What is TNR?
Trap
Free-roaming, primarily feral, cats are humanely trapped. This process is preformed by those requesting participation in the TNR Program or volunteers assisting those who qualify for “trapping assistance”. The traps used are humane, “TruCatch box traps.”
Neuter
The cats are spayed or neutered by a veterinarian. This involves an ovo-hysterectomy for female cats- surgical removal of ovaries and the uterus and castration- removal of the testicles for male cats. These surgeries are sometimes called “fixing” your cat.
The left ear is “tipped” to identify the cat as fixed. This procedure is performed while the cat is under anesthesia at the veterinary clinic. This is a universal identifier of a sterilized homeless/street/feral cat.
Return
The cats are returned to their original colonies’ location where caregivers may continue to provide food and water
What is a Feral Cat?
Feral cats are domestic cats that have not been socialized to people. When left to themselves, they continue to reproduce kittens that are only socialized to other cats and are afraid of people. In recent years many tame cats have been abandoned and have joined colonies of feral cats. As a result, ADLA’s TNR program assists “feral cats” and other street cats, even semi-tame cats that were once cared for by a person/family, but who now live in a cat colony.
What are the benefits of TNR?
- Ends the breeding cycle and stabilizes the population
- More effective and less expensive than extermination
- Eliminates or minimizes annoying behaviors such as spraying, yowling, and fighting.
- Helps end the suffering of unwanted, homeless cats.
-Reduces euthanasia due to the number of kittens flooding the already overburdened shelters.
To sign up for Spay Neuter Hotline's TNR Program please call 602-265-7729 (SPAY) or email: feralcats@adlaz.org
Questions? Check out the TNR Referral FAQ page
Thank you for helping stabilize the free-roaming cat population!
ADLA Urges People to Beat the Heat in 2012!
January 24, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: (602) 265.SPAY
Stephanie Nichols-Young and Sonia Hernandez
Animal Defense League of Arizona’s Spay Neuter Hotline Urges Maricopa County Residents to “Beat the Heat in 2012”
Every spring thousands of homeless kittens come into animal shelters in Maricopa County. Most do not get out alive. Before temperatures rise and cats go into heat, the Spay Neuter Hotline is asking people to stop procrastinating. Get companion cats fixed, and als
Pam's TNR Blog - October 2011
October 2011It has been a busy October so far! The most exciting event was the first Arizona Humane Society (AHS) clinic on October 11th. There were 75 cats in the door including cats from several large colonies trapped by me and Suzie. I brought in 27 cats from three colonies and Suzie brought in 29 cats from three other colonies. It is exciting that ADLA is now partnering with the AHS to reduce the number of unwanted cats and kittens being turned in. Many are euthanized due to lack of space, are not adoptable because they are too young, un-socialized or unhealthy. Trap-Neuter Return (TNR) continues to be the most humane and effective methods of stabilizing free-roaming cat populations and of reducing cat euthanasia at open intake shelters such as the AHS.
Pam's TNR Blog - September 2011
As of 9/26 I'd already TNR'd 167 cats in September. Had a couple of HUGE colonies. Most memorable was the one this week - 51 cats! I am going to emphasize again - Please do TNR before your colony becomes this big. It is less expensive to fix a mom cat and three kittens then it is to TNR 51 cats. Besides, it is a LOT more work. The photo here is of one of the cats fixed this week. Notice the ear-tip.
Spay Neuter Hotline Project to Help Homeless Cats
The Animal Defense League of Arizona is excited to announce that the Spay Neuter Hotline has received a grant from PetSmart Charities® to Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) 3,000 cats over a two-year period in zip code 85019. That’s West Phoenix. The boundaries are: Thomas Rd on the South, Glendale Ave. on the North, 35th Ave.
ADLA maintains an extensive database of low-cost spay/neuter clinics around Arizona. 
