please help catching a feral cat - she has kittens very 6 months

jimanuel12

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
118
Purraise
11
Location
Kentucky
I have tried many many times to trap a feral cat that came to our neighborhood a couple of years ago.
she has kittens very 6 months, and we have given away, taken to the humane society and even kept one of the kittens for ourselves.
i have tried to trap her several times. i caught her once, but she was nursing kittens and i had to let her go.
she has never went back in the cage again and i cannot catch her to have her "fixed".
any suggestions as to how i can catch her?????
please help, i cannot kept giving away kittens twice a year.
 

chadsgirl374

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Messages
217
Purraise
2
Location
Plant City, FL
My feral cats are all kittens and moms. The babies are easy to catch, but for the mama's, I used carriers to trap them. I can touch and pet them though, I'm not sure what your situation is with mama cat. I first took the door off of the carrier and put the food dish right outside of the door opening for 2 nights. The third night, I put the food just inside the carrier (still without the door). The next morning, I put some more food and inched the bowl up a little further. The next evening, I put the door back on (you have to prop it open or it will scare her) and put the dish back in the same place. The next morning, the food bowl goes to the very back and the same with the evening. By evening time, mama went into the carrier and I simply closed the door.

A trap will work too, but I find them to be frightening to the cats. I only have used one once. Good luck catching mama!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

jimanuel12

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
118
Purraise
11
Location
Kentucky
Originally Posted by chadsgirl374

My feral cats are all kittens and moms. The babies are easy to catch, but for the mama's, I used carriers to trap them. I can touch and pet them though, I'm not sure what your situation is with mama cat. I first took the door off of the carrier and put the food dish right outside of the door opening for 2 nights. The third night, I put the food just inside the carrier (still without the door). The next morning, I put some more food and inched the bowl up a little further. The next evening, I put the door back on (you have to prop it open or it will scare her) and put the dish back in the same place. The next morning, the food bowl goes to the very back and the same with the evening. By evening time, mama went into the carrier and I simply closed the door.

A trap will work too, but I find them to be frightening to the cats. I only have used one once. Good luck catching mama!
thank you for the advice, i will try the carrier idea.
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
Thank you for wanting to get this cat spayed!


If you want to try the trap again, here's my advice.

1) Wash the trap with a very light chlorine solution - get the smell of cats and fear off of it.
2) Pour litter or dirt over the wires (it lifts right up through it) so kitty doesn't have to step on the wires.
3) Purchase Feliway spray and spray the trap with it.
4) Cover with trap with sticks and leaves - do not set it, leave both ends open.
5) Feed her near it at a regular time - only leave the food out for 1 - 2 hours. Get her on a schedule.
6) Move the food closer to it every couple of days. Then place it just inside the trap, so she barely even has to put her head in there. Leave it there for a few days. Move it a little further in. When she's eating the food in the trap, give it a couple of days before setting it. The day you plan to set it, use the stinkiest food you can - either KFC (no skin), or sardines, canned salmon, tuna or something.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

jimanuel12

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
118
Purraise
11
Location
Kentucky
Originally Posted by LDG

Thank you for wanting to get this cat spayed!


If you want to try the trap again, here's my advice.

1) Wash the trap with a very light chlorine solution - get the smell of cats and fear off of it.
2) Pour litter or dirt over the wires (it lifts right up through it) so kitty doesn't have to step on the wires.
3) Purchase Feliway spray and spray the trap with it.
4) Cover with trap with sticks and leaves - do not set it, leave both ends open.
5) Feed her near it at a regular time - only leave the food out for 1 - 2 hours. Get her on a schedule.
6) Move the food closer to it every couple of days. Then place it just inside the trap, so she barely even has to put her head in there. Leave it there for a few days. Move it a little further in. When she's eating the food in the trap, give it a couple of days before setting it. The day you plan to set it, use the stinkiest food you can - either KFC (no skin), or sardines, canned salmon, tuna or something.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck!
thank you very much, that is good info
 

ktlynn

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 8, 2004
Messages
1,570
Purraise
22
Location
New Jersey, USA
Try a drop trap. I used one recently to get one of my feral boys who refused to go in a traditional box (wire) trap. The drop trap worked like a charm! You will still need a box trap though, to transfer the mom cat into from the drop trap. It may be challenging to find this type of trap. Call local rescue groups and shelters to see if they have one to lend.

Info on drop traps:
http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/nyc...2/droptrap.php

It will be much easier for the vet to handle the mom cat if you bring her in a box trap. Mom cat can be sedated right through the trap and then examined - far less stressful for everyone instead of trying to grab her out of a carrier.

Thank you for caring about this kitty - best of luck!
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
Originally Posted by KTLynn

Try a drop trap. I used one recently to get one of my feral boys who refused to go in a traditional box (wire) trap. The drop trap worked like a charm! You will still need a box trap though, to transfer the mom cat into from the drop trap. It may be challenging to find this type of trap. Call local rescue groups and shelters to see if they have one to lend.

Info on drop traps:
http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/nyc...2/droptrap.php

It will be much easier for the vet to handle the mom cat if you bring her in a box trap. Mom cat can be sedated right through the trap and then examined - far less stressful for everyone instead of trying to grab her out of a carrier.

Thank you for caring about this kitty - best of luck!
I agree with this. Drop traps will catch cats where no other method works. I made one for a local humane society who tried to catch a feral mom for 3 years. They caught her on the first try with the drop trap.
 
Top