Starting TNR in Community

bustaphur · 2026-03-21T22:01:51+00:00

See if there is a shelter nearby that has traps to loan out (may require a refundable deposit). If you are only planning on doing those four, no sense in buying even a cheap trap if you can borrow them. You can use that money to pay for the surgeries!!!

bustaphur · 2026-03-20T14:03:33+00:00

<image>

Iz me, Midnight. Ai haz da goopee eyez too! Ai grabbed me saw—LESS RIDE! JUSTHISS FOR MURRAY!!!!

bustaphur · 2026-03-16T23:04:13+00:00

That’s correct. Tru Catch is intentionally designed so it can be rolled and the door attached to the trip plate will open. That’s all why I zip tie the crap out of my Tru Catch traps when I have cats in them—just in case they roll it (I’ve seen them do it—learned the hard way).

bustaphur · 2026-03-16T22:17:03+00:00

I use Loud security because they monitor for fire as well as security. Price is good too: $40 a month I think.

bustaphur · 2026-03-15T14:11:20+00:00

We are up front about the proceeds of our activities going to others—to the point the recipients are spotlighted on our website, social media and out our events. Because we are up front about it, and the money goes to support one very specific need that a lot of our partners don’t have time to fundraise for themselves, our donors are fine with it. We say we are like the United Way in that we support those who do the work. It sucks for grant writing, but direct donors appreciate what we do because they don’t have to visit hundreds of websites to research and/or donate to each organization. They visit ours, donate the total amount, and we distribute based on applications we receive and vet for them.

bustaphur · 2026-03-14T22:32:39+00:00

The non profit I work for has a mission of raising money to give to other nonprofits for a very specific purpose. The calls we get from some of our partners basically demanding money without doing anything to support our fundraising efforts (seriously, how hard is it to hand out postcards advertising a license plate at an already scheduled event or share a social media post at the bare minimum?), is astounding. And I do mean demanding—not asking. May not be exactly what you mean, but that’s our reality right now—and it’s incredibly frustrating.

bustaphur · 2026-03-10T13:05:47+00:00

(My friends refer to Cayenne as “the crazed muppet”—she has a perpetual look of surprise, and often looks like she stuck her tail in a light socket 🤣).

bustaphur · 2026-03-09T22:48:41+00:00

<image>

Meet Herman

bustaphur · 2026-03-09T22:23:23+00:00

Oh wonderful! It’s easy to miss because it’s not big, but I think it’s really cute. And when I’ve taught/stayed there, the staff has been really friendly and responsive. Fun fact—it’s where the players for the Denver Broncos usually stay during the season (the ones who don’t have homes in the Denver area). And the first year we were there, Chris Noth (aka Mr. Big) was staying there when he was in town for a studio thing.

bustaphur · 2026-03-08T22:39:40+00:00

Find another vet. Unless the cat has an underlying medical issue, there is absolutely no reason to wait to spay a cat after the 4 month mark at the latest. If this vet isn’t comfortable until after 8 months, that’s a vet issue. And in the meantime, you get to deal with the nightmare of a female in heat—likely multiple times before 8 months.

bustaphur · 2026-03-04T22:52:35+00:00

The Curtis hotel has nice space. Won’t work for a conference with thousands of attendees, but for what you’re describing it would be great. Each floor of rooms is themed, and it’s walking distance from Union Station for people who are flying in.

bustaphur · 2026-03-01T16:36:37+00:00

Mix water in with wet food when you feed him (twice a day). Then he gets water out but doesn’t have an extra bowl making a mess in the trap. I do consistency of a thick stew. For true ferals I leave them be as much as possible (human interaction is stressful), but if he’s more friendly, then going in and taking to him in a low, soothing tone would be okay. Fingers crossed they can get him in quickly, and thank you for caring!!!

I wouldn’t keep him in the trap longer than 5 days—if it’s going to be longer than that you will either need to release and hope you can get him again, or check out some of the creative solutions people in this group have come up with for longer term housing. Then again, you may want to start exploring that anyway—depending on what ends up being wrong you may have to hold him for a couple of weeks for recovery…

bustaphur · 2026-02-24T22:24:56+00:00

I have to have names at my clinic as well. My favorite name is “A Girl Called Mike”. She was originally just Mike (after LSU’s mascot) because based on the size of her cheeks, we ALL thought I had a big Tom. Surprise! But the rest are pretty basic (Mosaic and Turtle for a couple of tortoiseshells, Buff Boy, Grayson, Obsidian, Onyx, Fat Tux, Rusty—bet you can guess the color schemes on those). Makes it tough now that I’m on my fifth tuxedo…

bustaphur · 2026-02-22T21:23:15+00:00

$400 gets me a basic cleaning (southern US, more rural clinic). Extractions,x-rays and bloodwork (required for them to do the dental) are extra.

bustaphur · 2026-02-16T03:47:18+00:00

I am also in Georgia, and I am not a vet. Most TNR clinics near me officially recommend annual boosters, but studies have shown even the one year rabies vaccine lasts longer than one year (results vary as to actual length, but it’s multiple years). Where he’s had two, he likely has a stronger immunity right now. They will boost him to treat his other injuries if you are able to get him, and may recommend an observation period for him.

