Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) / Community Cat Program

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Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)/ Community Cat Program

Grand Strand Humane Society is excited to continue this program as it is essential to ensure the successful management of free-roaming cats in our community.

Now that our program has been operating for some time there is information and guidelines we must share with the community. In order to be able to continue to this program it is critical that everyone follow these protocols and remain honest about where the cats were trapped. Our clinic takes a loss with every TNR appointment made and in order to sustain our business we must set forth the guidelines below.

  1. All cats MUST arrive in a trap or SECURE hard plastic carrier. No wire crates, soft-sided carriers or other carrying apparatuses are allowed.
  2. If you have trapped a cat within the city limits of Myrtle Beach, there is no charge for your TNR appointment. We have a contract with the city of Myrtle Beach to care for the animals residing within city limits.
  3. If you have trapped a cat outside of Myrtle Beach city limits, the cost is $30 for surgery, an ear tip and Rabies vaccine. We are expecting people to be honest in telling us where the cats were trapped as we cannot afford to do all TNR appointments at no charge. If we continue to have dishonesty regarding where cats were trapped, we will unfortunately have to terminate the program.
  4. Kittens under the age of 4 months or weighing less than 4 lbs. will not be eligible for our TNR program. We are more than happy to do surgery on kittens any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday at our standard cost of $50.
  5. Each person is limited to 4 TNR appointments per week unless they have special permission from our Clinic Manager.
  6. Standard TNR appointments include spay/neuter, ear tip and Rabies vaccine. If you would like additional services (FVRCP, FIV/FeLV test or microchip) we are happy to provide those services for you but you must inform our staff at drop off and we will charge you those additional fees at that time.
  7. TNR appointments can be made using our new ONLINE TNR SURGERY BOOKING FORM located on the Veterinary Services page. Surgeries are done on Thursdays at GSHS.
  8. Payments will be taken the day of surgery. If your appoinment is being paid for by a rescue, you must provide their contact information at drop off.

We are very happy to provide TNR services for our community! If we are able to work together, we know that this can be a mutually beneficial relationship for years to come! Let’s get these kitties altered and help put an end to the overpopulation in our area!!

TNR is a humane, non-lethal alternative to the trap-and-kill method of controlling cat populations. TNR is a management technique in which homeless, free-roaming (community) cats are humanely trapped, evaluated and sterilized by a licensed veterinarian, vaccinated against rabies, and then returned to their original habitat.

Studies have shown that in the long term, TNR lowers numbers of cats in the community more effectively than trap-and-kill.

There are many benefits of TNR.

  • TNR reduces shelter admissions and operating costs. Also, fewer community cats in shelters increases adoption rates, as more cage space opens up for adoptable cats.
  • These programs create safer communities and promote public health by reducing the number of unvaccinated cats.
  • TNR programs improve the lives of free-roaming cats. When males are neutered, they are no longer compelled to maintain a large territory or fight over mates, and females are no longer forced to endure the physical and mental demands of giving birth and fending for their young.
  • Sterilizing community cats reduces or even eliminates the behaviors that can lead to nuisance complaints.

Some residents fear that free-roaming cats are a threat to bird populations and therefore lethal means should be used to manage their numbers. Actually, TNR means fewer cats, which means fewer threats to birds. Other factors pose more serious threats to bird populations such as loss or degradation of habitat as a result of human development and agriculture.

We urge anyone living within the city limits of Myrtle Beach to fully embrace and take advantage of this lifesaving program.  If you notice a stray cat in your community you are welcome to come by the shelter to pick up a humane trap from us and we will be happy to show you how to safely use it. Once you’ve caught your cat friend you may bring him/her bring back to us and we will spay/neuter it, administer vaccinations and microchip it at no cost to you. We will then return the cat to its original location.

There is already a community of volunteer caregivers at Grand Strand Humane Society that provide food, water and shelter on a regular basis to cat communities all around the Myrtle Beach area. They will be happy to share their experiences and knowledge with anyone wishing to learn more and do the humane and responsible thing in helping to control the cat population in our area.

For more information on this vital program please visit:

https://bestfriends.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-tnr