Whether you are feeding a single neighborhood stray, managing a growing colony, or looking to get involved in local animal welfare, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about TNR in Indianapolis—from understanding how Indy Neighborhood Cats (INC) supports community caretakers to step-by-step trapping instructions, stress-reduction techniques, and local clinic protocols.
How INC Supports Neighborhoods: Community Cat Assistance Models
Indy Neighborhood Cats operates on a community empowerment model. Our goal is to help caretakers build the skills and confidence to manage their own colonies whenever possible, reserving direct trapping services for situations where self-help is not feasible. INC uses a tiered 5-level support framework to assist Marion County residents:
INC Community Cat Assistance Model
Level 1: Client-Led
(Coaching Only)
INC provides training, traps, and coaching. The caretaker manages daily feeding, trapping, holding, recovery, and transport.
Level 2: Shared Responsibility
Caretaker manages feeding, acclimation, and recovery. INC assists with trap lending, surgery scheduling, coaching, and transport support.
Level 3: Hybrid Support
For large colonies or physical limitations. Caretaker feeds and monitors; INC leads trap deployment, trapping, transport, and return.
Level 4: Full-Service Professional TNR
Reserved for abandoned sites, hoarding, or unmanaged colonies. INC manages the entire process from feeding to recovery and return.
Level 5: Emergency &
Crisis Response
Urgent priority for injured cats, vulnerable kittens, active evictions, site demolitions, or property seizures.
Guiding Principle
INC prioritizes Levels 1 and 2 first. Levels 3–5 are reserved for when self-help is not possible, building sustainable community solutions.
Level 1: Client-Led (Coaching Only)
INC provides educational training classes, written guides, video tutorials, trap lending, and ongoing coaching and troubleshooting. The caretaker manages daily feeding on schedule, trap setup, trapping, holding, recovery, and transport.
Level 2: Shared Responsibility
Best for motivated caretakers who need a helping hand. The caretaker manages daily feeding, acclimation, trap setup, holding, and recovery, while INC assists with trap lending, surgery scheduling, coaching, and pickup/transport if needed.
Level 3: Hybrid Support
Designed for large colonies, complex trapping environments, or caretakers with physical limitations. The caretaker provides daily feeding, monitoring, and recovery space, while INC leads trap deployment, colony planning, trapping, transport, and return.
Level 4: Full-Service Professional TNR
Reserved for high-need scenarios with no active caretaker, unsafe environments, abandoned properties, hoarding situations, or city shelter referrals. INC manages the entire process from feeding and trapping to recovery and return.
Level 5: Emergency & Crisis Response
Highest-priority cases requiring urgent intervention, including injured cats, kittens at risk, active evictions, site demolitions, or property seizures.
Guiding Rule: INC always attempts Levels 1 and 2 first. Levels 3 through 5 are utilized only when self-help is not possible. This model builds long-term neighborhood solutions, protects limited rescue capacity, and helps more cats across Indianapolis.
Plan Before You Trap
Before setting a single trap, proper assessment and logistics lay the groundwork for a safe, successful project. Trapping outdoor cats requires a continuous, closed-loop routine. The diagram below illustrates how each phase connects seamlessly from initial preparation through surgery, recovery, and eventual return to the colony site.
The Continuous TNR Trapping Cycle
A step-by-step roadmap for successful colony management in Indianapolis
Feeding Schedule
Put food out at the exact same time every day. It takes about 10 days to train cats to your schedule.
Traps & Plan
Secure clinic appointments and borrow humane traps from INC or partner organizations.
Acclimate Cats
Feed cats inside open, unsecured traps for several days so they lose fear of the gear.
Withhold Food
Withhold all food 24 hours prior to trapping so hungry cats are driven to enter set traps.
Cover & Transport
Cover trapped cats immediately with a towel and transport safely inside an enclosed vehicle.
Surgery Day
Check cats in at the clinic. Follow specific drop-off, tag formatting, and pickup rules.
Overnight Recovery
Hold cats overnight in a warm, temperature-controlled space before releasing them.
Return & Repeat
Release cats to their exact home territory, clean traps, and maintain your feeding routine.
Stage 1: Establish a Feeding Schedule
Cats are creatures of habit. Put food out at the exact time you want to see the cats. It takes about 10 days to train cats to your schedule rather than theirs.
