WHAT IS TRAP-NEUTER-VACCINATE-RETURN?

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) is a program in which outdoor cats are humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their outdoor homes. TNVR has been shown to be the most efficient and humane way of stabilizing the population of outdoor cats.

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TNVR benefits the cats and the community.  Using this technique, community/feral cats living outside are trapped, neutered, left ear-tipped (the universal symbol of a sterilized cat), vaccinated against rabies, distemper, and other core viruses, and microchipped, and returned to their outdoor home.  TNVR stops the Cycle! TNVR surgeries are FREE for all zip codes in Palm Beach County in 2023. The fee for TNVR of cats brought from other counties is $90.00 per cat.

Why does TNVR work?

Palm Beach County Ordinance 98-22 allows trap-neuter-vaccinate-return and outlines requirements for these cats. They must be spayed/neutered, vaccinated against rabies, microchipped, and ear-tipped (to indicate that they have been sterilized).

Community cats cannot be relocated,  they will travel miles to return to their homes and often become victims of car accidents and other trauma. If you begin to trap and remove the cats, other cats will move into the territory and will fill the space left behind by the removed cats.  This is called the “Vacuum Effect.” The new cats integrate into the area and produce more kittens. This leads to renewed calls for trapping and removal and the cycle continues to repeat.

Whether you love or loathe community cats, TNVR is the answer to effectively reducing their numbers.  TNVR reduces most cat-related nuisances and is a benefit to public health and safety.  By helping community cats in need, you will be part of the solution to the overpopulation crisis. You will also lessen the burden on overcrowded shelters and rescue groups. 

Advantages of TNVR (and why we recommend it)

  • It immediately stabilizes the size of the colony by eliminating new litters!

  • Nuisance behaviors are dramatically reduced, including yowling, fighting, and marking of territories with urine.

  • The returned cat prevents new intact cats from moving in and beginning the cycle of overpopulation.

  • It reduces the number of kittens and cats flowing into local shelters. This results in lower euthanasia rates and increased adoption of cats already in animal shelters.

Have you heard about our mega TNVR Spay Days?

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League periodically hosts mega Spay Day events where veterinary professionals from across Florida come together to perform hundreds of TNVR surgeries for Palm Beach County community cats! 

Learn more about our Spay Days and register for an upcoming event here.

Getting Started with TNVR

 

How to Trap a Cat for TNVR

Video Tutorial: How to Trap a Cat for TNVR
Video: TNVR FAQs

Video: TNVR FAQs
Peggy Adams Offers Free Cat Trap Loanscat trap

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League offers residents of Palm Beach County free trap loans for the purpose of TNVR during our hours of operation.  

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 ($95 for Tru-Catch traps or $45 for Harbor Freight traps) on a credit/debit card.
  • The loan period for traps is 14 days and they must be returned clean and in good working order for the deposit to be refunded.
  • The trapped cat must be protected from the elements and covered with a towel.
  • Peggy Adams does not accept cats in traps for any other purpose but TNVR services.

TNVR Appointment Process

Peggy Adams provides TNVR surgery for community cats on Monday - Friday (except on major holidays). 

You may reserve spots for up to 10 cats per week, with a limit of 5 per day.

Please note, TNVR Appointments open at 1 pm five (5) days before the desired date. If no appointments are available, we may accept up to 2 cats per person as standbys at our discretion and based on overall availability at 8:15 am. 

  • Booking the Appointment
    • Follow the link below to the Appointment Calendar (appointments accepted online only).
    • Choose an open date and book your appointment.
      • If none are available, sign up to receive notifications when an appointment is cancelled. You may also check the night before or the morning of the desired date for last-minute cancelled appointments. 
    • If you were not able to trap the cat(s), please cancel your appointment so it is available for someone else.
    • All cats brought for TNVR services MUST be in a covered humane trap, NOT a carrier, large enough for an adult cat.
  • Day of Appointment
    • Please arrive by 8:15 am so your appointment is not given away to a "Standby" client.
    • Check-In may take 30 to 45 minutes, please be prepared to wait.
    • The TNVR Responsibility Agreement must be filled out for each cat you are bringing. Doing this prior to check-in will make the process go faster.
    • Medical records will be sent electronically that evening to the email address provided at the time of check-in. 
      • No paper medical records or Rabies Certificates provided. 
  • Picking-Up the Cat(s) 
    • Cats need to be picked up the following day between 7:30 am and 9:00 am and can be returned to their outdoor home that same morning unless otherwise instructed. 

Thank you for helping to stabilize outdoor cat populations through TNVR!

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Support our TNVR Program

We are very grateful to our individual supporters, Palm Beach County, and a private foundation for underwriting the cost of TNVR to spay/neuter, vaccinate, and microchip all free-roaming cats in the county! 

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