CARA Core Program
Trap-and-kill doesn't work. CNVR does. It's the proven, community-led method behind some of the communities with peaceful coexistence stories. When properly implemented, it can work in your community too.
CARA has been a staunch advocate of the CNVR (previously TNVR) process. Through the years, we've helped hundreds of private and public institutions and communities manage sustainable Community Cat Programs which significantly reduced cat populations within their community while allowing the cats to live peaceful lives in their established territories.
Community Cats have been noted to be helpful in driving away other feral cats outside of their established colony and helping control and minimize rodent and insect populations.
As more communities recognize its success, the CNVR movement continues to grow, offering a sustainable path to peaceful coexistence.
The problem with "Trap and Kill"
If some cats stay behind intact, they can breed without competition for food or territory. Within a few litters, the population climbs right back to where it started.
If every cat is removed, your community will experience the vacuum effect. New intact cats will immediately move in to claim the food source and territory, breed quickly, and raise a generation that's warier and harder to catch than the last.
CNVR Basics
Cats are humanely trapped using safe, low-stress equipment by trained volunteers.
Spay or neuter surgery permanently stops breeding, which is the root cause of overpopulation and other behavioral quirks.
Rabies vaccinations protect the colony, and the humans and their pets who reside within the community.
Once recovered, cats go back to their territory, though this time, calmer, healthier, and done breeding for good! R can also stand for "rehoming", which is especially applicable for socialized cats.
Decades of evidence point to the same conclusion: removing cats from a colony doesn't reduce their numbers. It may actually attract more.
CNVR is the gold standard when it comes to community stray management. Incorporating this in your community programs delivers benefits that extends beyond the strays:
1. Spayed/neutered cats stop breeding for good. The colony numbers decline naturally overtime.
2. With community cats working on their territories, stragglers will be discouraged from mixing into their colony. With these two effects combined, rebounding through the vacuum effect can be avoided.
3. Mating-related behaviors stop. Yowling, territorial spraying, and fighting drop off almost entirely once a colony is sterilized.
4. Vaccination protects the cat colony and the humans and pets who reside within the community.
5. Community cats are known for keeping rodent and insect populations in check.
6. CNVR is ethical and humane. This aside, it is also far less expensive than repeated trap-and-kill cycles.
Getting Started
Getting your Community Cat Program and CNVR started is the first step to ensuring your community gets the support it needs to manage its cat population humanely, sustainably, and for the long term.
A successful program isn't just about catching cats, it's about spreading awareness, building up a team of volunteers and advocates who can support the program, and maintaining a regular check in and feeding cadence with your existing colony.
CARA will be happy to extend support every step of the way, from providing your community/organization with CNVR information, planning the next steps to establish your Community Cat program, scheduling a catching and return date, and offering low cost spay/neuter and vaccination services at affordable rates.
Meanwhile, here are some steps you may start considering to set up CNVR in your community.
Know your colony. Count the cats, note their condition, and learn their feeding spots and routines. Create a simple spreadsheet or tracker to have a clear picture of who's there and where to find them.
Some residents may already be familiar with the cats, or have, in their own way, fed or cared for them. Find like-minded individuals who can be a part of your community's volunteer group.
It's important to bring your association on board. Once you have identified co-volunteers, align with your admin, HOA, property management office, or developer. State your intention to create a Community Cat program. Align your goals with the organization's.
For more information and guidance, you may invite CARA to conduct a CNVR Awareness and Responsible Pet Ownership session for your community. Click here to find out how.
CNVR has both set-up costs and ongoing running costs. Knowing what's ahead makes it much easier to budget and raise funds.
Assign yourself, or another contact for questions, concerns, and updates. A single, friendly point of contact prevents misunderstandings and keeps the program accountable.
Contact CARA to schedule a catching session. With a minimal additional fee, CARA can pick up the strays from your neighborhood which you have accounted for. After their sterilization and recovery (typically 3 days), the strays will be returned to your community. Make sure to align these schedules with your community members.
Set up a regular schedule for checking on the cats through a daily feeding program. This allows your group to account for the colony and monitor their general health and wellness throughout.
CNVR Considerations
Here's a realistic look at set-up items and the ongoing costs that keep a CNVR program running. Click to expand each section for more information.
- Consolidated, regularly updated list of cats and their whereabouts
- Catching gear and trapping materials (cat-friendly cages)
- A quiet recovery room or several recovery cages (big enough to accommodate a small litter box, if possible)
- Food and water bowls
- Old blankets and towels to cover cages
- Food for cats during recovery
- Spay/neuter fees
- Transport fees, if availing CARA's pick up and delivery service
- Post-spay/neuter medicines and care
- Food for cats for the daily feeding
- Emergency funds for medical/emergency needs
- Community Communication funds (if printing materials)
Whether you're forming a group, getting your association on board, or just have questions about costs and logistics, we will be here to help.
Contact us at info@caraphil.org for more information.
