How to Set a Feral Cats Trap
Life is hard for a feral cat. They must hunt for prey, avoid cars and predators, find shelter from the cold and be subjected to countless parasites and diseases. Trapping feral cats and taking them to a local animal shelter is a humane choice, as some shelters have programs organized to trap, neuter and release feral cats. This prevents the cats from breeding and controls their population. Unlike strays, which have been let go, feral cats are wild from birth and are, therefore, unsuitable as pets.
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Things You'll Need
- Cat food
- Dish of water
- Cat or raccoon trap
- Newspaper
- Can of tuna
- Large cloth or towel
Instructions
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Put out food and water for the feral cats for at least a week before you plan to catch them. Take the food and water out on a regular basis to establish a schedule.
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Check how many cats typically come when you put out the food, then purchase enough traps to have one trap per cat. Buy towels or cloths big enough to cover the traps.
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Choose a day before you plan to set your traps and skip feeding the cats for at least 24 hours. Continue to provide drinking water.
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Line the bottom of the traps with newspaper to increase the cats comfort and hide the wire flooring.
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Take about a quarter teaspoon of tuna or other bait and place it near the entrance of the trap. Place another quarter teaspoon in the middle, on the plate that trips the trap shut, and a half or full teaspoon at the very back of the trap to entice the cat all the way in. Alternately, place about a quarter teaspoon near the entrance and another teaspoon underneath the pan that shuts the trap.
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Carry the traps very quietly to the normal feeding site and place them along walls or fences, making sure they're stable. Don't leave traps out in the open as cats may be nervous about entering them. When placing traps close together, leave them facing in varying directions.
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Leave the area. The cats are less likely to enter the traps when you are nearby. Check back frequently, never leaving the traps alone for more than two hours. When you see that you've caught a cat, cover the trap with a towel or cloth to calm the feral animal. When your traps are full, or more than two hours have passed, load your traps into your vehicle and take them to a vet or animal shelter.
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Tips & Warnings
Check your local laws and ordinances to see if there are any special rules regarding the capture of feral cats.
Make arrangements to have the cats spayed or neutered at a local veterinarian or animal shelter prior to trapping.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Little Kitty (2) image by assamusic from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Feral cats taken to shelters are almost always destroyed. To get a feral cat spayed or neutered go to a clinic that offers that service. To find these, seek out local groups doing TNR (trap-neuter-return).
