On Earth Day, Celebrate Cats and the Environment – Outdoor Cats are Part of our Natural Landscape

BETHESDA, MD, USA – April 21, 2016 – Alley Cat Allies marks Earth Day 2016 by celebrating the role of cats in the environment, the work that caregivers, advocates, animal control officers, and shelters are doing to help them, and the widespread success of Trap-Neuter-Return programs.

“As animal advocates, we want what’s best for cats and for all animals,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “Cats in every community live alongside wildlife now just as they always have, and the best way to help all of them is through humane care. Spay/neuter and vaccination, delivered through a Trap-Neuter-Return program, is best for cats, wildlife, and the people who live nearby.”

Cats and Wildlife Coexisting

Many communities worldwide have chosen to allow cats, people and wildlife to coexist. For example, more than 570 communities in the U.S. alone have adopted a Trap-Neuter-Return ordinance or policy as a means of managing community cat populations.

Trap-Neuter-Return is a humane and effective approach to stabilize community cat colonies and improve the lives of cats, wildlife and people. Cats are spayed or neutered, “eartipped” (a small portion of their ear is removed while the cats are anesthetized), vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor home. Trap-Neuter-Return is proven to stop the breeding cycle of cats – litters of kittens are no longer born.

TNR as a Mainstream Approach

“People everywhere tell us how much they love cats and welcome them into their neighborhoods,” Robinson said. “Earth Day reminds us that TNR programs help communities understand how to enjoy cats by respecting them as a vital part of the community. This is why it has become such a mainstream approach in the U.S.”

Cats make their neighborhoods more enjoyable, peaceful places to live when managed in Trap-Neuter-Return programs. Behaviors associated with mating, and calls to authorities about the cats halt. Because of the open discussions about cats that accompany a TNR program, another result is that residents enjoy improved communication and better understanding about cats and the environment.

Visit alleycat.org to learn more about how TNR can help cats become great neighbors.