← FAQ

Depending on the age, friendliness, and health of the cat, the “R” in “TNR” may vary. Here are some options for what to do with a cat after you’ve successfully had them fixed.

1. Return

   Cats that have lived outdoors their entire lives with minimal contact with humans are generally happier to be released back into their home territory. Do not try to force a feral cat into a home if it clearly does not want to be a house cat, as this will only cause it more stress and unhappiness.

   Though it may seem cruel to release a cat back into the streets, remember that it has already established its own home, routine, and life and can exist quite happily outside, especially if it is cared for, given outdoor shelters, and fed by people in the community.

2. Rehabilitate

   If the cat is injured, then they should not be immediately released. Instead, get them medical treatment and rehabilitate them until they are healthy again. Even slight injuries can make living outdoors extremely difficult for a cat and make them more prone to getting attacked by other cats and animals, so it’s best to wait until they are healthy again, even if it causes them stress for a few weeks.

   In order to minimize a feral cat’s stress levels while you are treating them, either house them in a large, tiered cage or give them a small room to themselves. If they are in a cage, keep it covered with a blanket to make them feel safer. Only enter the room when absolutely necessary and keep your interactions to a minimum.

   Try not to keep a cat away from its territory for more than 2-3 weeks, as they may not be able to smoothly reintegrate into their community otherwise. You should never release cats that you know are in no shape to survive outdoors.

3. Re-home

   Kittens under four months of age can potentially be socialized and re-homed, but after that, their chances of becoming friendly to humans decreases drastically. This is why it's extremely important to trap kittens (and their mothers if they are still weaning) as soon as you can. Doing so and exposing the kittens to humans at an early age increases their chances of becoming friendly and adjusted to an indoor life.

In the case of cats who have severe injuries or cats whose health is seriously compromised, it may be kinder to put them sleep to ease their suffering. However, we would never endorse or encourage euthanizing otherwise healthy, FIV+, or FELV+ cats.