COMMUNITY CAT RESOURCES | Lifeline of Galveston County

Community Cat Assistance

What is TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)?

Trap-Neuter-Return, or "TNR," is the most humane and effective method known for managing community cats and reducing their numbers. The cats, who typically live together in a group called a colony, are trapped and brought to a veterinary clinic. They're then spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies and ear-tipped. After they've recovered from their surgeries, the cats are returned back to their original territory where a caretaker provides regular food and shelter.

Check out this video about how to TNR cats.

If you are in need of spay/neuter resources or have a large colony, check out the resources below.

Wouldn’t the cats have a better chance at a better life in the shelter?

It’s a common and well-meaning question—but unfortunately, the answer is often no.

In 2024, U.S. shelters euthanized approximately 273,000 cats. Many of them were community cats AKA outdoor cats who were being fed by neighbors, had multiple “owners,” or were simply thriving in their environment. These cats were brought to shelters where they didn’t need to be, and sadly, many didn’t make it out.

Here’s why:

Community cats often don’t do well in shelter settings.
They’re used to freedom, and when confined in a kennel, they may shut down, become aggressive, or show signs of extreme stress. This behavior makes them appear “unadoptable,” even if they were perfectly healthy and content outdoors.
Space is limited.
When shelters fill up (which happens often), community cats and cats with behavioral challenges are among the first to be euthanized, even if they’re not sick or injured.

Because of this, the most humane and effective solution is to keep healthy community cats out of shelters through programs like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). This protects the cats and frees up space for those who truly need sheltering like injured pets, kittens, or cats in dangerous situations.

🐾 Got a friendly cat hanging around?
If you’re caring for a particularly social or adoptable cat, they may be a candidate for adoption. We recommend getting them vetted and adopted on your own—without putting them at risk in a crowded shelter. There are resources here.

I don’t want community cats around. They scratch my car, poop in my garden, and make noise. Shouldn’t I take them to a shelter or try to relocate them?

We get it. Unfixed community cats can be a real nuisance. Behaviors like yowling, fighting, spraying, and digging are frustrating. But there's good news: those behaviors are often drastically reduced or eliminated once the cats are spayed or neutered.

Here's why removing them or taking them to the shelter doesn’t work:

🚫 Trap-and-kill doesn’t solve the problem.
This method has been used for decades, yet we still have as many free-roaming cats as we did 20 years ago. Why? Because of the vacuum effect. When cats are removed from an area where food and shelter remain, new cats quickly move in and the cycle starts again.

✅ TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) works.
Spayed and neutered cats are less territorial, don’t reproduce, and help keep new cats out. When a colony is properly managed using TNR, the population stabilizes, and often shrinks over time.

👥 It often comes down to a neighbor dispute.
In most cases, someone nearby is feeding the cats. While that can feel frustrating, we’ve found the most effective path forward is working with that neighbor to get the cats fixed and vaccinated. Once the colony is stabilized, the nuisance behaviors usually decrease significantly.

🙌 You don’t have to love cats to support effective solutions.
We understand not everyone wants cats on their property. If that’s you, we recommend checking out How to Live With Community Cats for humane and effective ways to keep cats off your porch, car, garden, and more.

How to Live with Community Cats

Can you help me relocate cats?

Unfortunately, Lifeline of Galveston County is not able to assist with cat relocation.

Relocating cats can be risky and is generally not recommended unless absolutely necessary. (See "The Vacuum Effect" for why removing cats often leads to bigger problems.)

If relocation is your only option, here are a few important guidelines:

Step 1: Get the cats spayed or neutered.
Use the spay/neuter resources listed above to ensure the cats are fixed before relocation. This reduces stress and prevents reproduction at the new site.

Step 2: Find a safe new home.
Look for rural properties, barns, or people with land who are open to having outdoor cats as working mousers or companions. Be sure the property owner is on board and understands what’s involved.

Step 3: Confine the cats at the new location for at least 2 weeks—ideally 3 to 4 weeks.
This helps them acclimate and ensures they view the new site as their home. Without this step, most cats will try to return to their original territory.

Read this guide on how to safely relocate cats.