Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
There are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of homeless cats in southcoast Massachusetts. The life of a stray cat is not easy, as they face safety and health threats like predators, cars, poison, extreme weather and disease. Their life is a daily struggle for food, clean water and shelter, and most outdoor cats don't even live past 5 years. In fact, only 25% of kittens born outdoors even make it to 6 months of age.
The best way to address the feline overpopulation epidemic is to spay & neuter as many cats as possible. We work with members of the community to trap stray cats (using humane traps), and have them sterilized then returned to the same location so that they can live out the rest of their lives healthier and without continuing to reproduce.
The goal is adoption, whenever possible, so that the cat(s) can have a chance at a long, and happy life in a loving home. This is possible when we trap young kittens or friendly adults, and even shyer cats that need socialization. The best way to socialize a feral cat or kitten is EARLY intervention. If you see homeless kittens in your neighbourhood, contact us ASAP so that we can intervene early and improve the kittens' outcome.
What kind of medical care do the cats receive?
Cats that are trapped receive the following medical care from a licensed veterinarian:
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Spay/Neuter surgery
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Rabies vaccine
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Distemper vaccine
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Deworming medication
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Flea & tick treatment
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Ear tip (used to help people see that a feral cat as "sterilized" from afar)
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Any other medication or treatment required
There are stray cats living on my property; how can I trap them?
You must contact Moby Kit Rescue and receive authorization from our team before attempting to trap cats. The reason for this is that a number of pieces must be in place before the trapping begins.
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We need to secure a holding space that is warm, dry, secure and large enough to house the number of cats you plan to trap.
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We need to schedule spay/neuter appointments beforehand, and arrange transportation to and from the appointments.
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We need to ensure that we are available to assist and coordinate the intake. We are an all-volunteer rescue and have full-time jobs and families on top of our rescue work.
If you don't have experience trapping, or don't have the necessary supplies, don't worry! Our team has years of experience with humane trapping and cat behavior, and they can guide you through the process step-by-step. We can also provide humane traps for you to use.
Why don't you adopt out all the cats that you trap?
Many cats have spent their entire lives outdoors, with little to no interaction with humans, or they've been the victims of human cruelty. In most cases, keeping a feral cat in a home would cause them much more stress and trauma than returning them to their outdoor home. Cats are also very social creatures and many are bonded or have relationships with other outdoor cats in their area; particularly those that live in feral cat colonies. Although an outdoor life is more dangerous than one indoors, it's important to balance the risks with the animal's emotional well-being and the stress that it might experience if it's forced to live in a home with humans and/or be separated from its companions.
