Frequently Asked Questions - Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM)

Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) is a humane alternative to euthanasia for managing and reducing community cat populations. TNRM relies on sterilisation of the cats so that they don't breed.

TNRM begins with the trapping of community cats using humane traps. The captured cats are taken to a veterinary clinic where they are sterilised. The sterilised cats are marked so that they can be easily identified, usually by cropping the pointed end of the ear so that it has a square appearance (known as ear tipping) or cutting a notch at the tip or on the side of the ear.

After the cat has recovered from surgery, it is subsequently released to the site of capture.The cats are then managed back in their original environment.

A caregiver then provides regular food and monitors the colony over time. With TNRM, the cats’ reproductive capacity is eliminated, leading to a gradual decline in their numbers. Nuisance behaviors such as aggression and caterwauling are also substantially reduced.

A community cat is commonly known as a stray cat, but we think the word ‘community’ better describes these cats. Calling them stray cats gives one the impression that these cats don’t have a home -- but they do have a home, which is the environment they live in! Some of these community cats have been residents in the environment for much longer than some of the residents.

Community cats are a part of the community too!

No it is not. Feeding cats is perfectly legal. Littering however, is illegal. Please make sure that you feed responsibly and that the area is cleaned up after you are done with the feeding.

If you have been stopped by residents or officers from feeding even though you observe good feeding habits, do carry around print outs of the following to educate them:
3-Step Responsible Feeding
Responsible Feeding Brochure (Front)
Responsible Feeding Brochure (Back)

If the harressment escalates, call the police.

There may be irresponsible feeders in your neighbourhood that are causing the negative perception of all cat feeders. These feeders either do not clean up after feeding or they invite cats upstairs by feeding along corridors. If you come across any irresponsible feeding, do try to educate them as their actions may be the cause of complaints in your estate that is leading to the removal of cats for culling.

Feeding does not lure cats into the area -- food and territory are not the same. A cat may live in one area and eat in another.

Also, there are cats everywhere -- these cats were already in the community in all likelihood before someone started feeding them. Imagine this -- is it more likely that someone stood outside every day with a plate of food hoping a cat would show up one day, or that the feeder saw a cat or cats and started feeding them? It’s not fun to feed -- to do it properly takes a lot of time and commitment. Most feeders do so out of a sense of compassion and would be happy to stop if there were no cats that were hungry and waiting for them.

Drop us an email at info@catwelfare.org to see if there is already a group of caregivers managing the cats in your area. If there isn't you can start one on your own or gather a group by befriending the feeders in your neighbourhood.

A successful Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage programme is one where the cats are fed responsibly and sterilised.

Caregivers also keep their Town Council informed of their sterilisation and management programme and offer to assist Town Council officers in resolving any issues that may arise from complaints.

You can try luring the cat into a cat carrier with food.

Alternatively, you can borrow a humane cat trap from the Cat Welfare Society by emailing us at info@catwelfare.org. We require a $75 deposit which is fully refundable upon return of the traps.

If no traps are available or you have difficulty trapping the cats, there are professional services that you can engage that provide the full service of trapping, transportation and boarding. Please contact

Lingcat Feline Services
Tel: 94788285 (Rebecca)
Email: lingcat@singnet.com.sg

Professional Cat Trapper
Tel: 94897626 (Vincent)
Email: once_a_stray@yahoo.com.sg

To find out more about sterilisation, please see FAQ - Sterilisation.