HSMC: 2515 14TH STREET W., BRADENTON GET DIRECTIONS CONTACT HOURS
CLINIC: 2415 14TH STREET W., BRADENTON GET DIRECTIONS CONTACT HOURS
ADOPTION CENTER: 941-747-8808 X 313

Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) Feral Cats

TNR cat

There will be TNR on:
October 6, 2026
November 3, 2026
December 1, 2026

** Please note- Drop off Tuesday and Pick up Thursday for TNR is 12:00 pm to 2 pm **

ALL CATS MUST BE BROUGHT IN HUMANE TRAPS
Kittens must be 2 months old and weigh at least 3 lbs in order to be spayed or neutered.

Funding for the TNR program has not yet been secured. We understand how important these services are to our community, and we are committed to continuing to offer TNR services at no charge, but at a limited capacity.

TNR Service Fees

  • The first 35 cats checked in: No charge
  • Limit: 2 cats per person, per household, per address
  • Once the first 35 cats have been reached, there will be a $60 charge per cat.
  • If you have more than 2 cats, you may bring additional cats for a $60 fee per additional cat.

Medical Concerns

If you have a medical concern with your cat, there will be a $125 medical work-up fee per cat.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us continue to provide these important services to our community.

A feral / community / free-roaming cat lives outside and is not socialized to humans. Feral cats can live long, healthy lives, content in their managed colonies, where they have access to food, water, and shelter. However, an unmanaged colony can become a problem, with rampant breeding and the onset of problem mating behaviors. TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and well-managed colonies improve the quality of life for humans and animals in our community. All the cats in the TNR program receive Rabies and FVRCP vaccines, and de-wormer, and are ear-tipped to let future trappers know that a cat has already been spayed or neutered.

After the sun sets across Manatee County, a dedicated group of animal advocates across the county in a loosely organized effort to provide care for the thousands of feral / free-roaming cats, these caretakers and trappers are dedicated to their mission.

The Trap-Neuter-Return program (TNR) is the humane solution to controlling the population of feral / free-roaming cats in Manatee County. This method has been endorsed by national animal welfare groups, as well as many animal services departments, as the best option for feral cats and the communities they inhabit. TNR stabilizes the colony size by eliminating new litters. It also reduces the nuisance behavior associated with unsterilized cats. TNR’s most measurable effect is that fewer cats/kittens flow through animal shelters.

The Humane Society of Manatee County has supported the TNR program by providing low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter services, vaccines, and deworming for our community’s feral cat population. An enclosure at the rear of our veterinary clinic, the Feral Cat Porch is the holding area for trapped cats awaiting surgery and is also where the cats await being picked up after their surgeries. This contained and secure outdoor enclosure closely replicates the cat’s natural surroundings and keeps the stress levels of the cats at a minimum.

Our Policies & Procedures for TRAPPER TUESDAY

In the interest of giving feral / free-roaming cats the very best medical attention possible, we have created TRAPPER TUESDAY for feral cats in our veterinary clinic.

All feral cats must come to the HSMC Veterinary Clinic, located at 2415 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL, in a secure, live-release trap, one cat per trap. This is for the well-being of the cats, as well as for the safety of our staff. Cats in carriers or boxes will not be accepted for this program. If you don’t have a trap, please contact us at 941-747-8808 x 302 to see when one can be made available. Kittens must be 2 months old and weigh at least 3 lbs in order to be spayed or neutered.

If you need to borrow traps, they can be rented at the Humane Society of Manatee County Veterinary Clinic with an $85 deposit using a check or debit/credit card information. Traps should be returned within 14 days.  When you return the clean trap, your deposit will be refunded to you.

** Limit of 2 traps rented per person**

Check-in for all Feral cats is on Tuesday between 12 pm and 2 pm.  Pickup is Thursday from 12 pm and 2 pm.

Typically, Trapper Tuesday is held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, although occasionally it is rescheduled. While “appointments” are not required, please always check the website to verify dates to ensure we will have surgical capacity the week you plan to trap.  We are also aware that some cats just do not cooperate with Trapper Tuesday. If you have an “uncooperative” kitty, please contact us before you trap, and we will help you work with that cat’s schedule.

In the calendar year 2024, 1,348 feral / free-roaming cats were spayed and neutered at our veterinary clinic, many of those services were provided at no charge, thanks to grants and donations. If you are interested in supporting the Trap-Neuter-Return program, you can donate online at humanemanatee.org/donate or mail a check to:

HSMC – TNR Program
2515 14th Street W.
Bradenton, FL 34205

In addition to monetary donations, we accept donations of wet cat food, litter, and live traps. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer trapper or would like more information about our TNR program, please email us at clinic@humanemanatee.org or call 941-747-8808 Option #1.