Community CATS reports surge in TNR work, urges unified data and targeted hot-spot mapping

Community CATS, the local grassroots TNR (trap-neuter-return) organization, told the advisory board on May 16 that its recent work has increased sterilizations and that coordinated data and targeted geographic mapping are needed to sustain reductions in free-roaming cat populations.

Director Tracy Dean said Community CATS helped more than 562 cats from January through April 2025 and that at a minimum 274 female cats were spayed in that period — preventing litters that would already be producing subsequent generations if left unchecked. She highlighted a December 3 expansion of county TNR clinic capacity as a major turning point that allowed volunteers to increase throughput.

Dean urged partners to unify data collection and to use targeted mapping rather than broad measures. She presented a multi-year ZIP-code chart that identifies 89502, 89433 (Sun Valley) and 89431 (Downtown Sparks) as higher-volume ZIP codes, and recommended building heat maps at finer geographic resolution to identify specific neighborhoods where TNR will be most effective.

"TNR is the fundamental, sustainable and economic approach to preventing cat overpopulation," Dean said. "We cannot adopt our way out of this." The organization asked for continued operational support, data sharing from partner agencies and funding so volunteers can scale targeted clinics.

Ending — Next steps: Community CATS said it will continue field operations, expand data coordination with county and shelter partners, and work with WCRAS and NHS on mapping priorities so grant funding and volunteer time can be focused where sterilizations will have the greatest effect on shelter intake.