WHAT IS TNR?
TNR refers to Trapping feral cats, Neutering them and then Returning them for release in the location where they were trapped. It is one of the most effective and humane forms of cat population control. TNR Mecosta provides TNR services to help site owners and cat caregivers limit the growth of feral cat colonies. Our hope is that, in doing so, we help the cats avoid behaviors that put them at risk for illness, injury and mistreatment.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TNR MECOSTA’S SERVICES?
-We typically serve sites with four or more unsterilized cats that appear regularly and have an established caregiver.
-We do not permanently remove or relocate cats, or facilitate others’ removal or relocation of them.
-We require a signed agreement and charge a per-cat fee from people who receive our services.
-We go door-to-door in service neighborhoods to tell neighbors to keep their pet cats indoors during our trap events.
-TNR Mecosta is an all-volunteer team that educates the public on humane treatment of cats and conducts TNR events, both fundraising and educational. We are not a government agency, and we reserve the right to determine how and where we will apply our resources to have the most positive impact.

WHY CAN’T TNR MECOSTA TAKE THE CATS SOMEWHERE ELSE?
Relocation to another property exposes cats to inhumane conditions, which conflicts with our mission, and regional shelters do not have the resources to rehabilitate and support the number of cats trapped in TNR. Most importantly, relocation won’t address cat overpopulation in the long term. Cats form colonies in places where actions by humans make shelter and food available. In that situation, removing one group of cats will only allow new cats to take their place, but a stable, neutered cat colony will typically prevent new additional unsterilized cats from moving in.

WHY DOES TNR MECOSTA CHARGE A PER-CAT FEE?
The per-cat fee only covers a portion of veterinary expenses, but does help off-set our costs. Donations and fundraising fund the balance. Our volunteers donate their time and work. If you cannot afford the per-cat fee, we can provide you with information about how to raise it with the help of neighbors or sponsors.

WHY WON’T TNR MECOSTA SERVE PET CATS OR LOCATIONS WITH FEWER THAN FOUR CATS?
We are responsible for using our resources where there is the greatest need. We provide information about trapping and local low-cost neutering clinics to locations with fewer than four cats or unneutered pet cats.

WHY DOES TNR REQUIRE A SIGNED AGREEMENT AND AN ESTABLISHED CAREGIVER FOR THE COLONY?
We don’t use our resources where they won’t have a positive impact, and we don’t support inhumane treatment of animals. Cats form colonies where actions by humans make food and shelter available. If food and shelter will be removed from a location, it is not appropriate for us to use our resources there.

WHAT IF MY PET CAT IS TRAPPED DURING TNR ACTIVITIES?
TNR Mecosta conducts door-to-door notification prior to TNR events to warn residents to keep their pet cats inside. We will not be able to tell that a trapped cat is a pet or is already neutered. If your pet is a cat that goes outdoors, it could be collected as a part of a TNR event in your area. Our volunteers go door-to-door in the neighborhoods we serve before each trapping event to advise residents to keep pet cats indoors from 5 p.m. of the trap night through 10 a.m. the following day. If TNR volunteers visit you, it is important for your pet’s safety and well-being to follow their instructions and read the information they provide.

CAN TNR MECOSTA ASSIST WITH ANIMAL HOARDING CASES?
Because animal hoarding cases typically require removal of animals from the location, TNR Mecosta cannot assist with animal hoarding in most cases. Animal hoarding is a complex issue related to both animal and human wellness, and requires a larger range of support services than we have the resources to provide. If you need assistance related to an animal hoarding situation, you should contact your county’s Department of Health and Human Services office for more information.

TNR MECOSTA PROVIDED SERVICES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. HOW CAN I TELL IF THE CATS I SEE NOW HAVE BEEN STERILIZED?
TNR Mecosta has its veterinarians trim the tip of cats’ ears (“ear-tipping”) during sterilization surgery so that they can be identified after the fact. However, this is not the practice of most veterinarians when neutering non-feral cats, so it is possible that cats without tipped ears are either unsterilized ferals or someone’s neutered pet cats.

WHY DOES TNR MECOSTA TIP CATS’ EARS?
In some situations, we are not able to trap and neuter all of the cats at a site. Tipping cats’ ears allows them to be identified as already neutered in a follow-up TNR event, so that we or other TNR providers take only the cats that need neutering.

HOW CAN I HELP?
You can donate, join our committee, or help at a TNR event by emailing tnrmecosta@gmail.com.

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR TNR MECOSTA SERVICES?
Please fill out this form to apply for services. Items marked with a red star are required information. When you have completed the form, our team will review it and contact you at the email address you have provided. This form is not encrypted in transmission. Please do not enter Social Security numbers, passwords, credit card information or other protected data into this form.

HOW WILL TNR USE THE DATA I PROVIDE BELOW?
TNR Mecosta values your privacy and will never share the data you provide with third parties for data collection or marketing purposes. Our team of volunteers will review the information you provide to determine if you meet our service criteria and if we have the resources to assist you.