HCVS TNR Surgery

A non-refundable $75 flat fee for feral, barn, or other outdoor cat includes:

1. Surgery: male (castration) or female (spay) surgery under general anesthesia with multimodal pre- and intra-operative pain relief.  All sutures are internal and dissolving. 
2. Rabies Vaccination: to prevent transmission of this deadly virus.
3. Left Ear Tipping + Tattoo: a universal marker of sterilization so a feral cat is not recaptured for neutering.  This is a requirement of the TNR package.

HCVS TNR Surgery is completed by Dr. Barlas in our surgical suite at Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR, Belleville, MI).

Feral cats will rarely allow intimate contact with the HCVS Medical Care Team for examination, collecting vitals, and blood sample collection prior to surgery.  TNR surgeries are designed for efficiency with minimal invasiveness keeping cat health and welfare in focus.  Thus, the following are NOT included:

1. Pre-operative Bloodwork: organ health evaluation to identify co-morbidities.
2. Pre-operative Disease Screening: FIV, FeLV, and heartworm infection increases risk of surgical complications. 
3. Pre-operative Exam: hands-on evaluation of health and collecting vitals.
4. Endotracheal Tube: a tube placed into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain and protect the airway. 
5. Intra-operative Monitoring Recording: baseline vitals are monitored manually in real-time, but no details are recorded.
6. Post-op Pain Reliever Medication: as these cats live outdoors and rarely allow human interaction, pain reliever is not sent "home" to be given in the days following surgery.
7. Elizabethan Collar: due to poor patient compliance and concern for affecting hunting prey and fleeing predators, E-collars (cone of shame) are not sent home with feral cats.

1. HCVS TNR Surgery Request Form: complete the HCVS TNR Surgery Request Form below to the best of your ability.  Forms are reviewed by a member of the HCVS Medical Care Team.  Booking requests are not a guarantee of service.  We will contact you within 48 hours M-F to schedule an appointment. 
2. HCVS TNR Surgery Request Waiver: after booking is set, an electronic document will be sent by email for your electronic signature outlining the terms and expectations of HCVS TNR Surgery.
3. Pre-payment Invoice: an invoice will be sent by email for your pre-payment, which finalizes your appointment booking.  Payment is due by the Friday prior to your appointment.  

Please note: we do NOT accept walk-in appointments. 

HCVS TNR Surgery is completed in our surgical suite at Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR, Belleville, MI).  The day of your appointment:

1. 10:00 AM: arrive to FMAR with the cat in a carrier or trap.  There should be only one cat per carrier / trap.  You will enter the white door behind the white fence on the right side of the parking lot. 
2. Through Day: be available by phone for any emergency contact needs. 
3. 4:00 PM: present to FMAR to collect the cat and release it back to where it was trapped (following appropriate post-op recovery time considering patient, weather, otherwise).  Any cat not collected will incur a $50 per day boarding charge paid to FMAR.  Any cat remaining at FMAR for 5 days will be considered abandoned and treated as such. 

Please note: ideally, cats should be fasted (no food, water okay) for 8 hours prior to surgery to minimize risk of vomiting and aspiration.  

Any cat deemed unhealthy enough for HCVS TNR Surgery will be euthanized and communally cremated.  A courtesy phone call will be made to caretakers prior to euthanasia to discuss.