News
Each fall – Trap/neuter/return operations are suspended due to cold weather and winter on its way. CCTNR does not subject cats to the stress of dealing with surgery recovery and surviving winter at the same time. We care about the well-being of the cats, first and foremost!
Caregivers who are feeding and caring for homeless cats are encouraged to continue providing care for them. We hope to get back to a regular schedule as soon as weather improves in the spring. Community Cats TNR continues to need additional donations of dry and canned cat food dropped off in the box at Family Fare (formerly Shop N Save) to help increased demand from caregivers.
Dr Crystal McConnell and Tangella Christmas
of Country Veterinary Clinic PC holding
Cat # 1,000 nicknamed “Smudge”
Dr. Crystal McConnell with Heather and
Tangella holding Community Cat # 1,100
Grant Awards
Community Cats TNR is thankful for a grant award in 2022 from an anonymous donor foundation with a mission to assist animal welfare organizations in Michigan. The grant award of $2,500 was used for spay/neuter veterinarian services.
A very generous grant donation from the Whitcomb Family Foundation in 2021 was a much appreciated gift to the homeless cats in Mason County.
Our gratitude also goes to the Bissell Pet Foundation for awarding a $1,250 grant to help pay veterinary costs for spay and neuter.
Thank you to Steve, Bud, Mona, Claudia, Bob and Richard for building winter cat shelters and to Freeland Roofing, Easy Living Flooring, Cooper Flooring, Ken and Donna and Mike and Kathy for donating materials and straw for the cat shelters. Also to Steve, Bud, Claudia and Dan and Laura for delivering shelters.
Read our winter newsletters here!
Cat # 1200 News Article
A TALE OF TWO KITTIES
Community Cats TNR, a local, non-profit group of volunteers, in partnership with Country Veterinary Clinic, P.C. and Animal Hospital of Ludington, has Trap-Neuter-Returned (TNRd) 1,200 Community Cats as of November 5, 2021.
Cat number 1,200 is a beautiful brightly colored calico. She was spayed and vaccinated by Dr. Laura Waldo of Country Veterinary Clinic. At the same time, cat #1,201 was also spayed and vaccinated. She, too, is a calico who was suffering in great pain from an injured eye. Dr. Waldo proceeded to surgically remove her right eye and she is now receiving special care from her caregiver.
During the past nine years, volunteers for the Community Cats TNR program have been working with caregivers to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) homeless cats, primarily in urban locations, throughout Mason County. Trap-Neuter-Return, commonly referred to as “TNR,” is the only method proven to be humane and effective at controlling feral cat population growth.
Caregivers who regularly provide food, water and shelter for homeless cats care about the humane treatment of homeless animals and make it possible for Community Cats TNR to help control the population growth in and around the neighborhood.
Community Cats TNR volunteers trap and transport the cats to a veterinary clinic where they are given a health check, rabies and distemper vaccines, parasite treatment, are spayed or neutered and administered pain medication. The left ear of each cat is tipped for identification purposes. After surgery, volunteers care for the cats in a quiet, temperature controlled environment for one to four days before returning them to their colony and caregiver for continued monitoring.
Set traps are watched at all times to assure that trapped cats are not injured or subjected to heat, cold or rain. As soon as the trap is triggered, it is immediately covered with a sheet or blanket to calm the cat and reduce stress. The trapped cat is then removed to a quiet location to await surgery. Set traps are never left unattended, especially overnight and cats are not trapped during winter months to avoid stress of cold temperatures and surgery at the same time.
The organization focuses on homeless cats that need to be trapped for safe handling and transport to the veterinary clinic. People who are caring for friendly strays are encouraged to arrange for surgery with their own veterinarian and to contact www.fixingfurryfriends.org to secure a spay/neuter certificate to pay for a portion of the cost. Community Cats TNR does not assist with surgery costs for pet cats and is not equipped to handle rescue situations.
Based upon the most conservative calculation of the birth and survival rate of only one litter per year per female, it is estimated that the Community Cats TNR program has prevented the birth of at least 268,000 unwanted kittens so far. Further, Trap-Neuter-Return has an immediate effect by reducing the neighborhood birth rate and potentially reducing the annual intake by Mason County Animal Control.
Volunteers have suspended trap/neuter/return activities until spring so that cats are not stressed by cold, surgery and recovery at the same time. Caregivers are urged to provide shelter, food and fresh water throughout the winter months. Information on caring for homeless cats and outdoor winter cat shelters can be found on www.communitycatstnr.org; www.alleycat.org; and www.neighborhoodcats.org.
Community Cats TNR relies on support from the community in the form of direct and memorial donations and fundraisers.
Donations of cat food may be made at the drop off bin in the lobby of Shop N Save. Canisters for monetary donations are available at a number of local businesses, and donations may be made to Community Cats TNR and sent to P.O. Box 384, Ludington, MI 49431. Donations of cat food in the box at Shop N Save are needed more than ever right now.
For more information, call 845-7888 or 843-9312.
TNR cat # 1,200 nicknamed “Stella” and # 1,201 nicknamed “Sybil”