Shelter professionals have long known that trap-neuter-return (TNR) and return-to-field (RTF) programs can save lives, reduce intake, and improve welfare for community cats. Now, a new study from the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program provides compelling data to back it up.
Published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, the study analyzed data from 110 Florida shelters and found a strong association between TNR/RTF programs and improved feline outcomes, particularly in rural areas where euthanasia rates and cat intake tend to be highest.
Read the full study: Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, May 2025
Shelters in urban areas were significantly more likely to operate TNR or RTF programs: 89 percent compared to just 33 percent of rural counties. That disparity was reflected in outcomes: rural counties without TNR/RTF had the highest per capita intake and the lowest median live outcome rate for cats, just 59 percent.
While these differences are substantial, they’re not inevitable. Even among rural shelters, those with TNR or RTF in place achieved intermediate outcomes, suggesting that expanding access to these programs could be an effective strategy for narrowing the urban–rural outcome gap.
The study authors wrote, “While shelters in rural areas had significantly lower live outcome rates for cats than shelters in urban areas, those rural shelters with TNR or RTF programs in place had live outcome rates that were higher than other rural shelters without these programs.”
The authors go on to note that statewide implementation of TNR/RTF could be a game-changer: “If such programs were available to shelters across the state, Florida would have the foundation of a safety net for cats that is currently unavailable in some counties.”
What the Study Found
- Shelters with TNR or RTF programs saw higher live outcome rates, particularly in high-intake and rural shelters.
- Urban shelters were significantly more likely to operate these programs and had dramatically better outcomes.
- Among rural shelters, those with TNR/RTF saw improved outcomes compared to rural shelters without them.
The Difference Between TNR and RTF
TNR involves trapping free-roaming community cats with the original intent of sterilization and return to their neighborhood. RTF, on the other hand, refers to healthy free-roaming cats – which may be wandering pets or unowned community cats – admitted to the shelter. These cats are then assessed for evidence of thriving where they were living, after which they are sterilized and returned to the location they came from.
Both approaches reduce unnecessary shelter intake and create better outcomes for cats and communities. They also help shelter staff focus limited resources on animals who truly require care and protection.
Real-World Implementation
Shelters that successfully implemented TNR/RTF cited collaboration as key. Partner organizations, volunteers, transport networks, and nonprofit clinics often played crucial roles in helping these programs succeed.
Among the services offered during sterilization:
- Rabies and core vaccinations
- Internal/external parasite treatment
- Treatment for minor injury or illness
- Ear-tipping and sterilization tattooing
- FeLV/FIV testing in about 50 percent of programs
Cats returned to their original locations after sterilization help reduce local populations, reduce nuisance behaviors, and prevent the birth of more kittens. Since 50-75 percent of all kittens born to free-roaming cats outdoors die before reaching adulthood, TNR programs have a dramatic impact on reducing preventable deaths of cats.
A Tool for Equity and Lifesaving
This study not only affirms the efficacy of TNR and RTF – it highlights where efforts are most urgently needed. By expanding support for these programs, especially in underserved rural counties, Florida shelters can move closer to a statewide safety net for cats and provide a model for shelters and communities everywhere.
About the Lead Author
Cassidy Schiefer performed this research while earning the Professional Certificate Shelter Medicine as a veterinary student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. She is now a shelter veterinarian at Santa Barbara Humane.