Caring in Small Circles: Five Cats, One Community, and the Power of TNVR

By Gerard de Sagun

More than a week has passed since we brought five cats to New Creation Animal Clinic for TNVR. Their surgical wounds have healed wonderfully—no signs of infection, no signs of stress. Just five cats who, in their own quiet ways, are back where they belong.

This update is really a thank you to New Creation Animal Clinic- La Union, whose team did more than a routine medical procedure; they offered gentleness, skill, and genuine care.

Their dedication to animal welfare is shown in the smallest details.

What is TNVR?

TNVR stands for Trap–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return. It’s a humane method of managing stray and feral cat populations.

• Trap – The cats are safely caught using humane traps or carriers.

• Neuter (or Spay) – They’re brought to a vet for spaying or neutering to stop the cycle of overpopulation.

• Vaccinate – While under care, they receive basic vaccinations and parasite treatment, improving overall health.

• Return – Once they’ve recovered, they’re returned to the place they came from—only now, healthier, calmer, and no longer contributing to the stray population.

  
  

It’s not a quick fix. But it’s proven, sustainable, and compassionate. Cats are territorial and TNVR allows them to live out their lives peacefully while slowly reducing the number of kittens born into tough, unsafe conditions.

If you’ve ever felt helpless seeing strays in your neighborhood, TNVR is one way to help—quietly, steadily, and with love.

And now, here’s where those cats are.

Kurapikat- The Feral Cat: Three Years in the Making

Kurapikat is a feral tom who’s been circling the neighborhood, sharp-eyed and impossible to catch. It took three years of daily feeding before he would even let us near. He never came close enough to pet, but he started showing up like clockwork at our balcony, the way some folks line up at their favorite food truck. Always at the same time. Always alone.

Catching him wasn’t just a logistical feat—it felt like a breakthrough in trust. When he allowed himself to be caged for surgery, we knew something had shifted. And now, he’s back outside, roaming like before—but lighter. Safer. Free from the exhausting cycle of mating and defending. He still shows up at the balcony, but now, he lingers. We like to think that’s his way of saying thanks.

Alley- The Cat Down the Street: A Companion to the Elderly

Another cat belongs to an elderly gentleman who lives just a few doors down. Always out early, sweeping leaves from the gutter, always ready with a nod. His cat (whom he affectionately called “Kuting”) is well-fed, well-loved, and clearly a companion.

We’re outsiders here, really—transplants from the noise of Manila, trying to live a little slower in La Union. And yet, he trusted us with his cat. That meant something. We know how rare it is for seniors to access veterinary care, and how the costs can be overwhelming even for essentials. Love for a pet doesn’t shrink with age or income, sometimes it only needs tiny amounts of help.

Abelino- The Hand-Me-Down Stray: From Unwanted to Homebound

Then there’s the young tabby who was passed on like a box of unwanted things. Someone gave him to our neighbor, who hadn’t planned to take in a cat, but couldn’t bring themselves to say no. That’s how it often goes—too many litters, too few options.

Abelino (named after the Ilocano weave “Inabel”) is shy but sweet. Already, he’s curling up and camouflaging on top of our Abel blanket (hence the name) and sniffing at meal bowls like he has been here all along. With his surgery done, there’s no looming risk of more unwanted kittens. Just one cat, safe in a new home, no longer someone’s “problem.”

Ming: The Shop Guardian

And then there’s Ming—the black-and-white tuxedo who belongs to the elderly couple that runs the sari-sari store just a few corners away. Ming is always somewhere near the store. You’ll spot him curled up beside sacks of rice or lounging on top of the chest freezers for ice cream. But his life hasn’t been without close calls. The jeepney driver told us about a time Ming was hit by a tricycle, hard enough that everyone thought it was over. But somehow, Ming got up, limped off, and returned the next day like nothing had happened.

“Matibay talaga ‘yang pusa na ‘yan,” the driver said with a shake of his head. Tough cat. Street-smart. Resilient in ways we’ll never fully understand.

There’s solid science behind that. Neutering reduces testosterone levels, which helps curb behaviors driven by mating instincts—like spraying, loud vocalizations, aggression toward other males, and the urge to roam far and wide. These behaviors are natural, especially in young male cats, but they also put them at risk of fights, infections, accidents, or simply vanishing altogether.

Neutering doesn’t change who a cat is. It just removes the hormonal pressures that often lead to stress, injury, or constant conflict. What’s left behind is still the cat you know, just with more space for calm, safety, and longer years ahead.

To the couple who trusted us with him, thank you. For caring for Ming all these years. For allowing us to be part of his next chapter.

When the cats were released, it wasn’t dramatic. No speeches. No ribbons cut. Just paws on pavement, a flick of a tail, a glance back—and gone. But something lingered. Neighbors peeked out. Asked how they were. Asked what TNVR meant. Someone asked how much it cost. Someone else asked how they could volunteer.

This is the quiet aftermath no one tells you about. When a fixed cat returns, it isn’t just about population control. It’s a signal. That someone cared. It’s possible to do more. That even feral lives are worth gentle hands and clean stitches.

Still Small, Still Enough

Four of five cats (one was rejected because it got too worked up about being handled by strangers), still not a lot in the grand scheme of things. But it’s enough to start something. Enough to carry the momentum forward, one cat at a time.

And so, to New Creation Animal Clinic: thank you for showing what good vet care looks like. You’ve that technical expertise doesn’t have to be cold and transactional, for making room in your busy days for rescues like ours.

To anyone reading: we’re not experts. We’re not even a formal rescue group. Just people trying and learning. And if you’ve got strays outside your door, or a neighbor with a litter they didn’t expect, or a cat who’s slowly learning to trust you—maybe that’s where your part begins.