TNR History in the U.S. and Around the World
World History
England: Celia Hammond is considered to be one of the original pioneers of TNR. In England in the 1960s, she began sterilizing and releasing feral cats after finding trapping, taming and re-homing to be “hopelessly inefficient.” In the next 10 years, she found the practice to be less costly and more humane, productive and acceptable to the public.
Denmark: In 1980, Dr. Tom Kristenson, a Danish veterinarian, spoke at “The Ecology and Control of Feral Cats” symposium in England about TNR in Denmark during the mid-1970s. He reported positive results regarding the return of cats to their environment post sterilization. Ear tipping and ear tattooing was already routinely done in Denmark during this time.
England: Back in England, Dr. Jenny Remfry, a veterinarian, and biologist Peter Neville were also doing groundbreaking work for feral cats. Neville observed feral cat colonies weekly for months at a time and reported his observations in a study. They found that TNR did not have negative effects on the cats’ health and did not disrupt their social hierarchy. Unless the cats died, there was no immigration of new cats to the colony. This study proved that TNR has a positive impact regarding welfare and population control. Neville went on to establish TNR programs in Tunisia, Greece and Kenya. Dr. Remfry researched alternative contraceptive methods to spay/neuter.
Italy: In 1991, Italy enacted a law making TNR the only legal policy for controlling cat populations. The killing of feral cats was now illegal. This law stated that feral cats have the right to live free, are protected and cannot be removed from their colony. Feral cats have to be sterilized by the local Veterinary Public Services and reintroduced to their colony. Cat care-takers became an institutionalised figure and can have an official assignment of managing a cat colony.
U.S. History
1980-1989: Annabell Washburn was one of the first feral cat advocates to bring TNR to the United States in 1980. She started an organization called Pet Adoption and Welfare Services. In 1986, she began working in the British Virgin Islands with the staff and students of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Feral cats were spayed or neutered and the students received hands-on surgery experience.
1990-1999: In 1990, Alley Cat Allies was co-established by Louise Holton as the first national organization advocating for the sterilization of feral cats in place of lethal control. The organization is still at the forefront of feral cat advocacy and the TNR movement today. In 1992, the well known Feral Cat Coalition was established in San Diego, California. Other TNR clinics and organizations started popping up across the country including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, California and North Carolina.
2000-2009: The publication “Animal People” has credited TNR as a main factor for lowering euthanasia rates for healthy cats in shelters across the United States. In 2002, the publication stated that “the recent dramatic growth of no-kill shelters and sanctuaries, high-volume adoption centers, shelterless rescue groups and neuter/return projects to assist feral cats as the beginning of the mop-up phase of the movement against pet overpopulation.” However, the publication also stated that the, “maximum potential for using TNR effectively has only been half-realized.”
2010-present: Today, TNR is widely accepted across the country as a vital facet of shelter deferment and population control. Many shelters include TNR and RTF into their programs as a way to save more cats’ lives, help cat caretakers and prevent the birth of unwanted kittens in their community. While there is still some criticism, major animal welfare organizations including the ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States, promote and advocate for TNR as the most humane solution we currently have to address overpopulation.