Cat Trap Instructions
Live-trapping feral cats---domestic cats that are too wild to be handled---is used to capture the animals for veterinarian care, transportation to a shelter or any other purpose. These live traps resemble a wire cage with one open end. A door closes on this end when the animal steps on a pressure plate inside the trap. The animal is contained in the trap until it can be transported to its proper destination.
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Instructions
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Place the trap on the ground or other flat surface. Do not place the trap on shelves or other high places where it may fall if an angry cat thrashes around.
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Cover the wire on the floor of the cage with sand, dirt or newspaper, so that the floor feels less artificial to the cat as it walks into the trap.
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Cock the trap door according to manufacturer's instructions. Place a paper plate with wet canned cat food bait in the back of the trap. Fish-based cat food is most effective, the smellier the better.
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Cover the trap with rags or other materials. Check the trap at least once per day and preferably more often, as the animal held in the live trap will not have access to water. Check the trap often to make sure it does not become dehydrated.
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Tips & Warnings
If there are several feral cats in the area you may wish to use a fake trap. This is simply a wire box with an open wind where food is placed. If only the real trap is used the cats soon learn to identify the wire box with capture. By having some fake traps the cats might be confused and continue to enter the live trap.
Spread some small pieces of dry cat food around the mouth of the trap to draw the cat's interest.
Handle occupied traps with care. The cats can be quite irritated and scratch at anything they can reach. Male cats may also spray urine at handlers. Keep the trap covered while handling.
Raccoons are occasionally trapped in live traps meant for cats. Raccoons are strong enough to damage traps. If raccoons and skunks are a present in the area, live-trapping at night is not recommended.
References
- Photo Credit cats image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
