A group of feral cats living together in one area is called a "colony." Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is an effective, internationally recognized program to reduce, and eventually eliminate, feral cat colonies. This program is sometimes referred to as Trap-Alter-Return (TAR).

Cats are trapped, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and returned to their original location. Kittens and friendly adults are adopted into good homes.

In a TNR program, a feral cat colony caregiver, usually a volunteer rescue worker, feeds the cats on a regular basis and brings them to a veterinarian if they require medical assistance. The resultant group of cats, including any new cats entering the caregiver's sphere, is known as a managed feral cat colony.

Along with TNR, caregivers promote public education about society's responsibility to our community and to the domestic animals we have created.

We acknowledge that the safest place for domestic cats is indoors; however, because of the overpopulation crisis, there simply aren't enough sanctuaries or available homes to house the tens of millions of feral cats estimated to be living in the United States. The only humane and effective way to control the feral cat population and give the cats a chance at healthier lives is through TNR.