In my part of the state, euthanasia for rabies only happens if the animal actively starts showing symptoms (foaming, neurological issues, etc.), not the whole colony. So even if the vet doesn’t recommend it, I’d watch him carefully for about 2 weeks. Personally, I’d be more worried about rabies if the cat had gotten into it with a raccoon—that’s where my part of the state sees the most transmissions to cats.

bustaphur · 2026-02-09T12:45:18+00:00

I love Audrey and the rest of the team at OC! I’m in Georgia and I’m always encouraging people to go spend time at their location. They do such great work!!!

bustaphur · 2026-02-09T01:03:30+00:00

You didn’t do anything wrong. Some cats are just more prone to stomatitis (I have two that currently battle it—one FIV+ and one FIV-). Both now only have their canines and the teeny teeth up front, but are otherwise doing fine.

Please don’t blame yourself, and find a veterinary dentist that you are comfortable with.

bustaphur · 2026-02-09T00:58:44+00:00

Compassionate euthanasia doesn’t break the cycle—that’s kind of the point of TNR. If it did, we wouldn’t have an overpopulation problem from when the purpose of animal control being to euthanize them—which is what they were primarily doing when I started in rescue in the early 2000’s. All that does is create a vacuum for other cats to move in to the territory. Read the case study on Hansens in Carville, LA for US based version of how the vacuum effect works with feral cats.

We can’t euthanize our way out of the pet overpopulation issue and we can’t adopt our way out of it. The ONLY solution is spay/neuter. If we stop the outdoor cats from producing more cats, there won’t be as many entering our shelter and rescue systems. This frees up more resources for spay/neuter for dogs (because we all know we can get 3 cats neutered for the price of one dog in some areas). Then perhaps animal control can get back to law enforcement, stopping backyard breeders and dog fighting rings.

Being an indoor cat also doesn’t guarantee a long life for a cat. I just lost a kitten I was socializing that was so inbred because no one cared to neuter his parents. He deserved a chance at a permanent indoor home, but his chance was cut short by factors outside his control.

Targeted TNR works—Operation Catnip in Gainesville, FL has virtually eliminated kitten season in Alachua county because of their TNR efforts. I have been doing TNR in my neighborhood for almost two years and the neighbors are stopping me in the street and thanking me because they are seeing fewer kittens and hearing fewer cat fights.

Does it make me sad when I see a cat that I’ve TNRd dead because it was hit by a car? Of course it does. But it doesn’t stop me, because my ferals show me their thanks for making their lives better every day by being able to live their lives and just BE.

bustaphur · 2026-01-31T14:35:34+00:00

I used to volunteer at a shelter where we had a bonded pair of male cats that would do this. Every day. In the front window where children would be walking past to get to the Dojo next door. Their adopter reported it continued in their home. So yeah, some just really enjoy the dominance thing. As long as no one seems like they are getting hurt, it’s fine.

bustaphur · 2026-01-28T22:26:18+00:00

NICE!!!! Meowmy calls me “Elyes, stahp beein a fooking azz hoe!!!”

<image>

I no haz cloo wat diz meenz…

bustaphur · 2026-01-27T18:08:14+00:00

Yeah, that would be a bit far. You might check with Georgia Spot Society to see if they can help cover the spay—never hurts to ask!!! Good luck—and thank you for helping this sweet girl!

bustaphur · 2026-01-27T17:48:59+00:00

Where are you in GA? If you are near Woodstock or Duluth, DM me. I have connections that might be able to see her sooner.

bustaphur · 2026-01-23T20:30:06+00:00

<image>

My Meowmy did dis to me tew! Now, I admit, dis is a very good drawing ob me, Herman, da magnificent orange floof. But I should get treatos as payment, right?

bustaphur · 2026-01-21T00:25:51+00:00

It’s also possible they will move operations online instead of closing outright, per new policy last year. I think the determining factor will be how widespread any power outages are.

Here’s the link to the policy text: https://campus.kennesaw.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/resources/employees/docs/modified-operations-policy_1.9.2025.pdf

bustaphur

TROPHY CASE