TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) remains a controversial practice in dealing with feral cats. Its critics range from cat lovers who believe feral cats are better off in enclosed sanctuaries, to those who say free-roaming cats are a menace and should be shot on sight.
It's true that cats are not part of the natural ecosystem, that they may want to hunt even if they're fed, and that they prey on native species of birds and small animals.
I asked Cindy Hewitt, who has worked to TNR over 7,000 cats, how she would answer critics. To begin with, she agrees that "Humans created the