How to Get TNR Help for a Feral Cat Colony Through FoMCA

Updated

If you know of a feral or free-roaming cat colony in Madison County, NC, FoMCA's Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) program is the route to help. FoMCA has partnered with Friends2Ferals to restart its TNR program, and the documented first step is to email FoMCA for help with the colony. The program is aimed specifically at feral and free-roaming cat colonies rather than owned pets, so it fits situations where cats live outdoors in a group and are not socialized household animals.

Who the TNR Program Is For

FoMCA describes its TNR program as serving feral and free-roaming cat colonies. That means the program is designed for situations where:

  • A group of cats lives outdoors in a defined area (a colony).
  • The cats are not owned pets living indoors with families.
  • The goal is to stop the colony from growing through reproduction rather than to remove or rehome every cat.

If your situation is an owned pet needing spay/neuter, that is a different FoMCA program with its own online appointment process. TNR is the colony-level path.

How to Request Help

The documented contact route is email. FoMCA asks that anyone who knows of a feral or free-roaming cat colony email the organization for help with TNR.

  1. Identify the colony location. Note where the cats live and roughly how many you have seen. This helps the program assess the scope.
  2. Email FoMCA about the colony. Use the contact email listed on the FoMCA site for TNR help. State that you are reporting a feral/free-roaming cat colony and want TNR assistance.
  3. Wait for guidance on next steps. Because FoMCA runs TNR in partnership with Friends2Ferals, the response will tell you how the program will proceed with your colony.

The site does not publish a separate TNR application form, fee schedule, or eligibility checklist beyond the colony description, so email is the entry point to confirm details for your specific situation.

What TNR Involves

TNR is a three-part cycle applied to a colony:

Step What happens Purpose
Trap Cats in the colony are humanely trapped Allows safe handling for surgery
Neuter Cats are surgically sterilized (spay or neuter) Stops the colony from reproducing
Return Sterilized cats are returned to their colony Keeps the established colony in place without growth

FoMCA frames its overall mission around reducing pet overpopulation and preventing neglect and suffering, and TNR is the colony-level expression of that goal. The partnership with Friends2Ferals is what allows FoMCA to run the program again.

What to Have Ready Before You Email

To make your request actionable, gather the basics first:

  • Location of the colony — the area or address where the cats live.
  • Approximate number of cats — even a rough count helps.
  • Whether the cats are truly unowned — TNR is for feral/free-roaming colonies, not neighborhood pets with homes.
  • Any known caretaker — if someone feeds the colony, note it, since coordination matters for trapping.

Common Sticking Points

  • Assuming TNR is the same as spay/neuter clinic booking. FoMCA's spay/neuter clinics take online appointments, but TNR is handled through the colony email route and the Friends2Ferals partnership. Use the TNR contact for a colony.
  • Reporting a single stray instead of a colony. The program is described for feral/free-roaming cat colonies. A lone friendly stray may need a different resource.
  • Expecting published fees or timelines. The FoMCA page does not list TNR costs or scheduling details, so confirm those directly when you email rather than assuming.

Bottom Line

For a feral cat colony in Madison County, NC, email FoMCA with the colony's location and size to request TNR help under its Friends2Ferals partnership. The program covers trap, neuter, and return for free-roaming colonies; owned-pet spay/neuter and emergency vet vouchers are separate FoMCA services with their own processes.