feral cat trapping instructions:
The following is excerpted from an article by Alley Cat Allies,
the national feral cat network promoting nonlethal control for
feral cat colonies and humane methods to reduce the population of
feral cats. Please see the
Ally Cat Allies Web site
for the complete text, including sources for buying traps.
While trapping feral cats may seem intimidating, following these steps will help
make your efforts successful.
Before You Trap
We recommend that you establish a routine feeding schedule. Feed the cats
at the same time and place each day and for at least one week prior to
trapping.
You should assess the cat or cats
you are trying to trap. Determine if some cats are tame (friendly) and can
be adopted into homes. Decide how you will handle kittens you trap. Use the
Alley Cat Allies tracking sheet to give each cat in the colony a name and
document his or her features. This information will help you with the
veterinary records as you begin your TNR program.
Withhold
Food
You must withhold all food 24 hours before trapping. This will ensure that
the cats are hungry enough to enter the trap. Also, surgery will be easier
on the cats if they have not eaten for the past 24 hours.
While this may be hard,
particularly if the cats appear hungry, remember you are doing what is
best for them. Continue to provide the cats with clean, fresh drinking
water.
Supplies
In order to trap effectively you will need:
- One humane box
trap per cat. You will be more successful if you trap as many cats as
possible in the first trapping session. You may also space out your
traps by using a specially designed wire sided transfer cage, designed
to fit with a humane box trap, so that there is no risk of the cat
escaping as she moves into the transfer cage.
- A can of tuna
in oil, sardines in oil, mackerel, or other enticing bait.
- Newspaper to
line the bottom of each trap (optional).
- A large towel
or cloth for each trap or transfer cage, large enough to cover the
entire trap on all sides. After a cat has been trapped cover the trap
to calm the cat and lessen the risk of injury.
- Lids or small
containers to hold bait (optional). You may also put bait directly on
the trap or newspaper.
- Flashlight. If
you are trapping early in the morning or late at night, you'll need
the flashlight to identify the cats you've caught.
- Pens or
pencils and cage slips for each cat, and masking tape to attach cage
slips to each trap (optional).
- Tracking sheet
to ID cats and to record information.
- Spoons or a
scoop for the bait, and a can opener if you need one.
- Extra cat food
and clean water to leave after you trap for any cats you have already
TNRed or were unable to trap this time.
- Tools like
pliers, a pocket knife, and some WD40 for traps that might not work
properly. Always check traps prior to arriving at trapping site.
- Hand
sanitizer, jug of water, and gloves for your protection.
Start
Trapping
To begin, prepare the traps near your vehicle or away from the trapping
site. Place the trap on a flat surface as you bait and set it. Do this so
that if a trap doesn't work properly or goes off too easily it will not
scare off the cats.
Unlatch the rear door and take it
off so you can get your hands inside the trap. If your trap does not have a
rear door then you might want to secure the front door open with a twist
tie so that it won't keeping falling shut while you work.
If you use newspaper, fold it
lengthwise and place it inside the bottom of the trap, to disguise the
wires on the bottom of the trap. Do not use newspaper if it is windy.
Place approximately one
tablespoon of bait along the very back of the trap. You can use a lid or
container for this if you wish. Now drizzle some juice from the bait along
the trap towards the entrance in a zigzag pattern. Place about one-fourth
teaspoon of bait in the middle of the trap on the trip-plate, and
one-fourth teaspoon about six inches inside the front of the trap. The cat
will move his or her paws trying to get the zig zagged bait, thus springing
the trap. It is important not to leave too much bait in the front or
middle; this may satisfy the cat and she will leave without setting off
the trap.
Now take the traps to the
trapping site, most likely the feeding area. Place the trap on the ground
and make certain it is stable and will not rock or tip.
If you are using multiple traps,
stagger them, and place them facing in different directions. Try to think
like a cat and place the traps where they will be tempting. Move quietly
and slowly, and try to remain relaxed so your mannerisms won't frighten
cats away.
Set the traps. Leave the area
quietly. The cats are unlikely to enter the traps if you are standing
nearby. You may want to go sit in your car or take a walk for a while. If
you are trapping in your yard you can go inside.
Traps should never be left
unattended for more than two hours under any circumstances. It is
preferable to quietly check the traps more frequently from a distance. You
do not want to leave a cat in the trap for too long. Also, traps may be
stolen, damaged, or set off. Someone who does not understand your
intentions may release a trapped cat.
Have your towels or trap covers
ready when you check the traps, in case you've caught a cat. Trapping feral
cats may take some time. Be patient. Once a cat appears, it may take a few
minutes for him to go into the trap. Make sure the trap is sprung, and the
cat securely trapped, before you come out to cover the trap.
Some
Special Trapping Tips
If some cats won't go into the traps, you may want to try feeding them in
unset traps for several days before trapping. Feed the cats in the same
place and time as always. Wire the doors to the traps open and place the
food inside. Once the cats see other cats eating inside the traps they will
try it themselves. Once they become accustomed to the traps they will be
easier to trap.
If you are still unable to trap a
cat, or if the cat has learned how to steal bait without springing the
trap, consider using a drop-trap instead. We have instructions on how to
build and use a drop-trap to catch the uncatchable feral cat.
After
Trapping
After the cat has been caught, cover the entire trap with a towel or cloth
before moving it. Covering the traps will help to keep the cats calm. It is
normal for the cat to thrash around inside the trap. It is very tempting to
release him but he will not hurt himself if the trap is covered. If a cat
has already hurt himself, do not release him. Most injuries from traps are
very minor, such as a bruised nose. The cat will calm down once the trap is
covered.
If you trap a severely injured or
sick cat, rush him or her to the veterinary clinic.
Once you have trapped as many
cats as you can, transport the cat/s in the traps to the veterinary
hospital. If you need to hold the cats overnight, keep them in their traps
and make sure they are dry and warm. They can stay in a basement or
isolated room if the weather is poor. It is possible for the cat to die
from hypothermia confined in a trap outside in cold weather. A simple
guideline: If it is too cold outside for you, then it is too cold for the
cats. Do not leave cats in traps exposed to excessive heat or sun.
After surgery, allow the cat to
recover overnight in the same trap, still covered. Usually the
veterinarian's staff will replace any soiled newspaper in the bottom of
the trap with fresh newspaper. If they do not do this, ask them to. Fresh
newspaper will make the cats more comfortable during recovery.
Female cats usually need to be
held for 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Male cats can be returned to the
trapping site 12 to 24 hours following surgery as long as they are fully
awake and do not require further medical attention. Make sure all cats are
fully conscious and alert before release. (Note
from PetPromise: PetPromise recommends a minimum of 48 hours recovery
time for males and females.)
If the cat needs further care
(longer than 48 hours) you will need to transfer her into a holding pen or
cat playpen.
Release the cat in the same place
you trapped him or her. Open the front door of the trap and pull back the
cover. If the trap has a rear door, pull the door up and off, pull off the
cover, then walk away. Do not be concerned if the cat hesitates a few
moments before leaving. He is simply reorienting himself to his
surroundings. It is not uncommon for the cat to stay away for a few days
after release; he will return eventually. Keep leaving food and water out,
he may eat when you're not around.
Never release the cat into a new
area. If the cat needs to be relocated, please use Alley Cat Allies
Relocation Guidelines. Contact us for a copy. Relocating cats without the
proper steps can endanger the cat's life. She will try to return to her old
home, and may become lost or attempt to cross major roads. Also, feral cats
form strong bonds with other cats in their colonies. Separating a cat from
her colony members and leaving her alone in a new environment will cause
stress, depression, and loneliness.
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