Trap-Neuter-Return/Rescue

TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return/Rescue.

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Community cats are humanely trapped, transported to a veterinary clinic, spayed or neutered, vaccinated when services are available, ear-tipped, and returned to the outdoor location they already know. Or if they show signs of being friendly, they may qualify for rescue placement.

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An ear tip is the universal sign that an outdoor cat has been sterilized. While the cat is safely under anesthesia, a veterinarian removes a small portion of the tip of one ear. This allows rescuers and caregivers to identify fixed cats without trapping them again.

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TNR helps:

• Prevent unwanted litters

• Reduce fighting, roaming, spraying, and mating behaviors

• Improve the overall health of a colony

• Reduce pressure on shelters and rescues

• Create smaller, more stable community cat populations over time

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TNR does not mean removing every outdoor cat. In most cases, healthy community cats are returned to their established territory after recovery.

You may need TNR assistance if:

• You regularly see cats living outside

• New kittens appear every few months

• Cats are fighting, spraying, yowling, or roaming

• You feed outdoor cats but cannot afford to have them fixed

• A new cat has joined an established colony

• You need to borrow humane trapping equipment

• You have found kittens with an outdoor mother

• You want to prevent a small group of cats from becoming a large colony

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Please contact us as early as possible. Two unfixed cats can quickly become an entire colony, especially during kitten season.

Need a humane trap but feel comfortable handling the trapping yourself? Our Community Trap Depot allows local residents to borrow appropriate equipment for TNR.

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The program includes:

• Access to humane community cat traps

• Basic trapping and safety instructions

• Guidance on covering, transporting, and monitoring traps

• Information about preparing cats for appointments and recovery

• A refundable $20 equipment deposit

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Borrowers are responsible for following all safety instructions and returning equipment clean and on time so it remains available to other community members.​

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Visit the Community Trap Depot.

Black Magic Animal Rescue operates Casa Grande’s active community trapping program.

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We help residents address outdoor cat colonies safely, humanely, and responsibly.

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Depending on volunteer availability, funding, and veterinary appointments, our TNR assistance may include:

• Assessing a colony and creating a trapping plan

• Providing humane traps and trapping instructions

• Helping trap difficult or trap-shy cats

• Transporting cats to and from veterinary appointments

• Coordinating spay and neuter services

• Monitoring cats during recovery

• Returning healthy community cats to their original location

• Identifying friendly cats and young kittens that may be candidates for foster care or adoption

• Educating residents about long-term colony care

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We are a small, volunteer-run rescue without a public facility. Assistance is based on urgency, available appointments, volunteer coverage, and program funding.

TNR works best when residents and colony caregivers participate in the process. Depending on your situation, we may ask you to:

• Count the cats and note which ones have ear tips

• Provide photos or videos of the colony

• Feed the cats on a consistent schedule

• Stop feeding for a specific period before trapping

• Monitor traps while they are set

• Provide a safe, temperature-controlled recovery location

• Help return the cats after they are cleared

• Continue providing food, water, shelter, and basic monitoring

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Never leave an active trap unattended. Cats in traps must be protected from heat, direct sunlight, rain, dogs, people, and other hazards.

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Submitting a request does not guarantee immediate trapping or placement. Our team will review the information and contact you about the safest available next step.

Once a cat is secured, the trap should be covered immediately to help reduce stress. The cat remains inside the covered trap for transportation, surgery, and the initial recovery period unless a veterinary professional directs otherwise.

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After surgery, the cat must be kept in a quiet, safe, temperature-controlled location while recovering from anesthesia. Recovery time depends on the cat’s sex, condition, surgery, and veterinary instructions.

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Once the cat is alert and medically cleared, it is returned to the exact location where it was trapped. Returning cats to unfamiliar areas is dangerous and should never be done without a proper relocation plan.