A group of feral cats living together in one area is called a "colony." Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is an effective, internationally recognized program to reduce, and eventually eliminate, feral cat colonies. This program is sometimes referred to as Trap-Alter-Return (TAR).

Cats are trapped, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and returned to their original location. Kittens and friendly adults are adopted into good homes.

In a TNR program, a feral cat colony caregiver, usually a volunteer rescue worker, feeds the cats on a regular basis and brings them to a veterinarian if they require medical assistance. The resultant group of cats, including any new cats entering the caregiver's sphere, is known as a managed feral cat colony.

Along with TNR, caregivers promote public education about society's responsibility to our community and to the domestic animals we have created..