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trying to trap feral cats (and going crazy)
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months --- I'll call them Mama Cat, Daddy Cat, and Big Sister and Little Sister (their 2 female offspring). My mother feeds them every day, but we want to get them "fixed" and vaccinated for rabies. I trapped the Mama Cat and Big Sister with no problems. However, Daddy Cat and Little Sister have been elusive. (Both witnesses Mama Cat and Big Sister being trapped.) The trap I'm using is a Tru-Catch trap, which basically works on the same principle as the popular Hav-a-hart traps. I've baited it with sardines, tuna, Fancy Feast, and mackeral (even heated in the microwave to make them really smelly). I've put food half way in the trap to make a path to the food beyond the trip plate. I've put catnip & catnip treats in the trap as well. I put newspaper on the bottom so they wouldn't feel the metal cage under their paws. I also place Mama Cat in a carrier behind the trap with a towel over both so any cat wanting to get close to her would have to walk down the "tunnel" to see her better. She was in heat, but Daddy Cat wouldn't fall for that (even though he'd been chasing her around the yard the whole day before). I also thought Little Sister would want to be with Mama Cat but she too wouldn't go in either. Unbelievably, Little Sister actually went into the trap one time, tripped the plate but managed to zoom out as the gate was falling. The gate falls very fast so I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Little Sister also wandered into the living room when I put a bowl of wet food near the cage where Mama Cat and Big Sister are now recovering from being spayed. I hid behind the door and tried to slam it when Little Sister was about 10 feet inside. Yes ... she managed to get out as the front door swung shut. Daddy Cat and Little Sister are now taunting me. I stopped feeding them so they killed a squirrel and left its dismembered remains on the porch. This was particularly upsetting. We like squirrels and keep a feeder for them. As far as we know, these cats haven't killed anything before when my mom was putting out lots of food for them. I know the trap is reasonably effective. I keep catching the same poor possum in it! I'm actually laying awake at night agonizing over this situation. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm desperate to keep Little Sister from reproducing and would like to have Daddy Cat neutered just so he'll stick around (and of course not contribute to the overpopulation problem). I thought about buying a different brand trap, but I'm afraid they won't go near any trap at this point. Thanks, Sheri |
#2
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snip story of difficult to catch ferals
First, I would get a second trap and set it up as well so that if you get a possum you still have an open trap set (plus you'll have better odds of catching at least one cat.) Use bungee cords to tie the doors up on the traps. Feed these cats on a strict schedule and start by placing the food a foot away from the traps. Move the food closer to the traps by a few inches each day. Once you see the cats are comfortable eating right in front of the trap, put newspaper in the bottom to cover the trip plate and start moving the food inside the trap, again by just a few inches at a time. Once you get the food to the point where it's all the way to the back of the trap and the cats are eatng in the traps for a few days, don't feed the cats for a day, or cut their portions so they only get a very small amount. You want them to be very hungry. Remove the bungee cords, set the traps, and bait them with something you know the cats favor. You should have them that night.This will take a little time, but I have had a lot of success using this method. Mgan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#3
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snip story of difficult to catch ferals
First, I would get a second trap and set it up as well so that if you get a possum you still have an open trap set (plus you'll have better odds of catching at least one cat.) Use bungee cords to tie the doors up on the traps. Feed these cats on a strict schedule and start by placing the food a foot away from the traps. Move the food closer to the traps by a few inches each day. Once you see the cats are comfortable eating right in front of the trap, put newspaper in the bottom to cover the trip plate and start moving the food inside the trap, again by just a few inches at a time. Once you get the food to the point where it's all the way to the back of the trap and the cats are eatng in the traps for a few days, don't feed the cats for a day, or cut their portions so they only get a very small amount. You want them to be very hungry. Remove the bungee cords, set the traps, and bait them with something you know the cats favor. You should have them that night.This will take a little time, but I have had a lot of success using this method. Mgan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#4
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snip story of difficult to catch ferals
First, I would get a second trap and set it up as well so that if you get a possum you still have an open trap set (plus you'll have better odds of catching at least one cat.) Use bungee cords to tie the doors up on the traps. Feed these cats on a strict schedule and start by placing the food a foot away from the traps. Move the food closer to the traps by a few inches each day. Once you see the cats are comfortable eating right in front of the trap, put newspaper in the bottom to cover the trip plate and start moving the food inside the trap, again by just a few inches at a time. Once you get the food to the point where it's all the way to the back of the trap and the cats are eatng in the traps for a few days, don't feed the cats for a day, or cut their portions so they only get a very small amount. You want them to be very hungry. Remove the bungee cords, set the traps, and bait them with something you know the cats favor. You should have them that night.This will take a little time, but I have had a lot of success using this method. Mgan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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#6
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#7
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#8
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Trapping animals is an incredible PITA, an exercise in frustration and
patience. To think that frontiersmen sometimes made their living at it is appalling. You do get better at it with practice, though. They weren't trapping cats, so they probably had it easier, LOL. Angela (Aol.com doesn't hop!) www.rabbitadoption.org Rabbits & small animals for adoption--worldwide links, including vet referrals & other rescues, care tips, mail order products, etc. |
#9
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Trapping animals is an incredible PITA, an exercise in frustration and
patience. To think that frontiersmen sometimes made their living at it is appalling. You do get better at it with practice, though. They weren't trapping cats, so they probably had it easier, LOL. Angela (Aol.com doesn't hop!) www.rabbitadoption.org Rabbits & small animals for adoption--worldwide links, including vet referrals & other rescues, care tips, mail order products, etc. |
#10
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Trapping animals is an incredible PITA, an exercise in frustration and
patience. To think that frontiersmen sometimes made their living at it is appalling. You do get better at it with practice, though. They weren't trapping cats, so they probably had it easier, LOL. Angela (Aol.com doesn't hop!) www.rabbitadoption.org Rabbits & small animals for adoption--worldwide links, including vet referrals & other rescues, care tips, mail order products, etc. |
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