Local Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Resources

Trap Neuter Return is a proven and humane method of controlling free roaming cat populations. It is NOT a removal or relocation service. There are no places to take feral (unsocial) cats. For more information about feral cats and TNR, visit Alley Cat Allies or  Best Friends Feral Cat Network.

See Resources page for financial assistance information.

                                           Township TNR 2012 - feral cats only.

Emmaus Boro; Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, No Whitehall, Washington and Weisenberg Townships

$10 co-pay per cat.

Hanover Township LEHIGH COUNTY  NO co-pay. Proof of residence in Lehigh/Hanover required

                                                                                         TRAPS

Loaner traps are available for use 2  weeks : $20 refundable deposit. Trap pickup available during check-in from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM  and 4 PM - 5 PM on clinic surgery days. Our staff is in surgery during the day and is not available to assist you at other times.

Call to check on availability : 570.449.5753-Berks   610.741.3437 Allentown

Trapping information and assistance contact:

• Martha  marthakahan@yahoo.com Lehigh County
• Phil       610.393.0223 Lehigh & Northampton County
• Deb      TNR coordinator Berks County  lildebrescues@hotmail.com

Trap-Neuter-Return Instructions

• Trappers should have 1 trap per cat and to be effective, plan on trapping an entire colony at once. Cats will get trap savvy when they have been exposed to trapping several times. NEVER let a cat out of a trap as they are very hesitant to go back into one again!
• Make sure that you understand how to open and set the trap before you begin.
• Have a date of surgery scheduled and plan to trap the evening before surgery.
• Cats can be held overnight and fed in the traps the evening before surgery. Transport them covered to the clinic the next day.
• Place the trap in the area where you typically feed the cats. Do not place a trap out in the open; place under shrubs, small trees, corners of buildings, etc.

Pre-Trapping instructions:

• Secure the trap door open with wire, string or a stick. Place a thin layer of newspaper on the bottom. If it gets wet or blows, you can leave the bottom bare. Plan to use the trap as a feeding station 3-4 days in advance of your surgery date. This helps the cats get accustomed to entering the trap and not to be afraid. It is NOT recommended to use plastic bowls or plates as they can block the door when trapping. You can use a paper plate.
• Start with placing food at the front of the trap on the first day and move the food toward the back of the trap each feeding afterward. We are training the cat not to be afraid to go all the way into the trap the day/evening of trapping.
• 24 hours BEFORE ( or 1 feeding before) the day/evening of trapping, DO NOT feed the cats. If they are used to being fed and now are hungry, it will increase the success of catching them. Kittens weighing 2-3 lbs will trip the plate; can be trapped, fixed and eartipped.

Trapping Instructions:

• Place a tablespoon of tuna at the very BACK of the trap through the top of the trap .If you place the food too closely to the trip plate, the cat can lean over it rather than step on it. You do NOT have to use a lot of tuna. You will be feeding them later after trapping them. If your cats are used to a favorite food, you can use that too, preferably wet food not dry.
• Release the trap door and set the hook which activates the trip plate .Cover cat when trapped with old sheets or towels. This helps decrease the stress and they settle down. Remove trapped cats from the trapping area so they don’t scare others away. The cats can be fed food thru the top of the trap. Wet food is preferable because there is enough moisture and eliminates the need to put a container of water in the trap. Do not attempt to transfer cats to carriers as they are very fast and will get out. Leave them in the traps until surgery.
• The sound of trap doors can scare some cats away. Keep in mind that they are hungry and will come back for food. Sometimes, they will wait until it gets dark which makes them feel safer, so be patient!
• Do NOT leave traps open over nite or unattended or you will be trapping wildlife such as skunks, opossums or raccoons. If you did not get all of the cats, close the traps down for the evening and start again in the morning in daylight. The longer the cat goes without food, the greater your chance of success. BE PATIENT!
• Cats will be returned for recovery to you in traps and keep them in a quiet, warm place. They can be fed through the top of the trap, again with wet food. In most cases, the cat can be released out of the trap 24 -36 hours after surgery. Females may be left in the trap for 48 hours. There are very few cases that a cat should be in the trap for a week. The clinic will inform you if there are additional needs.
• Lactating mothers can be fixed! The surgery does not interfere with the ability to make milk. The staff will inform you if they need to be released same day of surgery and will give you proper instructions for post surgery care before release.
• Kittens that weigh 2.5 - 3 lbs can also be fixed.Rabies shot cannot be given until 3 months old.
• All cats receive a left ear tip; females also receive a green tatoo along the incision line

ALL free roaming cats should be ear- tipped. It is done under anesthesia and does not hurt them but it does PROTECT them! Why? Because the ear-tip (left) is a universal sign that this cat is fixed and vaccinated. For communities that have animal control contracts that pick up ferals, these beautiful cats are killed because they are not adoptable and take up space.

An ear-tip may save their lives!!!