Trap, Neuter and Release, or Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), is the humane approach to addressing community cat populations. It improves the lives of cats, addresses community concerns, reduces complaints about cats, and stops the breeding cycle.

TNR improves the co-existence between outdoor cats and humans in our shared environment. The Elk Grove Animal Shelter provides TNR services to cats that are located within the city limits of Elk Grove. Some of the benefits include:

• Relieves cats of the constant stresses of mating and pregnancy;
• Mating behaviors cease, such as roaming, yowling, spraying and fighting;
• Physical health of the cats improves, due to spaying and neutering; and 
• Cats are vaccinated against rabies.

The shelter will take community cats Mondays and Thursday on a first come first serve basis. Currently we have the capacity to accept accept six (6) cats on Mondays and ten (10) cats on Thursday. Cats must be brought in a humane cat trap and are limited to two cats(in separate traps) per household per week. Traps are available for rental (please see info below)

Please consider calling ahead to register as a trapper as this helps speed along our check in process.

Once a cat has been trapped, you may bring it to:

Elk Grove Animal Shelter – Clinic Lobby
9150 Union Park Way
Elk Grove, CA 95624

Mondays and Thursdays, except Holidays
Drop off: 8:00am – 8:45am
Pick up: 4:00pm – 4:45pm

First Come, First Served by using our virtual queue. Scan the QR code located at the shelter's clinic once you have trapped your cat.

Recovery and Return:

When you pick up the cat after surgery, allow it to recover overnight with food and water. Once the cat recovers, usually the next day, simply return it to the place in which it was found.