for a male cat and 7 days for a female cat to recover.
13. Release them back where you find them. If they live in a dangerous place, adopt/foster them, or find them an adopter.
14. If possible, monitor the cat, especially the stitches of a female cat. If it does not heal properly or opens, please take the cat back to the vet.

What are the costs?

1. Sterilization
2. Hospitalization
3. Worming
4. Flea and tick control
5. Medication if sick
6. Transportation

Summarised and translated based on https://catrescue.id/tnr-kucing-jalanan/.