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Books & Guides
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Books & Guides
Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook is an A to Z guide for cat colony caretakers on all things Trap-Neuter-Return. Drawn from our years of hands-on work, it covers trapping, feeding, winter shelter, neighbor relations and veterinary care. Also discussed are more specialized topics like trapping hard-to-catch cats and what to do with nursing mothers and their kittens. "The hands-on expertise of Neighborhood Cats' staff, as well as the group's involvement with caretakers around the world, makes this the most comprehensive and up-to-the-minute resource for educating caretakers on all aspects of colony management." (Animal Sheltering Magazine, Sept/Oct 2013.)
Return-to-Field Handbook
With Return-to-Field (RTF), community cats impounded by shelters are spayed or neutered and returned to their original locations instead of being euthanized or rehomed. The now second edition of the Return-to-Field Handbook, a collaboration of Neighborhood Cats, Humane World for Animals and Alley Cat Advocates, provides detailed guidance on all steps of the RTF process. These include community messaging, gathering information at intake, assessing eligibility, staffing, housing, veterinary care, performing returns, data collection and more. If you're looking to start a RTF program or improve an existing one, read this book first! Available for free download.
Community TNR: Tactics and Tools
Bryan Kortis, co-founder and current National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats, authored Community TNR: Tactics & Tools while employed as a grants manager for PetSmart Charities and after overseeing hundreds of large-scale TNR projects. "Kortis now offers a blueprint of how to most effectively use TNR and return-to-field programs to reduce cat overpopulation in the shelter and community." (Animal Sheltering Magazine, Sept/Oct 2014.) Topics include targeted TNR, return-to-field, grassroots mobilization and integrating these approaches. Download for free or purchase a print copy on Amazon.
Managing Community Cats: A Guide for Municipal Leaders
Authored by Humane World for Animals and endorsed by the International City/County Management Association. This guide explains the policy behind TNR, gives real life examples of success, and helps officials implement nonlethal solutions to conflicts involving community cats. It's a great tool for starting a discussion with government officials about backing TNR and changing old, ineffective policies. Free download.
Humane Perspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare
An inspiring collection of essays by 45 leading animal welfare advocates on their own personal journeys and lessons learned. A must-read for anyone looking to change and improve the lives of animals. Compiled and edited by Cathy Rosenthal, this 2026 publication includes a chapter by Bryan Kortis, co-founder and National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats. Buy directly from the publisher; also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Community Cat Protocols
Download the ASPCA's free guide Special Considerations for Community Cats at Spay/Neuter Clinics: Best Practices for Medical and Management Protocols, published in 2014. The illustrated, full-color guide covers trapping, physical exams, patient selection and identification, anesthesia and analgesia, eartipping, surgery and recovery, tattooing and discharge and release. You can also explore the ASPCA's Spay/Neuter Library with its videos and articles on spay/neuter surgery in general plus a section on community cats.