This page has been updated at December 26, 2021. It was first written in 2009. The first part of the page deals with the Beverly Hills regulations regarding the feeding and care of feral cats (TNR) as at 2009. The second part deals with the same regulations as at 2021. They may interest people both in terms of the regulations themselves and in terms of how they might differ over that 12-year period. I believe that Beverly Hills has a good handle on the complexities of TNR programs and how to manage them. Also, how the councillors get involved and help to make TNR work as it is essentially voluntary work carried out by dedicated volunteers. Are these regulations a model for others? I am not sure but I expect them to be of good quality. Disagree? Have your own ideas? Please comment.
Beverly Hills feral cat TNR regulations 2009
You can read the entire regulations on a PDF file uploaded to this website by clicking on the following link: Beverly Hills feeding and TNR of feral cats – ordinance
Beverly Hills Feral Cat TNR Regulations – This is an informal bare bones summary, in my words and in plain language, of the newly enacted regulations (a link to the full text is directly below). They will become effective on October 16, 2009 (NATIONAL FERAL CAT DAY). Please check all the regulations yourself too!
Right away I would like to say that Christi Metropole the founder of Stray Cat Alliance which is the organization that has been influential in working with City of Beverly Hills to implement the TNR program and will be helping to see that it runs smoothly and educating BH residents etc. has been the best. She has, I am told, been a very helpful member of the team in the creation of what is (I believe) ground breaking law that I hope gets duplicated many times (perhaps with some simplifications and refinements) across the United States of America. Here is an interview with Christi:
Beverly Hills Feral Cat TNR Regulations. Please check the original
A permit is required to conduct TNR programs in Beverly Hills. It can be applied for (attachment A of regulations – a form can be find on the above link). There is no fee. Licensed people (partners or “affiliated feral cat caregivers”) are given a permit card to wear when carrying out TNR. Licensed people must be insured.
Feeding and trapping feral cats in “alleys or public property is prohibited unless conducted under a “TNR Partner permit”. When feeding on public property an approved feeding device must be used. Humane methods must be used. Full records must be kept for each colony of cats and be available for inspection. The records should include details of:
- colony locations
- numbers of cats
- success of neuterings
- adoptions etc. (This is not an all-inclusive list).
The cats’ health must be checked by a vet. There are procedures for dealing with cats that are ill with FIV and FeLV.
Feeding on private property must be carried out inside a 6-foot-high barrier. Or a special feeding device can be used that prevents wild animals accessing the food (that would seem difficult to achieve). Food can only be put down at certain times of the day:
- between 06:00 and 20:00 or sunset
- and before 20:00 or sunset the food must be removed.
Permission must be obtained from the private property owner in writing, in which the location of the TNR activities is referred to.
Traps must be placed at a “permitted location” (not sure what that means – probably included in the permit). Traps (& feeders) must be identified with an approved sticker.
“Traps may be placed at the permitted location between the time of sunset and 2:30 am of the next day, at which time said trap shall be removed from the location.”
I am not completely sure what that means – sorry. The licensed person (TNR individual) must remove droppings etc. daily and keep the area clean. Traps must be attended and in sight at all times.
[there are Beverly Hills Feral Cat TNR Regulations governing the actual process of TNR but I have not discussed these as I feel that the people doing it will have the skills and knowledge needed]
OK, these are the bare bones of the Beverly Hills Feral Cat TNR Regulations covering the main points.
Beverly Hills TNR regulations and the feeding of feral cats as at 2021
You can read the current regulations (2021) by clicking on the following link (this takes you to a PDF file on a new page so that you remain on this page at the same time): Beverly Hills ordinance on dealing with feral cats as at 2021
Videos and further info on TNR and trapping etc.
These were uploaded before 2009. They are old but still useful.
Below is the counter argument to TNR. I disagree with them but in the interests of a balanced article and fair play I show their video here:
On the face of it, the arguments presented in the above video seem plausible but there are a lot of statements that I think need better scientific and documented support. It is too easy to make statements without supporting evidence. People like to make heavy claims that feral cats (and domestic cats generally in fact) cause Toxoplasmosis but it is exceptionally rare. Other causes are far more common. This is just one example. There is an emphasis on certain subjects in the video that are self-serving (i.e. are designed to serve objectives not concerned with animal welfare).
Also, TNR may not “solve” the feral cat problem but it certainly stabilises it. And the example in the video that TNR has increased the colony is very poor as the cause is not the TNR program but irresponsible people dumping their cats in amongst the colony. The problem once again is people.
TNR carried out absolutely properly in parallel with a more educated public on cat ownership will work. Carried out in isolation it can’t completely solve the problem of feral cats because supply is continual from abandoned cats. Supply has to dry up too.
Some links:
