Texas Critter Crusaders

Requesting Help for TNR

Texas Critter Crusaders provides TNR support for the community of Taylor. To request help with community cats in your area, please reach out to us by selecting the button below.

What is TNR?

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a humane and effective approach to managing and caring for outdoor cat populations. Through TNR, community cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their familiar outdoor homes. This simple yet powerful method not only prevents the birth of countless unwanted kittens, but also helps cats live healthier, safer lives. By stabilizing colonies and reducing behaviors like yowling, fighting, and spraying, TNR creates more peaceful neighborhoods and strengthens the bond between communities and their feline residents. It’s a win for the cats—and a win for the people who care about them.

These websites provide additional information about TNR.

• AlleyCat.org – Much of today’s TNR protocols come from their proven successful efforts
• ASPCA

City of Taylor’s No-Kill Animal Shelter

In 2009, the City of Taylor made the municipal Texas Animal Shelter a no-kill shelter. The shelter is committed to ensuring all animals in its care have a chance to find a home, and it does not kill healthy or treatable animals. 

As part of this change, the City of Taylor defined the practice of TNR(Trap, Neuter, Return) as the preferred method to manage our community cats within the City Ordinance.

Chapter 4, Article I, Section 4-3, Amendment 2009-38: “Running  at  Large”  shall  mean  not  completely  confined  by  a  building,  wall  or  fence  of  sufficient  strength  or  construction  to  restrain  the  animal,  except  when  such  animal  is  either  on  a  leash,  or  held  in  the  hands  of  the  owner  or  keeper,  or  under  direct  supervision  of  the  owner  within  the  limits  of  the  owner’s  private  property.  Any  animal  confined  within  an  automobile  or  other  vehicle  shall  not  be  deemed  running  at  large.  All  feral  cats  that  are  fed  as  part  of  a  Trap  Neuter  Return  program  shall  not  be  deemed  to  be  running  at  large.” 

Community cats consist of (1) strays that at some time in their lives were socialized to humans and might be able to be socialized again, and (2) wild-born ferals who have never been socialized to humans and never will (though might tolerate their caregiver after many months).

Not sure if a cat is stray or feral? Alley Cats has a helpful overview to explain the key differences.

Community Cat Colony Management

The management process is simple. First, make changes in their environment to offset negative behaviors. Depending on the negative behavior and desired outcome, the following can be utilized as deterrents to cats.