TNR means Trap-Neuter-Return, the internationally accepted and humane way to decrease the overpopulation of community (feral) cats. During TNR, cats (male and female) are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and, once recovered, returned back to their place of origin.

During surgery, feral cats are “eat-tipped”, which means 1/4 inch is removed from the tip of the left ear in a straight line cut. This “tip” indicates to caretakers, rescuers and animal control that the cat spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

After feral (wild, unsocialized) cats have recuperated from surgery or cleared after any other medical treatment, they are released back into their communities. We return these cats because the outdoors is their home. These cats know their home area & act as a great natural pest control for the neighborhood! If a cat we rescue turns out to not be feral, we will care for the cat until we find an adopter. These cats will be in the care of a foster home or at one of our PetSmart partner locations.

A feral (or community cat) is a cat who is not socialized to people and survives on her own outdoors. Most feral cats are not likely to ever become lap cats or enjoy living indoors.

A stray cat is a cat who has been socialized to people at some point in their life, but has gotten lost or abandoned. Stray cats can become feral as their contact with humans dwindles. If a stray cat is rescued and reintroduced to a home, there may be a period of reacclimation, but under the right circumstances, they can become indoor pets again!

My Bella TNR is a foster-based nonprofit rescue, meaning we operate without a designated facility. Instead, we rely on volunteers in our communities to temporarily house animals we rescue. Additionally, we have partnered with several PetSmart locations in Connecticut — they provide safe shelter for our rescued cats and kittens as well as exposure to potential adopters.

Foster-based rescues rely on their communities to partner with them in order to continue saving animals. You can help by:

>> Adopting 
>> Fostering
>> Donating supplies, money, or time
>> Spay + neuter your own cats!