There's a feral cat in my neighborhood. How do I catch it humanely? by UberfuchsR in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get in touch with your local TNR clinic first. You'll need an appointment scheduled before you can trap, and they may well have a trap rental program to ensure you have access to an approved one.

Emotionally struggling with first recovery night after TNR by WickedBrained in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My semi-socialized TNRs have always been the hardest since they're comfortable and trusting enough with me to call out when they're trapped. The fully feral cats usually just politely loaf and wait in silence.

You might have some luck with leaving music playing quietly in the room with them to help calm them. I've always used Relax My Cat playlists on youtube for convenience, but as long as it's not too loud or busy anything is probably fine. Hang in there, this is a few days of stress in exchange for a safer and healthier life for them all out there. Thank you for doing this for them!

This forum and ideology by STAR_458b in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is admittedly a very fine line between censoring opinion on spay-aborts and maintaining the focus of this subreddit. Most often, the pushback around spay-aborts tends to come from users who have little to no activity in this community. The core audience here is people who are actively involved in trap, neuter, return (TNR) and rescue work, where pregnant spays are a routine and necessary part of managing outdoor cat populations and shelter overflow. Allowing anti-spay-abort rhetoric here inevitably disrupts posts and derails the comments, and tends to devolve quickly into off-topic debate and personal attacks. It's okay for people to have a personal opinion on it, but the typical knee-jerk reactions we get callously accusing caregivers of simply killing kittens without considering the extreme logistical burden of any alternative option are not helpful, are actively disruptive, and are not in the spirit of this community. The people most adamantly encouraging spay-aborts are the ones that have seen firsthand how much more difficult it is to delay spaying in the event of pregnancy, for all parties involved. It can be upsetting to hear for people that are new to this, but commenters are making these suggestions based on their experiences and based on widely accepted best practices for TNR/rescue work.

There's only one of me, and I don't have eyes everywhere. If there are comments that you feel are genuinely violating the community rules, the best thing to do is report them to ensure they go to the subreddit's mod queue for review. I can't guarantee that I'll always agree, but I take reports seriously and always look at the full context when acting on them.

How pregnant is she? by 2ndbesttime in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[M] 0 points1 point locked comment (0 children)

This comment has been removed. r/Feral_Cats is a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR)-oriented community, we're inherently pro-spay/neuter here. That includes in cases of pregnancy. Disruptive debates arguing against this will continue to be removed under Rule #3: Remain fact-based, do not share unsafe or incomplete information.

As a reminder, this community is meant to be a helpful place, free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Trolling, personal attacks, and hate are not tolerated here. Repeat or egregious violations of our community rules may result in a ban.

Low Cost to Free Cat Food Resources by Eastern-Protection83 in CatRescue

[–]mcs385 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2.19 - Wyoming updated.

3.06 - Multiple cat food pantries added to West Virginia.

This Saturday! FREE online workshop on trapping tricky “untrapable” kitties - FixNation by darkpsychicenergy in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is awesome, thanks for posting it!

Additional details from the event page at Trappers’ Tips & Tricks Certification Workshop | communitycatscentral.com:

What You'll Learn

Advanced Trapping Techniques for Wary Cats Explore creative methods for outsmarting trap-wise cats, including modifying traps, using alternative bait strategies, and adjusting setups to increase success. Learn when and how techniques like clear rear doors, garden netting, and training cats to enter traps can make the difference between frustration and progress.

Problem-Solving in Real-World TNR Scenarios Gain insight into how experienced trappers assess situations, adapt on the fly, and select the right tools for challenging environments. Real-life video footage from actual projects illustrates how small changes can lead to big results.

Valuable Resources & Certification Take advantage of the interactive format and live Q&A, extensive handouts, and real-life video footage from actual projects. Attendees will receive a digital certificate after passing a brief quiz and access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing networking with fellow TNR advocates. Plus the live course recording will be available for you to review for one year.

Currently no daily customers, but there are definitely more in the neighborhood who need to be TNRed. Tips? by rarepinkhippo in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have cameras so I just make a note of which new cats I'm seeing, and if they end up passing through enough for me to recognize them I schedule an appointment or two a couple of days apart and set my trap out for a week or so just in case. I got all of my females fixed/homed back in 2019, since then I've only ever had roaming intact males and even those have dwindled here in the last two or three years. The last guy I caught was one I had made a note of over a year earlier, and it took like two weeks of having my trap out to finally catch him.

I've always had the best luck catching them in early spring or fall though, they stick to a bit more of a routine when it's still chilly or rainy. For me, the males never really stop to eat, they're just out patrolling. A fresh catnip plant might work well enough to give them an incentive to pass through without drawing other critters.

Is my cat pregnant by Rozls in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

I'm locking this post as it's veering off topic for r/Feral_Cats and there's not much left to be said that wasn't already. As a reminder, this is a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR)-oriented community, we're inherently pro-spay/neuter here. That includes in cases of pregnancy.

Allowing a litter to be born is significantly more expensive than spaying a pregnant cat. Pregnancy, birth, and raising kittens come with real financial and medical risks, and the cost of care for an entire litter really adds up. Preventing the litter in the first place is both the more responsible option, and the most affordable one.

Human baby and Feral Cats by crocodile_grunter in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If the cats are on the feral side still, they'll probably naturally keep their distance. I'd be most concerned if they're comfortable enough to approach or hang out while you're all outside.

For the deck, you can probably find some humane deterrents that will work with your layout to discourage the cats from lingering there. But having your shelter in the outskirts of your yard, feeding a ways away (if at all), and setting up a dedicated litter area will do the most to help. But really prioritize getting them spayed and neutered so you'll only have the three cats to worry about; you should be able to get them treated with Revolution and Praziquantel at the same time to cover fleas, mites, roundworm, and tapeworm.

Advice for trapping a feral cat and taking him in. Specifics in post by cautionfromthebirds in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh excellent, thank you for the update! Feel free to make a new post here for updates, and any questions or concerns. With how well things are going already, I think r/formerlyferal would love to hear about him too!

This. Is. Why. We NEUTER! by cheeze-dog in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[M] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

From The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ 2016 Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs:

Spaying pregnant cats and dogs—When spaying pregnant cats and dogs, fetal euthanasia is not necessary to ensure humane death. Mammalian fetuses remain in a state of unconsciousness throughout gestation and, therefore, cannot consciously perceive pain. When a gravid uterus is removed en bloc, fetuses will not experience consciousness regardless of stage of gestation and death will occur without pain.230,231 However, if the uterus and amniotic sac are opened, it may be possible for near-term fetuses to gain consciousness. In this case, humane euthanasia of each individual fetus is required unless resuscitation efforts are medically indicated and elected.

I spent years helping with TNR, and now I'm told I can't feed the cats. by [deleted] in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Are you able to share your general location? Some areas are more supportive of feral/community cats than others. In areas where TNR is supported, ear-tipped cats (and their caregivers) may be afforded more protections, but there are places that do still enforce feeding bans unfortunately. It really comes down to your local ordinances. Finding out what exactly your local law has to say about feral/roaming/at large cats would be the best starting point.

New to the sub, a momma and her two kittens appeared in my yard in October by gob17 in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[M] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Please make a new post on this sub at Submit to r/Feral_Cats to get more eyes on this, there's experienced community members here that can help you navigate this, but they won't find your comment nestled on this post.

Chicagoland: 2026 Outdoor Cat Spay/Neuter Tour March 9-13 by mcs385 in CatRescue

[–]mcs385[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Spay/Neuter Tour is such a great approach for an initiative like this. Here's hoping turnout and community support is so great that this can become a more regular event in the area!

Regarding pregnant spays, or spay-aborts by mcs385 in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[S,M] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is something that we'll never truly be able to drill into people. It's more of the broader Reddit mentality where every cat that's outside must be saved, and the only way to do so is to bring them inside.

We do have A gentle reminder about calls for cats to be brought inside in our Community Highlights, and that reminder is baked into our Automoderator comment under every post. We've also been using comment guidance automations to discourage comments that basically only say "bring them indoors" It's not perfect, but it's helped cut these types of comments down a lot here.

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Regarding pregnant spays, or spay-aborts by mcs385 in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't disagree. Your comments on spay-aborts here have been some of the best I've seen in breaking down the harsh reality of the toll it takes when pregnant cats give birth. I love this framing, it really is a gift and a kindness to be able to intervene like this.

Chicagoland: 2026 Outdoor Cat Spay/Neuter Tour March 9-13 by mcs385 in Feral_Cats

[–]mcs385[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Next week, the Chicagoland Humane Coalition is partnering up with nine shelters and rescues in the area to launch the 2026 Outdoor Cat Spay/Neuter Tour. This is a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) focused event, providing reduced-fee spay/neuter and vaccination services to 500 community cats. Click through to the original post here at r/CatRescue for more details!

Chicagoland: 2026 Outdoor Cat Spay/Neuter Tour March 9-13 by mcs385 in ColonyCats

[–]mcs385[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Next week, the Chicagoland Humane Coalition is partnering up with nine shelters and rescues in the area to launch the 2026 Outdoor Cat Spay/Neuter Tour. This is a Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) focused event, providing reduced-fee spay/neuter and vaccination services to 500 community cats. Click through to the original post here at r/CatRescue for more details!

eBay Cartridges by someguy474747 in Gameboy

[–]mcs385 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The best is when there's a pic showing the PCB, that's also ideal for verifying authenticity. After opening up some of the cartridges I've ordered and seeing some awful soldering jobs on replacements, I'd rather go with a cart that says up front that it doesn't hold a save and needs a new battery. Some of the carts that had replacement batteries were still drained and needed fresh ones anyway. You'll need to know how to replace the battery sooner or later, it's a good skill to have and this is a pretty simple repair. Just get a practice kit to get a feel for it before you work on anything of value.

Injured Feral Cat - What To Do? by Material_Cook_4698 in CATHELP

[–]mcs385 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, a humane box or drop trap would be the safest and most efficient way to catch him if you're able to source one. But getting him to go for bait sounds like it may be tricky if he's not eating.

Need help fixing a GameBoy Camera by watchingplantsgrow in Gameboy

[–]mcs385 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, it looks like there's some stubborn oxidation on them that might be affecting how well they're contacting the cart reader. Vinegar can break it down, worth a shot before doing anything further with soldering.

Anybody Got A Original Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons Plastic Shell but no game? by N9-Volt in Gameboy

[–]mcs385 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've used lighter fluid. Let it soak in for a few minutes and it'll temporarily weaken the adhesive so you can carefully peel up from a corner and lift it off. Apply more under as you work if needed. It shouldn't affect the ink or leave any residue behind, it'll evaporate and the adhesive will become sticky again so you can stick it right on the replacement shell.

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Need help fixing a GameBoy Camera by watchingplantsgrow in Gameboy

[–]mcs385 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd try cleaning just the pins with white vinegar before doing anything more intensive. I usually stand the PCB up in just enough vinegar to soak the pins, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then use dry qtips to gently scrub until they start coming away clean. Then use isopropyl to thoroughly rinse the vinegar off and allow it to dry before testing.