What We Do
A proven, humane method — executed at scale, in one of California's most overlooked environments.
What is Trap-Neuter-Return?
Trap-Neuter-Return — or TNR — is the only evidence-based, humane method for managing feral cat populations. Instead of removing or euthanizing cats (which creates a "vacuum effect" that draws new cats into the territory), TNR stabilizes the colony in place while permanently halting reproduction.
Each cat is humanely trapped, brought to a veterinary partner for spay or neuter surgery, vaccinated against rabies, and ear-tipped. Ear-tipping — a small, painless notch removed from the tip of the left ear while the cat is under anesthesia — is the universal marker of a TNR-processed cat. It tells future rescuers and vets: this cat has been cared for.
Once recovered, cats are returned to their home colony. The colony continues to live there, but population growth stops. Over years, the colony naturally declines through attrition — without violence, without trauma.
The left ear tip is the global identifier for a TNR-processed feral cat. When a cat is under anesthesia for surgery, approximately ¼ inch is removed from the tip of the left ear. The procedure is painless and heals quickly. But its impact lasts a lifetime: any rescuer, vet, or animal control officer who sees that notch knows immediately that this cat has been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and monitored by a TNR program. It prevents duplicate surgeries and keeps colony records accurate.
Our Process
From the first scout to ongoing colony care — here's how Roadcat Rescue operates.
Identify colonies
We receive colony reports from volunteers, rest stop employees, and the public. We assess each colony's size, location, health, and access before adding it to our program.
Coordinate with Caltrans
All work on Caltrans right-of-way requires prior coordination. We work with district offices to schedule trapping windows during lower-traffic hours and ensure safety for our teams and the cats.
Humane trapping
Volunteers use humane box traps baited with food. Every trap is checked continuously — no cat is ever left in a trap overnight. Trapping is done over multiple visits to reach the full colony.
Veterinary care
Each cat receives spay/neuter surgery, a rabies vaccination, a general health exam, and ear-tipping. Sick or injured cats receive additional treatment before return.
Return to colony
After a 24–48 hour recovery period, cats are returned to the exact location they were trapped. Familiar territory is essential to a feral cat's survival and wellbeing.
Ongoing monitoring
A dedicated colony monitor visits regularly, provides supplemental food and water during extreme weather, documents population changes, and flags any new arrivals for follow-up TNR.
Why not just adopt them out?
It's the most common question we receive — and it comes from a good place. The answer is that feral cats are not socialized to humans. They were born outside, raised outside, and have never had positive contact with people. Placing a feral cat in a home is not a kindness: it's terrifying for the animal, and almost never successful.
This is not a failure. It's simply what these cats are. A colony-managed feral cat living in a familiar, stable environment is a cat living its best possible life — on its own terms.
Managed colonies are the humane answer. TNR stops the suffering caused by uncontrolled reproduction, provides ongoing vet access, and allows these animals to live naturally without the stress of confinement or forced human contact.
Active Colony Map
We're building our database of known colonies across six target highway corridors. The map goes live when we do.
Colony Map Coming Soon
We're currently cataloguing known colonies along I-5, US-101, I-99, CA-99, CA-58, and US-395.
The interactive map will go live at launch in 2026.
Know of a colony we haven't found yet?
Report a ColonyEvery surgery changes a colony
Vet care is the largest cost in TNR. Your donation directly funds spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, and the supplies that make colony management possible.