Community TNVR

We are proud to announce that after five years of working through our pilot program designed to show that Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) works and saves lives, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners voted to implement a new ordinance allowing healthy, free-roaming cats to be returned to their outdoor homes. This ordinance went into effect in November, 2017.

There is overwhelming evidence gathered from successful programs throughout our state and country that the most effective way for communities to handle the special population of free-roaming cats is to implement TNVR.

All free-roaming cats brought to HSTC are evaluated for the TNVR program. Eligible cats must have been thriving in their natural environment and must be physically able to continue to maintain a high quality of life in the outdoors. TNVR cats are then spayed or neutered, microchipped, given rabies and FVRCP vaccines, evaluated by a veterinarian, treated with topical flea prevention, and ear tipped to identify them as having already participated in the program. After recovery, the cats are then returned to their home or their colony—outdoors. 

Simply removing free-roaming cats from their territory – whether to trap and euthanize, rescue, or relocate to another site or place in a sanctuary – does nothing to lower the number of free-roamingcats in our community. New cats replace the old ones, and nothing much changes in terms of overpopulation and nuisance behavior. Available resources at the location brought the original cats there, and will encourage them to continue breeding if they are able.  It could be shelter, a food source, mating or other factors. 

TNVR is the answer for Martin County's Free-Roaming Cats!

TNVR stabilizes the population (fewer to no births), results in lower animal control costs, reduces nuisance complaints by residents, addresses neighbors’ concerns, alleviates public health concerns, and improves the cats’ lives.  This life saving program helps the entire community reach a solution that benefits everyone. Support of TNVR, along with an aggressive public education program emphasizing the benefits of spaying and neutering, is critical in the effort to control the free-roaming cat population in Martin County communities. 

Benefits of TNVR

• TNVR stabilizes free-roaming cat populations by ending reproduction. Once the cats are not reproducing, the population steadily declines over time.
• Nuisance behavior often associated with free-roaming cats is dramatically reduced.  This includes yowling and fighting during mating activity and the odor of unneutered males spraying to mark their territory. Eventually the noise of cats fighting over mating rights is and male urine spray smells are eliminated.
• Calls to authorities regarding stray cats decrease significantly and community morale improves.
• TNVR improves their lives; cats live healthier, more peaceful lives after TNVR.
• TNVR protects their lives. Nearly 100% of free-roaming cats entering shelters in jurisdictions without TNVR programs are euthanized because they cannot be adopted into homes due to behavior issues.
• TNVR stops wasteful spending. Catching and euthanizing cats has not produced results for decades. Continuing that approach is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Trapping Cats in Your Community

HSTC allows the use of personal traps for our TNVR clinic, and asks that all personal traps be approved by HSTC staff prior to use. If your trap meets our requirements, please submit a clear photo to NPinkham@hstc1.org for approval from our staff; or stop by during regular business hours to have staff inspect your trap in person.

View our trap requirements here to see if your trap qualifies!

If you don’t have your own traps, HSTC does have traps available for loan!

For More Information

TNVR services are available by appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please email NPinkham@hstc1.org.