(07-05-2012, 05:56 AM)Andrew Wrote: Trap-Neuter-Return is when you capture a feral cat (although I suppose it could work for other animals as well), have it spayed/neutered, and then rerelease into its environment. Mainly, people do this because adult feral cats don't adjust well to domestic environments (and there is already a lack of available homes). Having the cats spayed/neutered removes the risk of them reproducing and expanding their population. Eventually, as the cats get older and pass on, the stray cat population in the area dies out.
Considering the situation that these types of cats are already in, it is a rather humane solution.
I agree that it's the kindest thing you can do with feral cats that are never going to be tame pets. It's tough out there for cats and it's a very bad idea for them to have kittens that will also have to fight for survival.
I live in Miami, FL and there is a community of stray cats that live on the boardwalk and eat from the trash cans on the beach. Volunteers capture them and take them to be spayed/neutered before releasing them back to the beach. It's the most humane way I can think of to mitigate the harsh lives of stray cats and avoid new feral cats from being born.
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