Helping Feral Cats in Maesteg: Rachel’s TNVR Journey
My name is Rachel, and I’m a Senior Rehoming &
Welfare Assistant at the Cats Protection Wales Cat Centre. Alongside
my work at the centre, I’ve proudly volunteered as part of the TNVR (Trap,
Neuter, Vaccinate & Return) team for over 10 years.
My journey with Cats Protection began through the lost and
found cat community on social media. I’d been following the incredible work
carried out by a local branch and quickly realised that this kind of support
was desperately needed in my own area. It sparked something in me. I knew I
wanted to help, and I knew I could make a real difference to the lives of cats
and kittens who had no one looking out for them.
 |
| Rachel -Senior Rehoming and Welfare Assistant |
A decade on, and with the support of an amazing team, we’ve
helped hundreds of feral and stray cats, giving them healthier, happier
lives and preventing potentially thousands of kittens from being born
outdoors into difficult and often dangerous conditions.
The Reality of TNVR Work
Being part of the TNVR team isn’t always easy. It can be
physically and emotionally demanding, and it requires patience, flexibility and
most importantly compassion. But the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
Nothing beats returning to a feral colony months or even
years after we’ve completed a TNVR project and seeing the cats healthy, relaxed
and thriving. Knowing that our work changed the course of their lives is the
best feeling in the world.
 |
| TNVR'd feral cats at feeding time |
In October 2025, we received a call from a lady in
the Maesteg area of South Wales. She and her daughter had been regularly
seeing at least five adult cats on their land. Then the kittens started to
appear, six of them, often spotted dashing dangerously near the road.
Understandably, this was incredibly distressing for the family.
These cats were feral, meaning they’d had little to
no socialisation with humans and were very fearful of people. Trapping them
safely required the use of humane cat traps and careful planning.
Laying the Groundwork
Before setting any traps, we carried out a full risk
assessment to ensure the safety of both the cats and our volunteers. We
also spent time in the community, knocking on doors, speaking with residents,
identifying owned cats and ensuring everyone understood our plans and the benefits
TNVR brings.
Behind the scenes, we worked to secure vet appointments,
prepare for potential kittens needing space at the centre and ensure that the feeders
had enough food and shelter for the cats in the meantime. Thanks to generous
donations, we were able to provide outdoor cat shelters and support with
feeding while the TNVR got underway.
 |
| Shelter was provided whilst TNVR plans were made |
Over the course of two weeks, we successfully
trapped:
- 4
female feral cats
- 1
male feral cat
- 6
kittens (4 females, 2 males)
The adult cats were taken to our vets where they were:
- Health
checked
- Neutered
- Vaccinated
- Treated
for parasites
- Ear-tipped
(a painless procedure done while under anaesthetic that marks a cat as
neutered and part of a TNVR programme)
Once they recovered, all adult cats were returned to their
familiar area where they can now live healthier, safer lives under the care of
the family whose land they are on.
The kittens who were young enough so socialise, arrived at
our adoption centre just as the snow began to fall. After vet checks, flea and
worm treatments, neutering, microchipping and lots of gentle socialisation by
our experienced team, they were ready to start new lives.
All six kittens were quickly adopted into loving homes.
 |
Had we not intervened, there could have been eight females capable of having litters on the property this year alone leading to dozens more kittens being born outdoors.
Instead, the family now has peace of mind knowing the cats
living on their land are healthy, happy and safe. Today, the returned cats can
often be found sunbathing on the decking, enjoying their meals and living their
best lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment