Need suggestions for trapping very smart, hard to trap, cat

Hi!

Late last year, I trapped 2 feral cats, Rocky and his mama, Minnow.
They lived in my basement for a couple of months until I trapped Rocky again a few weeks ago and got him neutered, now he is upstairs in the house and playing with my other cats and enjoying the good life. He lets me pet him and is adjusting well.

I have been trying to re-trap Minnow and she is not having it.
I have tried leaving her food in the trap for days and it didn't work, she refused to eat.

I have tried not feeding her for a couple of days, then putting the food in the trap (smelly tuna fish even!) and she didn't fall for it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I even tried to grab her, but where she is at in my basement, makes it impossible for me to get a good grip, besides, I gave her a good scare and I feel bad and I don't want her (or me) to get hurt and I don't want to scare her again.

I am going to try to with hold food again, I feel guilty doing that, but I can think of no other way.

Help!

I did read about a cat hunter who used old cheese as bait (beginning to rotten, not dry out)... None of the ferals could resist the smell...

Rather tragic, but as long as we do get a good point of the story - why not attempt with it??

You can always try a drop trap. You will need help, though. We use one for our toughest/trap savy cases.

Drop traps are made with plastic mesh, wrapped around a box frame. The trap is set up by using a stick with a string attached to prop up one side. Because the cat isn't going "into" a trap, they work well with hard-to-trap cats. The cat walks under the trap, which is sprung by someone who pulls the string, which pulls the stick, which releases the trap.

They take two or three people because the cats can escape and because you need to manuever the cat into a carrier for transport.

I found instructions on the 'Net - can't remember where now - and built one. Maybe there's more info elsewhere on the site?

I used a large dog trap made into a modified drop trap. The trap is large and roomy. I put cardboard down and then cover it lightly with leaves or straw from the ground where they hang out.

I get a stick long enough to prop the trap door open and string tied to stick long enough for me to hide.

Feed her in there for several days until she gets used to it. Then wait and when she goes in, pull the string to drop the trap door.

I have had good luck using this with those that become trap smart.

Good luck!

Some things I've read have said I kentucky fried chicken leg works every time! I've haven't had to resort to that yet though.

Kscatlady, you are correct!
I read yesterday about the KFC leg and didn't believe it.
But my husband wanted chicken for dinner so it was a perfect time for me to try it and it worked!

I hung a chicken leg in the back of the trap
I tore some meat off of the leg and left it outside the trap, checked on her later and she ate it.
I tore more off, put it in the trap and she ate it.

So I left her alone all night and I checked on her this morning and she was in the trap!!!

I could not believe it!

Thank you Col. Sanders!!!!

She is at the shelter getting fixed and is coming home today to be reunited with her son! I am so excited!!!

Originally Posted by redsmurf

Kscatlady, you are correct!
I read yesterday about the KFC leg and didn't believe it.
But my husband wanted chicken for dinner so it was a perfect time for me to try it and it worked!

I hung a chicken leg in the back of the trap
I tore some meat off of the leg and left it outside the trap, checked on her later and she ate it.
I tore more off, put it in the trap and she ate it.

So I left her alone all night and I checked on her this morning and she was in the trap!!!

I could not believe it!

Thank you Col. Sanders!!!!

She is at the shelter getting fixed and is coming home today to be reunited with her son! I am so excited!!!

Click to expand...

Awesome! I'll have to remember that when I have a difficult one to catch!