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Shelter Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight

Easy Ways To Help

Kitten Season

Happy Tails

Volunteer Spotlight

Stopping pet overpopulation and savings lives
one feral cat at a time!
Wayne County resident, Rita Long, has TNR (trapped-neutered-returned) 52 cats with SNAP using her own traps and her own money! Learn how she does it…

We spoke with Rita recently and here’s what she had to say:

SNAP: When did you become interested in TNR and why is stopping pet overpopulation important to you?

Rita: I became interested in SNAP for the first time in late 2008 when I rescued a puppy that needed to be spayed. I was in the local pet store and saw the flyer about SNAP. I took my puppy and really was impressed. Later, three female cats that were each pregnant appeared at my house. (I only had a couple outside that I had owned for 15 years and they were spayed.) I tried to tame these girls, but I just couldn’t get my hands on them. I knew I was going to have problems, but didn’t have a clue what to do. I continued to put feed in the barn for them hoping that I would be able to find their kittens when they were born. By the time I could see the kittens, they would run. They were multiplying faster than I could imagine and seemed to be coming from every direction, probably because I have always fed any animal! I got a couple of traps and started. I have taken as many as six at a time. Strays and ferals get diseases, they are frightened, and sometimes sick and starved. I had to do something. It is easy to turn you head and hope they will go away or that someone else will do something! Calling animal control is not an option for me. They are usually euthanized because the shelters are so overcrowded and there are so many unwanted animals. These cats were producing three to seven per litter. I started out trying to do just the females, but I learned really quick to do whichever cat that I was lucky enough to trap. It is a sad situation.

SNAP: SNAP-NC has a special discounted rate for TNR, but the cost of having 52 cats spayed/neutered sure adds up. How do your support your “cat habit”?

Rita: I have seen so many stray animals that I wish I could have helped. The cost of spaying and neutering is expensive. SNAP has made it possible to do what I have done for these animals. I know that when I release the ferals that I have at least given them a little better life. They will not be reproducing nor will they be hungry. They usually stay around the barn after they are recovered. It seems like they learn that they can trust me. It is very expensive to do this, but I try not to think about the cost. I just do it and cut out other unnecessary things and I also work a part-time job along with my full-time job. They usually eat around 48 pounds of food in a week, so you can imagine the cost. I just do what I have to do.

SNAP: Your success rate in trapping is phenomenal! You have single handedly trapped-neutered-returned 52 cats in the last year. Any tips you can offer to folks who have tried their hand at TNR but haven’t been so lucky?

Rita: When trapping, I use sardines or tuna to attract them. I usually feed them a couple of cans the day before so that they will get the taste for it. I sometimes skip a morning feeding so that they will really be hungry. I trap at night and have also found that I have better luck while it is raining, because they tend to stay near the barn. Sometimes I will trap the same cat over and over. It just takes a lot of patience to do this. I have tried for over a period of two months to catch some of them. I just stick with it until I get the one I want.

SNAP: What do you have to say to folks who think TNR isn’t worth the effort?

Rita: I would say to them that the problems will only get worse if not handled sooner rather than later. I know that people may have a hard time spending their own money doing this, but it is a great cause that can be very rewarding and who better to help than helpless animals!

SNAP: Thank you for your efforts Rita, you are an inspiration and we at SNAP appreciate your life saving efforts!

Rita: I have so much respect for SNAP. You are wonderful people for what you do and your love for these animals is evident as I have watched the way you handle the animals and their owners! I highly recommend SNAP to everyone that I am in contact with. Thank you all for what you do!!

Rita Long