For feral cats, the people who feed them, the people they annoy and the cats themselves, there is only one humane and legal solution. That solution costs money and involves time. It is called Trap/Neuter/ Return (TNR).

TNR works like this: The cats in a colony that is being fed by some kind souls are trapped a few at a time in humane live traps and taken to a veterinarian or a vet clinic where they are, at a minimum, neutered, given a rabies shot and have their ears notched.

Then they are returned to the colony where they will continue to be fed, but they will no longer breed. Eventually all the cats are fixed and over time the colony dies out through attrition.

This solution is being used successfully all over the country. Just Google “feral cats” or TNR to read about it.

But all that surgery costs serious money. For example, if there are 100 cats in a colony and the vet bill for each cat runs $100, then the financial cost of the solution would be $10,000. If a nonprofit vet clinic does all the surgeries, it might cost just over half of that.

Also needed for this to work are volunteers who will trap and transport the cats or someone hired to do it. And cat food for so many cats over a period of time is an additional expense for someone. These compassionate people often work alone, even in secret just to feed the cats, afraid of eviction or repercussions.

Animal shelters and animal welfare organizations, like mine, can play a role in programs to manage feral cats, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the entire community to work together.

And that includes city and county policy makers, businesses, landlords, veterinarians, health departments and citizens.

Cruel treatment of cats as well as dogs is against the law and is punishable by fines and jail time.

Feral cats struggle through life eeking out a sad and painful existence as they search for sustenance and shelter and often succumb to disease, predators and cruel humans.

Trapping cats is illegal unless done by a legitimate humane society and done only to neuter them.

In the last week, I have received calls for help from two more trailer parks in Cayuga County as well as individuals who need help with feral cats.

TNR can solve the immediate problem over a period of time.

But then we have the problem of people who do not spay or neuter their cats and let them run free to breed, people who throw their cats and kittens out, thus forming new colonies of ferals.

And one more issue needs to be addressed. Why is surgery the only method of birth control for dogs and cats, a method that is expensive for everyone and one that a segment of our society simply cannot afford?

With medical advances of all kinds coming every day, how is it possible such a simple solution has evaded us or, perhaps is being prevented.

Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes. Contact her at judy@cayugaanimaladvocates.org