having problems trapping

It's at a 24hrs walmart. Cute little b&w kitty. Can't tell if he's just a stray or feral. He responds when I open cans of food but he waits until I back off before he goes up to eat.

I've been trying for a couple weeks to catch him. First it's raining and now? there's always people up there when I feed him/try to trap. It's 1am too lol I just want to scream. I've had to cancel and reschedule his vet appointment so much I just stopped rescheduling it until I have him.

Any tips? He just won't come out if people are around. I'm really shy and anxiety ridden so if I cna avoid talking to anyone that would be super as well

Do you actually have a trap, or are you trying to pick him up and put him in a carrier?

If you don't have a humane trap, see if you can borrow one from the humane society or vet. If he responds to canned food, then it should be easy to bait it with food.

I usually trap by hand. But since I can't be outside walmart socializing with him, I've only tried the trap.

I've been setting it up by the carts (all the carts, where they're kept by the building) because that's where he seems to go for shelter. I set the food there too. I don't feed him the night before and then I use tuna and drip it all over the newspaper (like soak it lol) and then place a tiny bit here and there leading into the cage and the a bunch in the cage. It's got a twoel over it so he can't pull it through.

I've been sitting really quiet in the bus stop. He doesn't seem to mind that its just the people hanging out by the doors talking. He's really paranoid about them.

First, try original recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken - it seems to be irresitable.

If that doesn't work, you may have to talk to management about setting the trap up so it is always there - so he gets used to going into the trap for food and so it becomes part of the landscape for him. Do you have a friend who can do the talking? Maybe contact a rescue group and have one of them help?

It is hard to believe there are people at Walmart at 1 am but there are! But once the trap becomes part of his landscape and the place where he knows there is food, he willl eventually go in. Maybe someone from Walmart can help keep the area "people free" at certain times.

The trap has to be set up so it doesn't spring until you are sure he goes into it to eat. Then when you're ready, you can set it to trap him.

You are doing all the right things . Some cats are smarter than others and he sounds smart enough that it's going take a little time and trouble to outsmart him. Work with management - maybe you can scope workers out to see who are sympathetic first and then talk to the "big wigs" once you have some support.

Has the trap been washed? Use a very light bleach solution and get the smell of other cats and fear off of it, if it hasn't been washed. And spray it with Feliway - make it smell friendly. I do think having it be "part of the environment" is a great idea. Tape a note to the top of it saying "Trapping feral cat, this trap is monitored" or some such. Include your cell number if you're comfortable with that.

...and maybe lay some newspaper down over the wires so he doesn't have to walk on the wires. It'll still trip.

You've received some good advice, so I don't have anything. Just wanted to echo the suggestions about trying KFC and lining the bottom of the trap with newspaper. I've had a couple of hard to trap cats for which nothing seemed to work, then got them using KFC. I always line the the traps with newspaper too and it seems to make a big difference. I usually trap somebody, even if it's not the particular kitty I'm after.

Good luck with your efforts. I'll be sending lots of vibes. That little kitty is lucky to have you looking out for him/her.

Trapped cats, even friendlies, will freak out and panic when trapped--consequently the trapper really doesn't know the cat's true disposition. For safety purposes most trappers will keep the cat in the trap until they can either transfer it to a holding cage (a tricky business for beginners) or until it can be taken to be spayed/neutered (I usually trap the night before a clinic so the cat spends a minimal amount of time in the trap, but others may not have that option).

Even in a trap, nature takes its course and cats pee and poop. When you get the cat to a vet or a clinic, the trap (and often the cat) will need to be cleaned up--it's easier if there are soiled newspapers that can just be tossed away.

When trapping under breezy conditions, use small rocks to hold the newspaper down--a cat won't want to enter a trap with a lot of paper blowing around....

Another good method which has worked for me:

*put newspaper along the bottom of the trap but then put whatever the ground cover where the trap is into the trap (in this case I'd guess some gravel, maybe some leaves?) so it still feels like the ground. Put food in the back of the trap. Preferably something stinky like sardines/tuna/KFC. Put most of the food in the back but have pieces leading all the way into the trap.

Cover the trap with a dark sheet (or large towel if it fits all the way over) so only the door is not covered. That way the cat can't see out once trapped and it helps if you end up having to trap in that area again...the cats don't associate the trap with a scared cat. Plus cats are much calmer if it is dark in whatever they are in.

***During the whole process of getting the trap set wear gloves or anything so that your hands are covered. That way the trap doesn't smell like human.

I've gotten a few cats that way. The only one I failed with was Marvin the little escape artist. The trap for some reason didn't latch all the way so he went in and ate all the food and left - that went on for two weeks. Finally caught him by just picking him up...not the brightest kitten on the face of the planet but now he LOVES people.

I agree with lining the trap with paper, and covering it with a sheet.

Here is what I do:

1.) line the trap with newspaper, but not so thick that the trip plate is weighted down.
2.) put smelly food in the back and make sure that seafood is in oil, not water - the oil will hold the smell better. Make a trail going into the trap. Small bits of food with a mother load in the back.
3.) Good bait to use includes tuna, sardines in tomato and mackerel. Oh, and smoked trout. I have had luck with KFC only once, the smell dissapates pretty quickly.

I think trying to trap by the carts will be tricky, because there will be a lot of people there getting carts and returning them. You should set up a time that you feed every day, before or after opening, for about two weeks. Then skip a feeding, (unless it's a very young kitten, because they are always hungry), and then go set your trap.

Hope this helps.

thanks everyone!

I thought he was dead! I didn't see him for like 2wks and found a black cat hit on the road, so I assumed it was him.

Nope, I went up there last night to grab some TP and found him running around! So I gave him some can food and he let me get within 3 ft.

I'm going back up there with some KFC, a large carrier, and my BF. I'm going to see if I can't just scruff him and toss him in the carrier. He kept one eye on me the whole time I was inching up to him, so I didn't make an attempt, I just got as close as he'd let me and talked to him while he ate.

He's gotten really fat!! lol I think everyones been feeding him, he's bigger than my 15lb cat, he's a got a HUGE belly on him lol Looks really dirty though.

Anywho, wish me luck, if this works I'll have him tonight. I just never had luck with any of these traps, I think I just do better catching by hand.

Sending vibes that you catch him this time!