TNVR

What is Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR)?

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) is a program in which free roaming cats are humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies and other feline viruses, microchipped and then returned to their outdoor home to live out their lives. TNVR involves a caretaker who provides food, adequate shelter and monitoring of the cat's health. TNVR has been shown to be the least costly most efficient and humane way of stabilizing community, feral, outdoor cat populations.

What is the difference between a stray cat, a feral cat, a free roaming or community cat?

Feral cats are the "wild" offspring of once domesticated cats. Feral cats do not trust humans and can't be handled. A "stray" cat is a lost or abandoned pet that is friendly and can be handled. It is unfortunate that these cats have been left to fend for themselves. Our goal is to work with caretakers in our community to sterilize the cats and to eventually reduce the number of free roaming cats through attrition.

Free Trapping Workshops

Do you have unsterilized free roaming cats in your neighborhood? Seeing kittens? We can help. Interested in learning how to help free roaming cats? Learn the basics of how to humanely trap, manage and reduce the outdoor cat population numbers. Click on the video shorts below.

Here are some videos that will help you learn how to set traps and trap cats for TNVR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyrVIKqAhXE Laurel cats Rescue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF_omFE7Etc Kitten lady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oDuc5s1aLg Cole and Marmalade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IarsSTLUdTw Alley Cat Allies

Questions: TNVR@peggyadams.org

Schedule a Visit with our Outreach Coordinator

Schedule a free visit to your location by our TNVR Outreach Coordinator.

Peggy Adams Offers Free Cat Trap Loans

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League offers residents of Palm Beach County free trap loans for the purpose of humanely capturing free roaming cats to bring in for the TNVR procedure. You may pick one or more up in the grace Pavilion building Monday through Saturday between 9am and 6pm.

NOTE: Palm Beach County Ordinance 98-22 forbids trapping cats for any other reason than for TNVR or vet care.

Each trap requires a fully refundable deposit of $85.00 on a credit card.
The loan period for this trap is 8 weeks and it must be returned clean and in good working order for the deposit of $85.00 to be returned.
If you keep the trap for longer than 60 days, the deposit will be kept by Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and the trap will be documented as “sold”.
Peggy Adams will not provide euthanasia or cremation services for community cats.
Trapper must protect the trapped cat from sun, rain, wind and irrigation systems. (Required by law under ordinance 98-22)
Trapper understands that cats brought to the shelter in this trap cannot be surrendered (turned in). Peggy Adams does not accept cats in traps for any other purpose but TNVR services as outlined above.

Cats brought in for TNVR will not be admitted if there is anything inside the trap with the cat, No cups, bowls, newspaper, towels etc.…. The trap must be covered with a trap cover or towel.

Sick community cats needing veterinary care outside of what is provided in TNVR service should be taken to a full service veterinary office or to our county Animal Care and Control facility at 7100 Belvedere Road.

Getting started:

Do not try and trap the cats on the day you bring the trap home. Place the trap in the exact spot where the cats normally get fed. Turn the trap on its side and open the front and back door, use a zip-tie or bungie cord to affix the doors in the open position. Place some food in the center of the trap. Keep doing this for at least 3 days. (This is called trap conditioning) the cats will lose their fear of the trap. On the 4th day, turn the trap so the handle is on the top and set the trap putting food only at the back of the trap. Make sure the cat is hungry. If you feed two times a day, skip the feeding in the morning on this day. Once the cat is trapped, quickly cover the trap with a towel to calm the cat.

Need more trapping tips?

E-mail our help desk at: TNVR@PeggyAdams.or g.

TNVR (Feral) Cat Surgery Price Schedule

Free cat spay/neuter -For all zip codes in Palm Beach County in 2020.
We are very grateful to our private supporters, Palm Beach County and a private foundation for underwriting the cost of cat spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchips for domestic cats and free-roaming cats for TNVR.

Procedures for TNVR

Drop off Schedule for TNVR cats:

Mondays and Tuesdays. (There is a limit of five cats per person/vehicle/driver)

Due to new CDC guidelines following COVID-19, our new schedule for admitting cats for TNVR is Mondays and Tuesdays through 2020. We will admit up to 50 cats for TNVR on each of the two days. Drop off time is between 8am and 9am. Do not bring the cats into the clinic. Please let our staff member know how many cats you are bringing and they will advise you regarding unloading.

All clients coming to our campus must wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Due to construction on our campus, please enter via 12th Street. This gate opens at 7:00 am. Some people do arrive early. We take cats first come, first serve starting at 8:00 , once we reach the 50 cats, we have to stop taking in.

At 3 PM you may contact our call center at 561-686-3663 to get the number of available TNVR spots for the following day.

The TNVR application must be filled out upon arrival AND the trap MUST be covered. Please fill out one application for each cat you will be bringing in. Do this at home so the drop off moves along faster. Click here to print applications. TNVR application>

What is included in the TNVR procedure?

TNVR packages include spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, FVRCP+C vaccine, Microchip, left ear-tip, antibiotic injection, pain medication injection, dose of Revolution.

Pick-up Procedure:

Cats are to be picked-up the following day between 8am and 9:30am.

TNVR Instructions and Information>

Contacts us for more information.

Additional Information

Once TNVR takes place the cats receive special status under ordinance 98-22, section 4-35.
Community cat colony managers must assure that cats are fed regularly throughout the year. All cats must be sterilized and every attempt should be made to remove kittens less than eight weeks of age for domestication and placement.
Sick or injured animals must be removed immediately for care or humane euthanasia to prevent suffering.
Ear Tip: All cats receiving TNVR services will have their left ear tipped. This is the removal of the distal portion of the left ear. Our subsidized TNVR clinic follows national best practices developed to protect the cats. Notches are not satisfactory because cats can get notched ears in fights.
All community cats will receive a microchip (EAID) linking them to an address.
All community cats will receive an ID tattoo. (Small green line on the cat’s abdominal area).
The colony caretaker must maintain proof of sterilization, vaccination and microchip for all cats in their care.
All cats in Palm Beach County must be spayed/neutered and vaccinated by 4 months of age. See the Palm Beach County ordinance 98-22.

If you have questions, please call our Community outreach TNVR coordinator at:

561-472-8864 or e-mail us at TNVR@PeggyAdams.org