Community cat colonies, when unmanaged, can grow quickly and create challenges for property owners and local communities.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is an effective and humane way to manage community cat populations. TNR involves humanely trapping these outdoor, unowned cats, spaying or neutering them, vaccinating, ear-tipping and returning them to their original locations. This controls overpopulation while allowing cats to remain where they are most comfortable.
Our TNR program aims to:
Provide accessible spay/neuter services for community cats through high-volume clinics in warmer months.
Support colony caregivers and communities with helpful information, monitoring and access to resources.
Educate and promote a collaborative and humane approach to managing community cats.
In 2025, EHS will focus its TNR efforts within Parkland County. Thanks to the support of the county, we are prioritizing this area to make a lasting impact on local cat populations.
We’ll continue to accept requests from all areas to track demand and help inform future partnerships with other counties.
Benefits of Trap-Neuter-Return
Rehoming community cats is not typically the best option for their welfare. Many of these cats are well-supported by local caregivers who provide food, shelter and care. However, they are typically fearful of humans, therefore bringing them to a shelter for rehoming would cause significant stress and anxiety, making it a less humane choice.
What Are Community Cats?
Homeless, outdoor cats
Often unsocial with people and prefer minimal contact
Unlikely to become socialized as adults, though kittens may be socialized
TNR is a humane and effective solution, allowing these cats to remain in their familiar environment while receiving the care they need and controlling the population. By spaying or neutering, vaccinating and ear-tipping these cats, TNR improves their health and helps to break the cycle of overpopulation. Removing cats from a colony often opens the door for new, unaltered cats to move in, perpetuating the problem. TNR addresses this by providing a sustainable approach that benefits both the cats and the communities they live in.
If you are a colony caregiver or property owner, complete our request form to be considered for assistance.
Step 2: EHS Confirms Eligibility
Eligible colonies will be contacted to be scheduled in for one of our high-volume TNR clinics, which run from May to September (weather permitting). A $40 non-refundable administrative fee is required if your colony is selected.
If your area is not currently eligible, we will keep your request on file and notify you when TNR services become available in your area.
Step 3: Trap Neuter Return Clinic
Cats will be humanely trapped and brought to our in-shelter veterinary clinic, where they will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped — the universal symbol to identify that a community cat has been spayed or neutered. After recovery, they will be returned to their original location.
Kittens who are young enough to be socialized (less than 12 weeks old) may be surrendered to the shelter for rehoming.
Step 4: Post-TNR Colony Support
Our team will provide ongoing support, including food, winter shelters and colony care advice as resources allow.
We may arrange for additional TNR clinics if further cats need spaying/neutering.
TNR Clinics During Hot and Cold Weather Conditions
Clinics are held based on weather conditions. We cannot trap cats in temperatures exceeding 20°C or below 0°C, per Alberta Veterinary Medical Association standards.
Eligibility Requirements
Cats must be community cats (unowned, outdoor cats, such as ferals or strays) with minimal contact with humans.
Colonies must be outside Edmonton (up to 200 km), in a county where TNR services are available that season.
Requests from other areas will be kept on file for future services.
We provide guidance on caring for community cats, including food, winter shelters and ongoing colony care. While our TNR efforts are focused on specific counties each season, we continue to offer support and advice for all areas.
Winter Shelters for Community Cats
We offer insulated shelters to protect community cats during the winter months. Due to high demand, shelters are limited and we request a $10 donation to help cover costs.
Community cat caregivers play an important role in the success of TNR. By providing ongoing care, food, and shelter, you help improve the lives of these outdoor cats. Please consider donating to support our TNR services and community cat care efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Female cats can have up to three litters per year, contributing to the homeless cat population. TNR programs targeting a significant portion of a colony help to reduce the overall outdoor cat population by stabilizing it and causing a gradual decline.
TNR is available for community cats, which are outdoor, unowned cats and may include feral or stray cats.
No, this program typically operates from May to September, depending on weather conditions.
In accordance with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) standards, appointments cannot be scheduled in temperatures below 0°C or above 20°C. These conditions are not suitable for trapping cats.
Outdoor cats have a strong attachment to their birthplaces, so it is in the best interest of the cat’s welfare to return them to the environment where they are most comfortable once they are vaccinated, microchipped and spayed/neutered. These cats are not accustomed to living indoors and with humans, so rehoming them could cause stress and anxiety.
Outdoor cats naturally adapt to finding food, surviving cold weather, and forming communities, often with the support of colony caregivers. Our trap-neuter-return program ensures each colony has a caregiver who provides ongoing food and care, promoting the well-being of free-roaming cats in their preferred environment. This offers a humane alternative to the stress of human confinement or euthanasia.
Even if a cat appears friendly, temperament alone does not determine their ability to thrive outdoors, nor does it reliably indicate that they have been lost or abandoned. Before being returned, all cats are individually assessed to ensure they are healthy and suitable for release, considering factors such as age and overall condition.
Community cats are not suited to be indoor pets as they prefer living outdoors, and some can experience stress from human exposure or confinement. However, community kittens can be socialized if removed from the colony before 12 weeks of age and are typically surrendered to EHS for adoption.
As community cats are often fearful of humans, putting them in a home would cause significant stress and anxiety, making it a less humane choice. Removing cats from a colony, whether through euthanasia or other methods, is ineffective as it does not address the root cause of overpopulation. Instead, it opens the door for other cats to move in and take advantage of the resources that are made available when the original cats from that community are removed.
TNR is a humane strategy to manage community cat populations while improving their lives and reducing euthanasia rates.
Community cat colonies often stem from human neglect and abandonment. These cats can face numerous challenges, including lack of food, shelter and medical care. Managing their population humanely is essential to prevent further suffering, reduce the spread of disease and minimize overpopulation. Addressing this issue helps improve the well-being of the cats and the surrounding community.
Successfully executing TNR cases throughout Alberta takes resources, time and strategic planning. Donations are greatly appreciated to help cover the costs of the surgery.
