After we receive your application for services, a representative from TNR Mecosta will make contact with you to review your initial responses. We process applications in the order that they are received.
After discussing the cat colony on the phone, TNR Mecosta volunteers will visit the colony site to view the feeding and sheltering areas and explain our process. We will complete our evaluation form and make a recommendation to our group. The colony sites are then worked into a schedule based on availibility of our volunteers and our veterinary clinics.
The actual trapping takes place over three days. In summary:
Day 1: Traps are set typically around 5:30pm. While TNR volunteers are still at colony site, any cats that are trapped will be moved to shelter area.
Day 2: TNR volunteers return to colony site early in the morning. Trapped cats are collected and transported to veterinary clinic. Cats (and kittens over 2lb) are spayed or neutered and ear tipped to identify them as a cat who has already been fixed. Cats are returned to the colony site and sheltered overnight in the traps while they recover.
Day 3: TNR volunteers return to colony site mid-morning. Cats are released from traps and traps are removed to be cleaned and sanitized for the next trapping event.
The cat colonies are now more stable, calmer, and healthier.