Animal Lovers Web Forum

There are a lot of feral cats in cities in Ontario(and all over the world).
The Trap Neuter Release program is doing great things to help these animals.

Some feral colonies can be maintained right were they are and gradually the colony will die out as no new kittens are born.

Those that can be adopted are found homes. Many are just not able to cope with living with people. Some colonies cannot stay where they are or there is no one able to maintain them(provide food and outdoor shelters).

Barn Cats is an idea to give them a chance. These cats are relocated to barns where they can live feral and yet be provided for. 

http://www.ourperth.ca/community-story/6...t-program/


http://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/Anim...ption.aspx

http://omhs.ca/barn-buddies-working-cat-program/


I think it shows creative thinking and a real resourcefulness when it come to find solutions for the feral cat problem.

I hope it works out.  Some of these cats are lovely, but they just can't adapt to living with people.

This is a very good idea for cats who are feral or semi-feral.
A neighbour of mine adopted a semi-feral cat from the Cats' Protection Society (UK) This cat is very happy living a mostly outdoor life, but has some slight socialisation with humans, so will occasionally come into the house. But not for long as she prefers the barn!

This idea is giving cats a good new chance, when otherwise they might have been rounded up and euthanised as they were not properly domesticated for adoption.

And of course on a rural property, farm or smallholding, they make excellent rodent-controllers.

That is the whole idea. The cats can hunt mice and rats and have some human connection, but they will still live mostly feral.

I understand they have tried to foster and domesticate some of the street cats. There are some that are happy to become house cats. Many are not and they just don't cope. This at least gives them a chance to live. They are better off in a barn situation than out on the streets.

Street colonies that are being maintained are neutered and vaccinated. Then food is provided daily and outdoor shelters are built for them so they can keep warm, especially  in the winter.

We are trying to help the street cats. This is just one more way.

I'm glad somebody is helping feral cats. There are so many of them. I hope other countries will follow what they are doing.

I think the original Trap Neuter Release program  is an American idea.

I just checked and it actually started in the UK. The program has spread to many countries.

I think Barn Cats is a fairly new development.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap-neuter-return


The whole TNR idea has quite an interesting history.  It is a brilliant and humane way to deal with the cat problem we have created by releasing cats in the first place.