How to Trap a Feral Cat
It is estimated that there are 70 million feral cats in the United States. No matter where you live there are several nearby so there are a number of reasons why you might need to trap a feral cat. But, no matter the reason, trapping a feral cat should be done safely and in a way that minimizes the danger of harm to both you and the cat. Read on to learn how.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Humane trap
- Blanket or dark towel
- Thick gloves
- Pop-top cans of tuna, sardines or other oil packed smelly bait
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1
Decide what you are going to do with the cat after it is caught. If the cat will be taken to an animal shelter or to animal control, make arrangements ahead of time.
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2
Read the instructions carefully on how to set the trap properly. There are several humane traps on the market and each will have different requirements. This is an important step for your safety and the cat's.
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3
Begin to feed the cat regularly if you have not already been doing so. Make sure to place the food at the same time and place every day. After a few days, place the unset trap, covered by the blanket or towel, near the food so the cat becomes used to it.
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4
Bait your trap using the smelly fish. Your particular trap should have instructions on how to bait properly.
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5
Set your trap around dusk. Be sure never to leave your trap unattended. Cats can suffer hypothermia in excessive heat or drown in rain storms. An unknowing passer-by might release the cat or take the trap. Stay out of sight, but close enough to know when you have caught the animal.
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6
Cover the trap with a blanket or towel leaving the entrance to the trap exposed. This will help calm the cat when it is caught. Wear thick gloves when handling the trap.
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7
Transport the trap and cat to your predetermined destination.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Many communities have organizations or individuals involved with the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program and will be happy to help you. Check with your local Humane Society or No-Kill Cat Shelter for more information or help with a feral cat or feral cat colony.
If participating in the Trap-Neuter-Return program, this may mean keeping the cat overnight until it can be taken to the veterinarian. Be sure you have prepared a space for this.
Be sure the place where you set the trap is level. Cats are less likely to enter a wobbly trap.
Feral cats can carry disease. Do not let your pet cat outdoors if you suspect feral cats are in the area.
If you are bitten by a feral cat (or any cat), seek medical attention immediately. Animal bites are very serious.
If you trap a cat and then for some reason release it or it manages to escape, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to trap the cat again. They are intelligent and learn quickly.
Do not attempt to handle the cat yourself. The danger of bites is greatest with a frightened animal.
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Comments
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I would like to add that whatever you use for bait, it should be taken OUT of the can and placed in a small plastic lid container or just alone as thrashihg cats will injure themselves on the cans.
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I worked by a large feral cat colony for 5 years, and 5+ years later many of the same cats are still out there. There is a group that feeds, fixes, and vets them when they can be caught. We thoroughly enjoyed watching them live their lives. They had personalities and clearly enjoyed being alive, so I disagree that euthanasia is neccesary or that people should be urged to aggressively excercise that option. Sterilization definitely is a must though. It was a wild open area, so I'm sure they kept the rodent population in check. While it is a harder life than a house cat, I think they still have a right to it. If any seemed to be in distress, we would call the feral cat people for vet care. People dump them all the time. Its not their fault. Some of them did allow the food people to pet them - they were sweethearts. Obviously you want to be careful to avoid getting rabies from any wild animal, but I learned from the vet that treated them and the county they never had a documented case of it from feral cats in our city.
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lf2582
May 16, 2010
I've been involved with the Homeless Cat Project in Springfield, MA area and it is an awesome program. I caught over six cats so far (two were already "fixed" so they just updated their shots) and the cats were "fixed", returned, and are settled in the neighborhood and stay around my house (I feed them in the PM) and I don't have to worry that they will multiple! It is interesting how the same cat continues to enter the cage even after its been captured and "fixed"! But she's not so frightened and sits calmly waiting for the cage to be opened. Even though she never usually comes even close to me, she trusts me at some level. I have trouble catching two left that "know" about the cage and refuse to go near it no matter how much they love the smell of tuna and sardines. I'm looking online for ideas on how to catch them with the cage. I cannot go near them without their running... -
Antigone01
Nov 12, 2008
If it is a feral cat, due to disease, wild and extremely unlikely to ever be able to tame - it best for all involved (including other wildife, pet animals, pet cats, and humans) to trap them and have them taken to a shelter to be euthanized. It is the only humane and RESPONSIBLE thing to do in these situations. If they are just released back into the wild, they pose potentially serious harm to other pet animals, to birds, wildlife, burden on society, and harm and disease to humans. Good luck with trapping the ferals.
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Antigone01
Nov 12, 2008
If it is a feral cat, due to disease, wild and extremely unlikely to ever be able to tame - it best for all involved (including other wildife, pet animals, pet cats, and humans) to trap them and have them taken to a shelter to be euthanized. It is the only humane and RESPONSIBLE thing to do in these situations. If they are just released back into the wild, they pose potentially serious harm to other pet animals, to birds, wildlife, burden on society, and harm and disease to humans. Good luck with trapping the ferals.
