Trap, Neuter, Return
& Spay/Neuter
TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return)
Community Cats & Colonies
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) saves lives. Individuals who are feeding and sheltering cats on limited incomes contact MAD Cats for assistance. These "Colony Caretakers" typically have between 5 – 25 cats. Often they will buy food for the cats, before food for themselves. TNR is the humane trapping of cats.
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Process:
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Volunteer trappers set and monitor traps, ensuring cats are not left unattended overnight.
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Cats are held overnight, then transported to a veterinarian for surgery and Rabies vaccination.
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Post-surgery, cats recover overnight before being returned to their original location.
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Eligibility: Available to colony caretakers in Madison, Greene, and Culpeper Counties.
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Cost: The program is free, though donations are welcomed.
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Kittens can become pregnant as early as 5 months old
Almost every weekend, our volunteer trappers set multiple traps at a scheduled location. They attend those traps for however long it takes; traps need to be monitored and are never left unattended overnight. The cats are held overnight in the traps and then transported to the veterinarian the next day. Volunteers retrieve the “fixed” cats in the afternoon and they are again held overnight for recovery. After a light breakfast, they are returned to their owners/caretakers.
For feral, stray, any cat in a trap, contact:
Anicira Veterinary Center, Harrisonburg or Manassas
For Assistance in Fauquier County, please contact Middleburg Humane Society, 540-364-3272 ext. 413, or communitycats@middleburghumane.com
Understanding Community Cats
Why TNR Works
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Community Cats (Strays, Colony Cats) have existed outdoors for thousands of years. They are unsocialized and unsuitable for indoor homes.
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Community Cats avoid people and rarely spread diseases like rabies. Science confirms they pose little public health risk.
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People, with good intentions, bring community cats to shelters, but the cat's lack of socialization makes adoption unlikely, often leading to euthanasia.
Focusing Trap Neuter Release (TNR) on Community Cats is the most humane and effective way to reduce populations while saving lives.
Pet Cats
We have a program a spay/neuter (SN) program to assist cat owners. Cats must be friendly and able to travel in a carrier.
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Services Provided:
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Surgery
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FVRCP vaccination
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Rabies vaccination
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Cost: The program is free, although donations are welcome.
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Scheduling Note: As of February 2025, appointments are scheduled 3–4 months in advance. Owners of female cats at risk of pregnancy are advised to seek alternative resources promptly.
