Catching Cats (already inside)

So we have some cats that are about 7-8 months old that we fed as kittens. We were able to shut the door and get them inside permanently as of about 2 weeks ago. We can even pet 2 of them (there are 3). Today we tried to throw a blanket over them so we can get them to the vet to get them fixed. They went totally ballistic and were jumping around so much they could have hurt themselves, so we stopped out effort.

Problem is we are moving in 3 weeks and we really need to have a way to capture them both to get them fixed and to take them to the new place.

We are willing to do just about anything... hire a professional to come over and capture them, etc.

Any ideas?

Lose the blanket. It always stresses them out. I've lived with feral born cats for the last 20 years and some of them do not like to be caught. But I've learned some things that help over the years.

You need a carrier per cat. Choose a room where there are no beds or other things that they can get under and place the carriers out in the open in that room. I like to use a small bedroom sized room - a bathroom, unless it is large, will scare them. If you don't have a room like this, clear one out or set it up (I've moved mattresses off the frames and put them on the floor). Before you start to catch them, open the doors to the carrier and put it so the opening is facing your ceiling.

On the day where you need to catch them, herd them out of all of the other rooms in your home and close the doors to those rooms. By herding, I mean to very calmly get them to leave the room. I do that by standing behind them and if they don't exit, I'll bend over and lightly clap my hands. That usually gets them moving away from you. Once they are out of the rooms where they can hide, herd them towards the room with the carriers. If you don't get all the cats at once, don't worry, it's probably better to do 1 at a time.

Once in the room, shut that door behind you. Get on the floor and slowly approach the cat, talking in a soothing voice. Grab hold of them by their scruff - not a hard hold, just enough to get them to calm down (mom cats pick up their young by the scruff and this often causes them to go limp). Then pick up the cat with your other hand (DO NOT PICK THEM UP BY THE SCRUFF), and place them into an open carrier. They will flail their arms and legs to avoid this, but firmly put them inside and close the door quickly. Then return the carrier gently to the floor. Move that carrier into a bathroom or other room so that the other cats don't sense their anxiety.

Thanks for the advice. I am not sure how easy it will be to actually get a hand on their scruff, but I will try, and also prepare the room.

We are also considering feeding them in their carriers and closing them that way if possible.

It's kind of stressing us out because we move in 3 weeks.

Another word of advice, if they're very skittish - don't corner them. If you can, trick them to you with food, string, or a toy. Corning a cat just spooks it more and could get you bitten.

hmmm, would feeding them in a carrier draw them inside? (oh, I just read your post that you are thinking about it), but, for a couple of days before the vet visit, I'd keep the door open and put their food inside so they become accustomed to the carrier and not fearful of it ???

then when it comes time to put them into the carrier maybe they won't be so unsettled?? - maybe, also, putting a blanket, or some sort of covering, over the carrier will help keep them calm for the trip to the vets, and/or moving???

momofmany is an expert here, I'm just kind of brainstorming ideas taken from trapping a feral (and she was one of the members that helped me with doing that) ...

and,

try not to stress out - three weeks is in the future - take this experience a day at a time and relax ... it will all come together nicely, why? because YOU care.

I keep my carriers out all the time and my three will get inside to nap, so, when I do have to take them to the vet they aren't in a new place, but a place of safety. Just my 2¢ worth here.

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

hmmm, would feeding them in a carrier draw them inside? (oh, I just read your post that you are thinking about it), but, for a couple of days before the vet visit, I'd keep the door open and put their food inside so they become accustomed to the carrier and not fearful of it ???

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Absolutely do that! Thank you, I was thinking of the times when I have to catch mine and after 13 years, some of them don't fall for that trick anymore!

I can't really add to the good advice here, but I can share my experience. The first time I had to get Holland in a carrier was her initial vet visit, about a week after I adopted her (she was a very skittish kitten). It took me 20 minutes to get her in; she hid, I was stressed, and when I finally got a hand on her she scratched me up pretty good. I did have to scruff her to get her into the carrier.

Now I try to pick her up when she's sleepy, or get her into a room where she can't hide. And most importantly, I stay calm - they can definitely sense your stress. I keep her carrier open in my dining room at all times, and she will just go in there and sit sometimes.

It has definitely gotten easier as she's gotten to trust me. I also give her treats once I've gotten her into the carrier. Good luck with your little ones!!

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

hmmm, would feeding them in a carrier draw them inside? (oh, I just read your post that you are thinking about it), but, for a couple of days before the vet visit, I'd keep the door open and put their food inside so they become accustomed to the carrier and not fearful of it ???

Click to expand...

That is exactly what we did to catch Bugsy. When we moved in to our new house, the previous owners we not able to catch their 2 outdoor semi-feral kitties in time before the move. So we offered to do our best to help them out. Momma-Kitty was pretty friendly and she let me pick her up and put her in a carrier and we delivered her to her owners the same week. But not Bugsy. So what I did was leave the carrier outside with the food dish inside in the back of the carrier, then I would go outside and sit out there when he was eating so he got used to me being around. Finally, when he was no longer afraid of me approaching, I shut the door of the carrier, and we delivered Bugsy to his family.

So yes, I would say that putting the food inside the carrier is pretty effective, just be sure there's not food elsewhere to munch on or they won't go in. And its much easier on you and on the cat than trying to catch them and put them in.

Mama ripped Paul up pretty good when he lifted her for her spay so I had to scruff her to get her in the carrier when she had her rectal prolapse, it took me 3 days from the first time we noticed something was wrong and we were having sub zero windchills and it was really cold temp wise as well, tough cat. She was only 5 lbs so just scruffing her didn't hurt and I was fast. Even with the carrier covered with a towel she was growling and hissing, she does not like the carrier.

I did find out from the vet that she loved being petted(which I already knew, just not when she has been in a cage or carrier) and she had no problem being held. She will let me pick her up but she prefers to not be held.

The others are easier, Attitude and Nuts will run but they are easy enough to catch.

Lose the blanket, it scares them. If some stranger was trying to throw a blanket over me I'd be scared as well.

Taryn

We ended up getting some pretty good sized dog cages, and had them in one room with no furniture on the last day. It ended up being pretty easy to get them in there, because the cages were the only hiding place.

Unfortunately, one kitty was especially difficult and we had some pain medicine left over from a spay, and we gave it to him in some tuna juice in the bathroom. He got a little woozy and I was able to put him into a smaller carrier.

We just had to be patient, and not try to force the situation. If they didn't get inside on an attempt, come back and try again in a few minutes, but avoid letting them get uptight.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

I'm glad it all worked out. I hope you didn't give the little fellow too much pain medication...hope he was okay afterwards.

It's good that you did the 'caging' in a calm way...that was best for everyone. Hope the move went well!