Lost Paws

06/06/2026

This is in Cook County, Illinois. More and more people are understanding the need for feral cats❤️

06/06/2026

While out delivering traps today for our next appointment, I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services and the numerous cats that require assistance. Regrettably, many individuals are unable to afford these services or choose not to participate because they believe it does not make a significant difference. The recipients of the traps I delivered today do not provide food for the cats that frequent their property, but they acknowledged the importance of preventing breeding among the cats residing across the street. I inquired about speaking with their neighbors and was informed that they were currently at home, so we went over to ask them about trapping at their place. The neighbor initially expressed reluctance to participate in TNR, citing that they do not care whether the cats can reproduce. She states that the mothers and kittens often die, and she finds them lying around the property. I explained that these animals don't have to suffer and that we can prevent further breeding. However, upon learning that the costs would be covered, the neighbor's attitude shifted, and she agreed to allow us to trap the cats, provided the gentleman who fed them agreed. Upon speaking with the gentleman, I learned that he provides food for the cats and acknowledged that someone needs to care for them. I suggested that by spaying or neutering the cats, he would no longer need to worry about feeding additional animals. He shared that there are two deceased cats on his property, which he suspects may have been poisoned, and one cat with a broken leg. I emphasized the importance of trapping the remaining cats to prevent further suffering. He agreed to allow us to trap the cats, provided that it would not incur any costs. Many individuals are willing to assist these animals but are uncertain about how to begin. Lost Paws is dedicated to assisting every cat possible, and with the support of our community, we have made a significant impact. We are hopeful that we will receive more appointments this month, as our June schedule is fully booked. Shannon works diligently to secure appointments, but occasionally, it takes time to receive a response. We owe all that we have accomplished so far to our community. Without you, these cats would continue to suffer, living a life of fighting and breeding over and over.

06/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BRAScP342/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The science on Trap-Neuter-Return programs for community cats has been building for decades. And a new research summary published in April 2026 by Texas A&M researchers brings that evidence together in one clear statement.

According to Dr. Amanda Blake, an associate research scientist in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, TNR is the only humane, evidence-based, effective method to control unowned cat populations that live outdoors. The research confirms that TNR works by stopping the breeding cycle, which in turn addresses the community concerns most commonly raised about outdoor cat colonies, including disease spread, fighting, spraying, and yowling.

TNR programs work like this: community cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinary clinic to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and eartipped (the universal visible sign that a cat has been through the program), and then returned to their outdoor homes.

The research also highlights something called the vacuum effect. When cats are simply removed from an area without being spayed or neutered, new unsterilized cats quickly move in to fill the space. TNR prevents this by stabilizing colony populations over time.

Beyond population management, TNR reduces shelter intake, lowers euthanasia rates, decreases calls to animal control, and saves taxpayer money. Cats who are no longer focused on mating and reproducing also tend to coexist more peacefully with the people living near them.

For those who care about community cats, this research is worth sharing. The debate over whether TNR works is, scientifically speaking, largely settled.

(Source: Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, published in Phys.org, April 2026)

06/03/2026

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our incredible supporters, whose unwavering enthusiasm inspires us to turn our mission into a resplendent reality.

06/03/2026

06/01/2026

Time for some 𝐌𝐘𝐓𝐇-𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒‼️

Over the years, we've heard a lot of concerns about Trap-Neuter-Return. Most come from a place of caring, but many are based on misconceptions. Let's talk about a few of them.

🐾 "𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘁."
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴. 𝘈 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺, 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘸-𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.

🐾 "𝗘𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹."
𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.

🐾 "𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀."
𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.

🐾 "𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 '𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁'."
𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯, 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.

🐾 "𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸."
𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺!

The more we learn about TNR, the more we realize that it isn't about taking something away from cats. It's about giving them a healthier, safer future. ❤️

If you have any myths to add to the list, feel free in the comments below.

06/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Hjk2s6ZpJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For years, the volunteers who care for outdoor community cats have existed in a kind of legal gray zone. In many places, they risk being cited for abandonment simply for doing TNR, which involves trapping cats, getting them spayed or neutered, and returning them to their outdoor homes.

A landmark bill introduced in Maryland in February 2026 aims to change that, not just in Maryland, but potentially across the country.

Ash's Law, House Bill 912 and Senate Bill 750, was drafted by Alley Cat Allies and introduced in the Maryland legislature. If passed, it would make Trap-Neuter-Return the official state policy for community cats throughout Maryland. More importantly, it would prevent any county or city within the state from banning or restricting TNR programs.

The bill is named after a community cat named Ash. It also addresses the abandonment issue directly, amending Maryland state law to ensure that individuals carrying out TNR cannot be criminally charged for returning a cat to its outdoor home after the procedure.

This is significant because the current situation in many jurisdictions is deeply counterproductive. The very act of helping a community cat through a responsible, humane, evidence-based program can expose a volunteer to legal consequences. That discourages participation and leaves cats worse off.

Supporters of the bill include advocates, veterinary professionals, and legal experts. Opposition has come primarily from county government representatives concerned about losing local authority to set their own animal control policies.

The bill is being watched nationally as a potential model for similar legislation in other states.

(Source: Alley Cat Allies press release, February 10, 2026; Alley Cat Allies latest news, May 2026)