What is TNR? Trap, Neuter, Return explained

The challenge of feral colonies

Orkney is a farming community at heart, and feral cat colonies on farms are a long-standing challenge. Left unchecked, these colonies grow quickly, leading to health problems for the cats and difficulties for farmers.

How Trap, Neuter, Return works

Our approach is Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR). We work with farmers to humanely trap feral cats on their land, have them neutered and health-checked by a local vet, and then return them to their territory. This prevents the colony from growing while allowing the existing cats to live out their lives without producing more litters.

Why TNR works better than removal

Simply removing feral cats from an area doesn’t solve the problem — new cats move in to fill the territory, and the cycle starts again. TNR stabilises the colony at its current size, and over time the numbers naturally decrease. It’s better for the cats, better for the farmer, and better for the community.

How you can help

If you know of a feral cat colony anywhere in Orkney, please get in touch. We can assess the situation and arrange TNR. If you’re a farmer who’d like to discuss managing cats on your land, we’re always happy to talk. This work depends entirely on donations and our Friends, every contribution helps us keep it running.