TNVR Services

Community cats are unowned, free-roaming cats. They live quite independently in an outdoor environment, forming colonies around sources of food, water and shelter. Many are unsocialized to people (feral). Learn more about the distinctions between “stray” and “feral” as a guide to the best way to help cats found outdoors.

Humane management of community cats is done through an active program of Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR).

Volunteer caretakers humanely trap the cats and bring them to our Smoky’s Spay & Neuter Clinic, where we spay and neuter the cats and vaccinate them against rabies and FVRCP at no charge. While the cats are under anesthesia, we “tip” their left ear as a sign they have been sterilized and vaccinated. Caretakers later return the cats to the only home they have known – the outdoor colony where the cats have been residing. Volunteer caretakers will continue to feed the cats to prevent foraging.

Other undesired behaviors such as yowling during mating, fighting and territorial spraying, are diminished or eliminated once the cats are sterilized. Vaccination for rabies prevents the threat of disease, keeping the cats healthy and the community safe.

To connect with other trappers, caretakers, foster homes and rescuers promoting compassionate and effective colony management for free-roaming cats throughout Greater Richmond join the RVA Community Cats Group.

For further resources and reading visit our friends at Alley Cat Allies.

Found a litter of orphaned kittens? Learn more about taking care of infant kittens!