Rescue and TNR (Trap Neuter Release) is a team sport and it takes every single one of us to help the animals. There are more animals than there are homes for and we live in a state that is third in the nation for euthanasia. Animals in need is a crisis that we all need to work together to help. There are not enough rescuers to take on all of the need, so we rely on persons with a kind heart in the community to help save lives.

We hear a lot of reasons why people cannot help but let us tell you about obstacles our team has that they work around: going through health crisis/conditions/chemo, taking care of elderly parents, working one (or two) full time jobs, taking care of busy kids, having animals in the home that are elderly/hate other animals/need extra care, not having funds, not having much space, not having much time. Talk to us, I promise that we have dealt with all of these and more and our team still finds ways for them to work around these issues and you can too!!

Frequently Asked Questions

There is a friendly cat outside my home, what do I do?

If you cannot bring it in and put it in a bathroom, you can put out food and water and a shelter (A plastic tote container with a hole big enough for them to go in and some straw in the bottom is ideal as it wicks away moisture unlike fabric or hay). If the cat is coming up to you for attention and will walk in a carrier (you can try feeding in the back of the carrier or putting treats in it), then you can take it to a vet to have it scanned for a chip. DO NOT grab a cat, try to force it in a carrier or take action that can get you bitten or scratched. If you are unsure, reach out to persons who are more familiar and comfortable with animals.

Be prepared in case the cat is not chipped and have a place to hold the cat inside. Bathrooms work great but you can also borrow a large dog crate and put a bed (and/or a hidey box with a hole cut in so they can get in and hide and watch from it), litter box, food and water in. Post photos on lost pet websites and Next Door to see if anyone is missing the cat. Check local rules to determine if the shelter needs to also be provided with information about the found cat.

If no owner comes forward, then you can start posting to place the animal in a new home/rescue. If the pet is not spay/neutered, go forward with using a low cost resource to have that done to ensure that the animal will not end up adding to the overpopulation issue and to have vaccines completed to keep it healthy and safe.

Do you suspect that the cat is pregnant? Immediately reach out for low cost spay neuter options as 1. Symptoms of pregnancy can also be signs of conditions that can be deadly to the cat and 2. There are too many animals to find homes for and if you choose not to spay the cat, you will need to find homes for the kittens and mom and the cost and care of them will likely be on you with the immense overpopulation issue (NC is third in the nation for euthanasia – there are too many animals to all find homes for and that is heartbreaking – we do not advise adding to the heartbreak if it can be avoided).

There is a cat outside my house/work that will not let me near it – what do I do?

This is your chance to make a huge change in the world. There are an estimated 30-40 million colony cats in the world. If you take the time to TNR (Trap Neuter Release) you will not only be ensuring the cat stays as healthy as possible but preventing many unwanted births and unwanted behavior and health issues that can befall an unsterilized animal.

But how do I TNR a cat?

Check out the tips for initial planning at https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/getting-started/the-7-steps-of-tnr

Check on regulations in your area regarding TNR - can’t find it, you can search social media for TNR/TNVR groups in your area and reach out. You will need a humane trap and a plan. You can often find a trap to borrow through Next Door or TNVR Trapper groups on social media. If you want to invest in your own they range in price from $25 on up and can be found secondhand on marketplace online. Before you trap, you need to have a plan. Get an appointment for a spay/neuter (check out the low cost options in your area). Have a trap out (covered with a sheet or towel partly and tucked in a space where the animal usually eats or near it), zip tie the trap open and start doing your daily feeding in the trap so the animal is used to eating their meals in the trap.

Preparing to Trap/Trap set up –

Check out tips and preparation at: https://www.saveacat.org/tnr-step-by-step.html

The day before the appointment remove the zip tie. When an animal is trapped, ensure the trap is completely covered. When they are scared, they will try to get out where they see light/an escape route and risk injuring themselves so cover with a sheet so they can get air but are not seeing an escape. Place them in a secure location where the temperature will be safe for them – garage, bathroom, covered deck or porch, etc.

There is a cat that will not come near us but are in a busy area. Can we move them to a farm?

NO. Feral cats are strongly attached to their location and will often try to find their way back to the location and end up getting killed in the process. We understand that in some circumstances relocation is the only answer but 1. It is very hard to find a good and safe location. There are all sorts of dangers in moving a cat out to the country and predators that they are not used to is a big one. 2. Cats MUST be acclimated to their new environment or else they will “disappear” and the reason why is never a good one. So moving an animal without proper planning and a good reason can be a death sentence. Learn more at https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/relocation-the-last-resort/

Things to do – check for an ear tip, check for evidence of a feeder, reach out to local TNVR Trapper social media to see if there is a feeder/caretaker and ask if they need help. Trust, us they almost always can use help feeding or with obtaining food.

There is a mom with kittens in my yard. I can TNR mom but what about the kittens she gifted me with?

It is best to trap mom and kittens at the same time. You can use mom as bait for kittens and kittens as bait for mom by covering the trap with one in and covering it next to or butted up against the back of the trap so that they go in the trap to get to the other. Kittens need to be placed in a small, enclosed area to socialize – dog cages, cat condos, enclosed pet play pens are all great ideas. Having no more than 2 kittens in an area/enclosure will help you be able to focus on kitten socializing and give less chance for the kittens to play off of each other’s fear reactions. Tips can be found at: https://www.kittenlady.org/feral and don’t forget to trap and neuter dad too!

The kittens are being social – now what??

You can post photos on your social media, send to your friends, families and coworkers and try and place them. There are great sample applications and questions to ask potential adopters (https://www.nokillpimacounty.org/tips-for-screening-prospective-adopter/)

as well as resources on why kittens need to be adopted in pairs (https://spcanova.org/why-kittens-are-adopted-in-pairs/).

I need to place my cat/a stray cat/kittens I found or am working with – what do I do?

Get great photos. Photos make all the difference in the world. Once you have those, write up all you can about personality, recommend pairs and put the word out. Post on social media, at work and other places you frequent with a bulletin board and ask friends and family to spread the word. You can also reach out to local rescues. You can find rescues in your area by going to www.petfinder.com and searching for rescues in your zip code. You will need to pull out the ones that are breed or species specific or shelters that are not no kill. Then email them (do not call them) and send them those great photos and information as well as what town you are in and if you or someone you know is willing to hold on to the animal and foster.

There is a tiny kitten I found, can you take it?

Please do not catnap kittens. Mom cats do leave kittens to get food and they can be gone several hours. Also, mom cats are smart and will not risk going to a kitten typically if they know they are being watched - so stop watching. Leave kitten if it is in a place it is not in imminent danger - ie. side of a road. It is almost never in the kitten’s best interest to take away from mom. Here are more details - https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/finding-kittens-outdoors/

I cannot afford food for my pet or vaccines or medical care – what can I do?

There are some local pantries that will help with pet food and some food banks also have pet food. There are often vaccine clinics being set up locally. We will try to post but feel free to email us if you are looking for one or for help with specific care/questions regarding specific care.

RESOURCES:

Low Cost Spay/Neuter –

ALL WALKS OF LIFE

3065 LANGDON RD, ANGIER, NC 27501

ANGIER, NC 27501

(919) 567-2965

WWW.ALLWALKSOFLIFEMOBILEVETSERVICES.COM

ALLEY CATS & ANGELS OF NC

PO BOX 785

APEX, NC 27502

WWW.ALLEYCATSANDANGELS.ORG/SPAY-NEUTER-ASSISTANCE

ANIMALKIND - THE FIX