From our friends at Alley Cat Allies: Community cats are unowned cats who live outdoors. Like pet cats, they belong to the domestic cat species, but most are not socialized to people. They live full, healthy lives in colonies in their outdoor homes. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane, effective approach, and it benefits both the cats and the communities where they live.
Looking for TNR or barn cat help?
We don’t do TNR or place barn cats ourselves, but the groups on this page do. Find TNR help in your state below, or try a barn cat program for cats who can’t live indoors.
Feeding a colony? Our pet food shelf list shows where to find free pet food near you.
Minnesota TNR Programs
Before you trap: the details below come from each program’s own website, checked in October 2026. Prices, seasons and waitlists change, so call or email first.
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Minneapolis and statewideLow-cost spay and neuter surgery for community cats, at its Minneapolis clinic and on its mobile clinic, which it calls Minnesota’s only year-round spay/neuter mobile clinic.
- Where
- 2822 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Mobile clinic dates are on its clinic calendar.
- Cost
- Cat neuter $120, cat spay $155, with a rabies vaccine included for cats over 3 months. You pay at check in.
- Traps
- MN SNAP rents traps to community cat caregivers.
- Good to know
- Community cats are ear-tipped during anesthesia. Kittens must be at least eight weeks old and two pounds.
- How to start
- Register for surgery on its site, or call (612) 720-8236.
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Statewide MNHelps registered colony caregivers anywhere in Minnesota get community cats spayed or neutered. It doesn’t take in or adopt out animals.
- How it works
- You trap the cats and drive them to a partner vet. Pet Project Rescue helps with the cost as best it can, lends traps when it has them and books the surgery appointments.
- Partner vets
- Minneapolis, Forest Lake, Detroit Lakes and Willmar.
- Wait
- There is an ongoing waitlist. The TNR form on its page puts you on it.
- How to start
- Fill out the TNR form on its TNR page. Questions go to [email protected].
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Twin Cities MetroAnimal Humane Society lists a community cats program on its website.
- Call first
- We couldn’t confirm the program’s current details in October 2026, so check its page or call before you trap.
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Duluth, MNFeral package pricing for cats brought in live-release traps. The clinic says it doesn’t run TNR itself, so caregivers do the trapping.
- Where
- 6128 Grand Ave, Duluth, MN 55807. (218) 623-6342.
- Season
- Feral package pricing is closed from October 1 to April 1, when it’s too cold to return a shaved cat outdoors safely.
- Drop-off
- 8 am, Monday to Wednesday, in a secure live-release trap. Cats stay overnight and are ready at 7:30 am the next day.
- Traps
- To borrow traps or learn to trap, the clinic refers people to Critter Harbor, (715) 410-7666.
- How to start
- Call or email [email protected] to book.
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Bemidji, MNMonthly low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Feral cat caretakers and barn cat owners can use them without meeting the income limits, and the cats are ear-tipped.
- Season
- One clinic a month, April through November. Registration opens on the 1st of the month before each clinic.
- Cost
- Caretakers pay for each cat, starting with a $40 non-refundable deposit per animal that counts toward the clinic fee. The price list is on its page.
- How to start
- Register online on its Pet Fixers page, or call 218-760-1307 for help.
- Community cats
- For other community cat questions, Great River Rescue takes calls at 218-751-7910.
Barn Cat Programs
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Twin Cities MetroPlaces cats who aren’t suited to indoor life in barns, shops and other businesses, where they keep rodents in check.
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St. Cloud, MNSpayed or neutered, vaccinated working cats, often adopted in pairs. Call (320) 252-0896 to join the waitlist.
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Duluth, MNFeral and undersocialized cats, fixed, microchipped and vaccinated, for barns and businesses outside Duluth city limits.
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Southeast WisconsinWorking cats that are spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, microchipped and vaccinated. Adopters name their own price.
South Dakota TNR Resources
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Sioux Falls, SDTNR programs and advocacy for SD communities.
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Black Hills, SDFree/low-cost TNR for community cats. 15,000+ fixed.
North Dakota TNR Resources
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Fargo, NDSpay/neuter clinics, TNR resources, general pet assistance.
Wisconsin TNR Resources
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Farm, Feral, & StrayCenturia, WIHumanely manages free-roaming cat populations through TNR.
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Barron, WIFor caretakers of feral colonies needing trap/neuter/release help.
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Northwest WIMobile spay/neuter and TNR.
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West Allis, WISpay/neuter and TNR resources.
National Resources
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NationalThe leading national resource for community cat advocacy.
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NationalComprehensive TNR guides and education.
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NationalTNR education and how-to resources.
TNR Questions
Does Rescue Network do TNR?
No. We don’t do TNR or place barn cats ourselves, but the groups on this page do.
How much does TNR cost in Minneapolis?
At MN SNAP’s Minneapolis clinic, a community cat neuter is $120 and a spay is $155, with a rabies vaccine included for cats over 3 months. Pet Project Rescue helps registered colony caregivers with the cost and books the surgery, though it has a waitlist. Both come from each group’s own site, checked in October 2026.
Where can I borrow a humane trap?
MN SNAP rents traps to community cat caregivers, and Pet Project Rescue lends traps when it has them. In Duluth, Twin Ports Spay/Neuter refers people to Critter Harbor, (715) 410-7666.
What is an ear tip?
It marks a community cat as already fixed. MN SNAP ear-tips community cats during anesthesia and calls the ear tip the universal symbol that a cat has been sterilized and vaccinated.
Can I get TNR in the winter in Duluth?
Not at Twin Ports Spay/Neuter’s feral rate. It closes feral package pricing from October 1 to April 1, because a shaved cat can’t be returned outdoors safely in the cold.