Our TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program is dedicated to improving the lives of community cats and kittens. We work to relieve the suffering of homeless, abandoned, or mistreated felines through TNR, a humane and effective method that prevents unwanted births and helps control the unowned cat population.

Our goal is to reduce the number of stray and feral cats across our region while promoting education and advocacy for non-lethal solutions.

We believe that all living creatures deserve respect, compassion, and care.

How Our TNR Program Works

Our TNR efforts are funded 100% by donations and sponsorship—when funding is unavailable, we can only assist with cases where we have the resources or the requester is able to cover the costs.

  • Large Colonies: For colonies with 15+ cats, we generally need to find a larger TNR program to be effective

  • Kittens: Sadly, we are not always able to intake kittens from cat colonies. Sunny Bear Rescue is 100% foster-based with cats and does not have a physical facility. We encourage you to check with your local shelter and other rescues for available options.

    • Feral kittens 8-10+ weeks old may be past the ideal socialization window and may need to be TNR’d with the adult cats.

    • The best age to bring kittens to a rescue or shelter is between 5-8 weeks old.

  • Relocation: We generally do not recommend or support relocation of community cats. Cats are bonded to their outdoor homes and colonies, and relocation should only be considered as an absolute last resort. If relocation is necessary, it must be done correctly to ensure the cat's safety and well-being.

  • What NOT to do:
    ❌ Trap without a plan
    ❌ Trap and bring a feral cat to a shelter
    ❌ Trap and relocate a cat improperly
    ❌ Take kittens under 5 weeks old away from their mother

Services We Offer

✔ Traps and Transport (when available)
✔ TNR Resources & Assistance
✔ Financial Assistance (when funding is available)

Areas We Serve

📍 Sunny Bear Rescue’s TNR program serves Spotsylvania County and surrounding counties.

If you are outside of our service area, we encourage you to reach out to a TNR program or organization in your locality for assistance.