Silk Cat Rescue proactively supports the neutering of feral cats and community cats on the basis that prevention of out of control breeding is the best option to preventing longer term suffering of such animals.

Trap-Neuter-Return, or “TNR,” is now considered the most humane and effective method known for managing feral and community cats and controlling their population. The cats are trapped by our volunteers and brought to a veterinary clinic. They’re then spayed or castrated, treated for fleas and worms and ear-tipped. Ear-tipping, where 7-8mm of their left ear flap is removed whilst under anaesthetic, is an internationally recognised mark to show which cats have received treatment and so don’t undergo the stress of trapping again. The tabby cat shown here has been ear-tipped.

After they’ve recovered from their surgery, the cats are returned back to their original site where a caretaker provides regular food and shelter. If foster homes are available, very young kittens will not be returned to site and, rather, will be placed for adoption by the charity. On rare occasions, where the release site is not suitable (eg demolition of a building) Silk Cat Rescue will attempt to relocate feral cats to a new site post-treatment. If you would like to adopt such a working cat, please get in touch to explore the options.

Neutering cats, as well as stabilising the population has other benefits: fighting, yowling and other noise associated with mating stops, the foul odour caused by males spraying to mark territory disappears and the cats, no longer driven to mate, roam much less. The cats themselves are healthier and less likely to spread feline diseases. Meanwhile, rodent control is maintained by the cats’ continued presence.

If you are feeding feral or unowned community cats and need help bringing things under control or prevent them getting out of hand, please email, or ring/text,  07754 337089 (24hr ansaphone) and we’ll see if we can help.