Stage 2: Acquire Traps & Make a Plan
Once cats eat at the same time daily, secure spay/neuter appointment slots and traps. Appointments can be made through local partner clinics (IndyHumane Downtown, FACE Low Cost Animal Clinic, Low Cost Spay Neuter Brownsburg/Noblesville), or through INC if you need to borrow equipment. See our trap loaning policy below.
Stage 3: Acclimate Cats to the Traps
Help cats get used to traps by feeding them inside unsecured traps every day leading up to trapping. Secure the trap door open using zip ties or a water bottle, ensuring the trip plate is not set.
Stage 4: Withhold Food Before Trapping
Scent drives cat behavior. When cats are hungry, the smell of food overrides fear instincts. On the morning of active trapping, place food inside the trap as usual, but set the trap plate so the door triggers when they step inside.
Stage 5: Cover & Transport
As soon as a cat is trapped, cover the trap completely with a towel or sheet so they feel secure. Place covered traps inside an enclosed vehicle lined with a plastic tarp or garbage bags, and transport them safely.
Stage 6: Surgery Day Protocols
Follow clinic-specific intake and pickup instructions. If trapping the day before surgery, remove all food and water before midnight. If trapping the morning of surgery, use only a tiny bite of bait to lure them inside and remove everything else prior to transport. For additional information on filling out trap tags, see the Clinic Quick Reference below.
Stage 7: Safe Overnight Recovery
Never release a cat on the day of surgery. Anesthesia affects a cat’s ability to regulate body temperature and defend itself. Hold cats overnight in a quiet, temperature-controlled space such as a garage, basement, mudroom, or bathroom.
Stage 8: Return to Territory & Cycle Completion
Releasing cats back home is the best part of TNR. Cats must be returned to the exact address where they were captured because they imprint strongly on territory. Once returned, clean and sanitize borrowed traps before returning them to complete the cycle.
INC’s Trap Loaning Policy
If you need a humane trap for your TNR project, please review the information below to find out when and where to pick yours up:
Humane Trap Loans & Pick-Up
Indy Neighborhood Cats TNR Program
1505 N. Sherman Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46201
- Sundays: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Thursdays: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Caretakers must complete and sign an INC Caretaker Agreement prior to equipment pickup.
- Pickup outside regular warehouse hours must be coordinated directly through INC Trapping Coordinators.
Local Partner Trap Policies
To save time when planning a TNR project, please note the policies of other area organizations:
Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS): Does not rent traps, loan gear, or provide TNR services for healthy community cats.
FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic: Accepts trapped community cats for spay/neuter ($65 package, phone appointment required), but does not provide trap rentals, trapping manpower, or transport pickup.
IndyHumane Downtown Clinic: Requires community cats to arrive in a secure live-release trap or hard carrier, but caretakers must source their own traps prior to their appointment.
Essential Checklist Before Borrowing a Trap
Secure Your Surgery Appointment First: Never set a trap until you have a confirmed clinic appointment or a verified walk-in slot. Trapped cats should never wait in a trap without a scheduled surgery path.
Withhold Food 24 Hours Prior: Ensure all colony feeding stops 24 hours before active trapping so cats are motivated by scent to enter the trap.
Have Trap Covers Ready: Have large towels, sheets, or blankets ready to cover every trap immediately upon capture to reduce cat stress.
Prepare a Temperature-Controlled Holding Area: Ensure you have a quiet, covered space (such as a garage, basement, or bathroom) to hold cats overnight after surgery before release.
Stress Reduction During TNR: Do’s and Don’ts
TNR works best when both the trapper and the cat remain as calm as possible. Following quiet handling guidelines reduces stress and improves safety for everyone:
Prepare
- Learn the trapping process in advance.
- Gather all necessary supplies early.
- Prepare for routine and unexpected situations.
- Assume past experience replaces preparation.
- Start trapping without the right gear.
Make a Plan
- Write out every step of your project.
- Confirm clinic timing and available services.
- Prepare transport and recovery spaces ahead of time.
- Rely on memory alone during trapping.
- Forget recovery and return planning.
Safety First
- Practice setting traps before heading out.
- Use a safe, enclosed vehicle for transport.
- Secure traps tightly so they don't slide.
- Touch a conscious trapped community cat.
- Transport cats in a trunk or open truck bed.
Stay Calm
- Take deep breaths and stay composed.
- Move slowly and deliberately.
- Cover the trap immediately upon capture.
- Panic if a trapped cat thrashes inside.
