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We are trying to catch feral cats so that they can be neutered and spayed. They are hard to catch even with a humane cage. Any advice on how to lure them in. We are feeding and taking care of them.
Did you first leave the trap propped open and put the food in it, so the kitties got used to the idea of eating inside the trap? I had to trap 2 a few months ago, and I did what has always worked for me. I tied the door open and put the food just inside the entrance. Once the cats got used to that, I gradually moved the food farther and farther back, until it was at the back of the trap. Finally, I set the trap with the door no longer tied open and that worked. Although as I said, the one guy was harder to catch, especially after he saw the other cat get trapped in it.
I use very fishy food to attract them. Salmon, sardines, etc. Also poured some clam juice on it. That said, the boy that was hard to trap turned out to like dry food!! Who knew. My local animal control person told me that sometimes they hang a feather dangling in the back of the cage, and that attracts the cat's natural predator instincts.
Patience is definitely key. Good luck, and thank you for caring for the ferals! I am sure others will be along with their hints, tips and advice.
While I've only trapped one feral cat, I've read that some cats won't step on the cage wire, and that adding a couple of layers of newspaper can help. Of course, make sure it doesn't touch the trap mechanism.
Thanks for the information. We have a Havahart cage and another type of cage that we rented from the vet. We were concerned that the cat's tail would be caught when the door shut closed. The Havahart cage did catch a possum that a wildlife person came and released back to the wild. Wrong catch. I am going to try with the Havahart cage again. This cat is smart and it knows that we are trying to get her. I have sardines to put in the cage.
Thanks for the information. We have a Havahart cage and another type of cage that we rented from the vet. We were concerned that the cat's tail would be caught when the door shut closed. The Havahart cage did catch a possum that a wildlife person came and released back to the wild. Wrong catch. I am going to try with the Havahart cage again. This cat is smart and it knows that we are trying to get her. I have sardines to put in the cage.
I always withhold food the night before I am going to trap them, so they are good and hungry and the trap starts to look more attractive, esp. if the food is good 'n stinky. (fishy, that is) I always have to tell my neighbor not to feed them that night, otherwise, they will just mooch off of him!
I remember doing the end-zone dance when I caught one wily calico girl I tried to catch for 2 summers! Man, she was wild. Vet techs said she was the wildest feral they had ever handled. But she stopped having kittens!
I put a small dish of wet food at the end of the trap and then I put a small trail of treats leading from the outside right up to the wet food. That way, they start eating a treat outside, move more inside to eat the next one, and progressively get further into the trap before they realize it. When they do get to the wet food the door slams shut.
If you just put food at the end of the trap they may be reluctant to go in, but the trail of treats makes them forget that they are going inside. No cat can resist treats, even feral cats.
To do it successfully you need to commit to a few days. Leave the trap out with normal food in the open end. Put a blanket or towel to disguise the mechanism but you aren't going to set the mechanism for a few days. Then start putting in food that is mushy, something they have to lick to eat. Something they can't grab and run away with to enjoy outside the trap. Get them accustomed to the trap and the food for a few days. Move it to back of the trap. Then when they are comfortable inside the trap wait a day or two to feed them and put the mushy food in the back of the trap and set the mechanism with the towel and walk away.
BAM! Trapped.
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