Working With Veterinarians Every Day

Even cat lovers recognize the problems that feral cats can create. Ferals can spread disease, produce unwanted kittens, and can do unpleasant things like make a habit of marking your house will foul-smelling urine. If you're tired of the feral cats in your neighborhood, it's possible that trap and release is what you need. Read on to discover more about this technique and how it can help you.

The Point of Trap and Release

Trap and release is, in essence, a simple matter of catching a cat, having it spayed or neutered, and then releasing it back to where it came from. The whole point is to prevent cats from continuing to have unwanted litters, creating a bigger and bigger feral cat population in the process.

Trap and release also ensures that cats are far less likely to get into conflicts and fights with each other. When a cat is neutered, they become far less territorial. As a result, you can expect to hear far less of the familiar and unwanted sound of cats screeching in the night as they fight over a food source or mating rights.

The Process

Trap and release is a fairly simple process to follow. All you really need is a trap and some reliable veterinarians.

Cat traps are typically made of metal and are designed to entice a cat in towards food. Once they reach a certain part of the trap, they step onto a flap that triggers the door of the trap to close. That's it! With the cat trapped, all you need to do is bring them to the vet's office.

Most vets are familiar with trap and release, but it's a good idea to give yours a call before you head in. Feral cats are more difficult to deal with, after all, so it's a good idea to give them some warning so that they can ensure that they have an adequate number of staff available to handle the cat.

Additions to Consider

In addition to having the cat fixed, you might consider having them vaccinated and ear tipped.

Vaccinations are a great idea because they'll help to provide the other cats in the neighborhood with herd immunity. You're protecting the individual cat from getting sick and keeping them from catching things and spreading it to others that haven't been immunized yet.

Ear tipping is a procedure where the vet makes a small cut in the top of the ear while the cat is under anesthesia. This is a signal to other trappers and animal control that the animal has been spayed or neutered and doesn't need to be trapped.

Trap and release is a great way to help control the feral cat population in your neighborhood. If you have questions, talk to a vet and find out what they recommend.