Volusia County’s TNR Program Gives Residents Tools to Help Control Community Cat Populations

Posted On: August 20, 2026

More than 1,100 community cats have been spayed or neutered through Volusia County’s Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) program so far in 2026, marking continued progress in the County’s efforts to humanely control community cat populations.

The TNR program provides a research-supported approach to reducing populations of feral and unowned stray cats in neighborhoods throughout the county. Residents can trap community cats and bring them to the Volusia County Animal Care Clinic, where the County provides veterinary services before residents return the cats to the areas where they were found.

Community cats are typically unsocialized and accustomed to living outdoors, making them difficult to place through a traditional shelter setting. Cats are territorial by nature and establish familiar home ranges. TNR returns sterilized cats to those established areas, helping discourage new cats from moving in while preventing reproduction and gradually reducing the colony over time. Female cats can become pregnant as early as 4 months old and can have three or more litters a year, with four to eight kittens per litter. Spaying and neutering can also reduce nuisance behaviors such as fighting, roaming, spraying, and howling.

Once a cat is trapped, residents can bring it to the clinic on most Tuesdays between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. TNR services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with no appointment required, and residents may bring up to two cats per address. Cats must be brought to the clinic in an approved trap covered with a towel or sheet to help keep them calm.

At the clinic, each cat is spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and distemper, and ear-tipped. The ear tip provides a clear visual indicator to residents and animal control personnel that the cat has already been sterilized and does not need to be trapped again. After surgery, residents are usually able to return the same day to pick up the cat, then return it outside to where it was found the following morning.

By pairing the County’s veterinary services with residents willing to trap and return community cats, the program can reach neighborhoods throughout the community and help establish healthier, vaccinated populations of cats that can no longer reproduce. TNR is provided at no charge for community cats from unincorporated Volusia County. Several municipalities have agreements with the County to cover the cost of TNR services for community cats brought in by their residents. Residents who live outside unincorporated Volusia County or a participating municipality may also bring trapped community cats to the clinic for a $65 fee.

Residents can learn more about the TNR program and find a list of participating municipalities at www.volusia.gov/animalservices. For additional questions about the program or to inquire about obtaining a trap, contact the Volusia County Animal Care Clinic at vcacc@volusia.org or 386-248-1790.