How to Make Cat Traps

Feral cat

Cats are one of the most common house pets in the world. Unfortunately, many cats run away or are left by their owners to fend for themselves. When cats become feral, they can quickly become a nuisance, killing birds and stealing food from domesticated house pets. Additionally, these feral cats can spread disease as well as reproduce, quickly adding to the already immense cat population. If you are looking to catch a feral cat that has become a problem for your home, this simple cat trap will help.

Things You'll Need

• Dog kennel with sliding door
• 1" by 2" board
• Old sheet
• Scissors
• Cat food

Instructions

1. Locate a small dog kennel with a sliding door. You may already have a dog kennel lying around or have a friend who owns one. If you can not find a dog kennel, one can be purchased from your local pet store or online.

2. Measure the dimensions of the dog kennel and cut the old sheet to slightly larger than your measurements. The sheet does not have to be cut perfectly, but it should stretch slightly beyond the four corners of the kennel.

3. Tie the sheet to three corners of the kennel two links up from the bottom, leaving one of the corners near the door loose. There should be at least four inches of space between the sheet and the kennel floor. Pull the corners of the sheet through the metal holes and knot the sheet around the cage where the sides meet. Make sure the knot does not loosen when you tug it to ensure it will hold the cat's weight.

4. Cut the 1" by 2" piece of wood slightly less than the height of the door opening. Place the piece of wood in the door opening so that it props the sliding door open.

5. Tie the loose end of the sheet to the piece of wood. When the cat enters the kennel and jumps on the sheet it will cause the wood to pull inward and the door will drop, trapping the cat inside

6. Place the trap outdoors in the area where the cat has been seen and place some cat food inside. You can also place some food outside the cat trap to draw the animal inside.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a variety of cat foods and meats to draw the cat to the trap. Regular cat food may not work. Check the cat trap daily to avoid the cat being trapped inside for too long.

• Don't use a cat trap in extreme temperatures. If it is too hot or too cold, the cat could die before you get to it. Use caution when handling feral cats. They can carry diseases and will be scared, which could cause you to get scratched or bitten.

References

• Caring for Feral Cats

Resources

• Feral Cat Coalition