Feral Cat Trap-Neuter-Return
Animal Welfare League of Arlington Launches Feral Cat Program
In fiscal 2009 the League received 266 stray kittens three months of age and younger. Sixty-four percent of these kittens were found in Arlington County or the City of Falls Church. This influx of kittens strains the League's foster homes and medical resources as well as making the adult cats in our shelter less likely to attract adopters' interest. We believe that supporting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts in Arlington County may reduce the number of kitten intakes and that supporting these efforts is consistent with our work as a progressive humane organization.
The ASPCA states that
"TNR [trap-neuter-return] helps the community by stabilizing the population of the feral colony and, over time, reducing it. At the same time, nuisance behaviors such as spraying, loud noise and fighting are largely eliminated and no more kittens are born."
The League has received support for this initiative from the county health department and representatives of the Arlington County Board.
Feral cat caretakers have identified access to reasonably priced spay and neuter services as a crucial problem in reducing the size of feral colonies and preventing the birth of kittens. The League's Board of Directors has endorsed making free neutering services available to feral cat caretakers in Arlington. All cats are spayed or neutered, inoculated for rabies and distemper, and ear-tipped for future identification. The League will cover all costs for cats trapped in Arlington or the City of Falls Church.
Caretakers are responsible for trapping, delivery to and from the League, and post-surgery care. The program is available to caretakers in Arlington County and the City of Falls Church only. The League provides information on feral cat trapping at regular workshops. Check our events page for the next training session.
For more information, e-mail tnr@awla.org or call 703-931-9241 ex.222.
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