Hello!
Personally I would say that the color of the cat should probably be the lower priority consideration when deciding whether to TNR or try to adopt out. There are other factors such as personality, age, other health considerations, etc that should be prioritized way above.
Are these community cats true ferals? Or are they friendlier outdoor cats/strays? True feral cats over the age of 6 months can be incredibly hard to socialize enough to be adopted out as pets. It's not impossible, just very very difficult and requires lots of resources and lots of time. You have to ask yourselves, "Is it worth it to put this cat through weeks/months of stress, trying maybe socialize it, while keeping it in an environment it is not comfortable/happy being in?" If the answer is No, then releasing the cat may the best option for it. If the answer is Yes, it has shown potential for wanting human interaction then it may be worth giving it a couple weeks before making a decision.
How old are these cats? Are they tiny kittens? Chances are you've got a good shot at socializing them and can successfully adopt them out as pets fairly easily. Is it a senior kitty? Depending on it's overall health maybe you consider adopting it out to a barn home where you know it will be protected/cared for but can still live as an independent outdoor cat.
Is the cat's current overall health good? As long as the cat doesn't have any major medical issues (missing a leg, declawed, zero teeth left) then it's perfectly fine to let it live its life the way it wants, even if that means releasing it back. If the cat isn't in good health, and it shows aggression/no desire for human interaction, then I would strongly consider again finding either a barn home or humane euthanasia. Trying to treat chronic medical conditions in feral cats typically causes more problems than it solves. Also keep in mind that the more treatments you try to do on feral cats, the more stress it will cause, which can in turn lead to additional health issues. So is it worth it?
Overall, I would try to have everyone consider ALL of the angles. Weigh the pros and cons for each individual cat, because the solution is not one size (or one color) fits all!
Hope that helps!
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Riley Bailey
Spay & Neuter Clinic Manger
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-21-2024 08:33 AM
From: Jessica Wiebe
Subject: White cats or with white markings~ TNR practices
Hello~
We are receiving a lot of pushback from staff and volunteers regarding community cats with white markings or those that are solid white. They are concerned about the risk of cancer and are hesitant to return these cats to their outdoor environments.
I would like to know what others think about this. I don't want to remove a cat solely because it has more white fur and take a kennel away from a cat that truly needs it. Additionally, I don't want to bring in a cat that chooses to live its life outside.
Thanks!
#CommunityCatManagement
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Jessica Wiebe
Executive Director
ASAP Cats
CA
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