ca-r-ma.org mission statement; Our mission is to bring community cat populations into balance through trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, to improve the lives of these cats, to support long-term cat population solutions in communities, and to give a voice for the compassionate care of free-roaming cats.

"They live in the shadows —the alleyways, empty lots and condemned buildings—of almost every neighborhood. Their lives are short and usually harsh. They struggle to find food and water in an environment filled with the constant threats of disease, starvation, cruelty and predation. They are the abandoned, the lost and the wild—and they need our help."

Feral cats fall into two general categories:

1. Homeless, who are former pets that have been lost or abandoned.

2. Feral born cats, who are born into non-domestic situations and are normally not tameable unless they're trapped as kittens.

 Feral cats often form “cat colonies" that vary in size from 3 or 4 animals to 50 or more. They face many dangers including dogs, hawks, coyotes and other predators, winter weather, cars, cruel humans and other aggressive cats.  They fight disease and injuries that go untreated.  One of their biggest challenges during the winter months is that finding unfrozen water is impossible, and many cats die painfully of kidney failure due to lack of water.

Despite all this misery, cats are astonishingly effective breeders, and many different approaches have been taken in the past to battle the reoccurring overpopulation.

Trap-Neuter-Return, commonly known as TNR, is the only method proven effective at controlling feral cat population growth.  TNR involves trapping all or most of the cats in a colony, getting them spayed/neutered, and then returning them to the colony.

In a nutshell:

• Our goal is to humanely reduce the number of homeless, unwanted cats and kittens
• As resources allow, we assist care givers in feeding and sheltering colonies of homeless cats.
• Where possible we remove non-feral cats and kittens from feral colonies, spay/neuter them and place them in approved adoptive homes

Goals for the near future:

1: Establish TNR throughout Nova Scotia & New Brunswick.

2: Reduce the number of homeless cats through TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs and natural attrition

3: Improve the lives of homeless cats in the colonies we serve by assisting with food, shelter and minor medical care

4: Educate and advocate on the importance of spay/neutering

Goals for the distant future:

1: Implement the model of affordable Spay, Neuter & Vaccine-Clinics as seen in the U.S., as well as a pick-up & drop-off service for remote communities and
the disabled.

2: Set up education programs for the general public through the media and especially establish education programs for schools on the care of cats and the importance of population control. 

3. Lobby for improved laws for the protection of animals including legislation to control over-breeding, and for the enforcement of those laws.

What Is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)?

TNR is the method of humanely trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated and then returning them to their colony to live out their lives. TNR also involves a colony caretaker who provides food, adequate shelter and monitors the cats' health. TNR has been shown to be the least costly as well as the most efficient and humane way of stabilizing feral cat populations.

How Does TNR Help Feral Cats?

Through TNR, feral cats can live out their lives without adding to the homeless cat population.

How Does TNR Benefit the Community?

TNR helps the community by stabilizing the population of the feral colony and, over time, reducing it. At the same time, nuisance behaviors such as spraying, loud noise and fighting are largely eliminated and no more kittens are born. Yet, the benefit of natural rodent control is continued