- Make sudden, jerky movements around the trap.
Think Like a Cat
- Reduce stressful sights, sounds, and smells.
- Keep the trap covered at all times.
- Leave the cat alone as much as possible.
- Assume the cat is comforted by talking to it.
- Crowd, stare at, or overstimulate the cat.
Environment
- Clean and disinfect traps thoroughly.
- Use a quiet, temperature-controlled space.
- Maintain a clean, sanitary recovery area.
- Hold cats near loud equipment or barking dogs.
- Leave cats in areas that are too hot or too cold.
Transmit Calm
- Use calm, relaxed body language.
- Remove anything perceived as threatening.
- Keep handling steady and predictable.
- Rush through handling or transport steps.
- Act aggressively or handle traps roughly.
Clinic Quick Reference
Indianapolis features two primary high-volume spay/neuter facilities for community cats. Review their specific check-in, paperwork, and pickup guidelines:
| Procedure / Detail | FACE Low Cost Animal Clinic | IndyHumane Downtown Clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 1505 N. Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46201 | 456 N. Holmes Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46222 |
| Check-In Window | Drop off tags Sunday before spay day (1:00–3:00 PM) or submit tags by 7:00 PM the night before. | Curbside check-in from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM. |
| Paperwork | Complete one FACE agreement per colony and write INC in large letters at the top. | Standard clinic intake forms per schedule instructions. |
| Trap Tag Formatting | Write medical issues on a red tag supplied by FACE when requested. Use standard INC tag formats: M for Medical details, P for Pregnant, and L for Lactating. | Complete trap tags legibly using approved INC formats: M for Medical details, P for Pregnant, and L for Lactating. |
| Cat Pickup Times | Traps: 4:30 PM same day, 7:30–8:30 AM next day, or 4:00 PM next day. Carriers: Monday at 4:30 PM. |
Follow specific pickup times provided at curbside check-in. |
| Trap Returns | Tuesday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. | Return to borrowing warehouse upon recovery completion. |
| Special Notices | Check current closures and late-pickup instructions for the 2nd Wednesday of every month. | Follow clinic schedule guidelines. |
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics Available to the Public
If you are able to trap and transport cats yourself, several local clinics offer community cat surgery appointments directly to the public. Depending on funding, INC may be able to provide financial assistance if you are able to handle the trapping and transport.
Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic
FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic
IndyHumane Downtown Clinic
Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic
- Walk-Ins: You can bring up to 2 feral/community cats per surgery day without an appointment (must be in a humane trap).
- Pricing: Packages range from $60 for a feral cat in a trap to $70 for friendly community cats.
- Trap Rentals: Trap rentals are available directly through the clinic. Please reach out to them for questions and rental availability.
FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic
- Appointments Required: Appointments must be scheduled by phone at (317) 638-3223. No walk-in cats are permitted.
- Email Questions: Contact
communitycats@faceanimalclinic.orgfor program inquiries.- Winter Pause: FACE does not book community cat surgeries between November and March each winter.
IndyHumane Downtown Clinic
- Online Scheduling: You can schedule community cat appointments independently through their online portal (scroll down to the Community Cat section).
- Pricing: The community cat package is $70.
INC Direct Trapping Assistance
If you are unable to trap on your own and still require direct INC trapping assistance, your request will be placed on our active waitlist.
How Our Waitlist Works:
No Fixed Timeframe: Due to overwhelming citywide demand and current animal welfare challenges across Indianapolis, INC cannot guarantee a specific timeframe for when direct assistance will be provided.
Strategic Prioritization (Not Order Received): INC operates strategically in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of outdoor cats, rather than in the chronological order requests are received. Concentrating TNR efforts in high-density areas is vital to effectively control overpopulation and maximize impact.
Neighborhood Resources: While on our waitlist, you will receive occasional resources, workshop invites, and DIY tips to help equip you with tools to take action in your neighborhood.
Join Us in Helping Indianapolis Cats!
Trap-Neuter-Return keeps healthy outdoor cats in their community homes, stops unwanted litter cycles, and relieves pressure on municipal shelters. If you’re caring for local outdoor cats, need assistance, or want to volunteer, then check out our quick links below.
Quick Links
Video and Document Links
Indy Neighborhood Cats
- 317.386.6916
- info@indyneighborhoodcats.org
- Register Your Colony
- Caretaker Support
- Medical Assistance
- Become a Volunteer!