Trapping accident... so very upset.

As the weather turned yesterday (from sub-zero to above freezing), and the skunks started mating, we figured we'd better get to trapping the winter kitties ASAP. I'm not quite sure how many kitties turned up this winter, but there's at least 2, and maybe as many as 4 (5?) that need to be speutered. I'm really not sure if there are 1 or 2 (or 3 or 4 LOL) "new" tabbies about.

We started yesterday. We trapped one already TNRd. We took her in for her rabies booster.

Today... the big buff boy that's been around (and in need of neutering!) was in the trap! He was freaking, and pawing around. Gary and I grabbed our coats, I grabbed my bag, out the door we went - and no cat in the trap.

When trapping, I leave a food trail... pieces of hot tuna (just a few small pieces) near the front of the trap, a paper bowl of hot tuna (again, a few small pieces) in the middle of the trap, and a bowl of hot tuna where they have to stand on the trip plate to get at it. Our ferals are really well fed, and unless they have that trail going from in front of the entrance into the trap - they tend to stand outside the closed end of the trap and just stick paws through the wire and try to grab the bowl.

I totally forgot ( ) I do NOT put down a bowl in front of the trap. I (used to) just drop it on the ground - because of the potential for what happened this morning. When eating from the bowl, it gets pushed forward - and it then blocked the trap from closing all the way.

So now how traumatized is he, and will he ever go in the trap again? I don't think he's injured, because we saw no blood on the ground (and it's still ice with snow under it, so it would show up) ... but it also looked like one if his ears had frost bite on it, and he needs to get to a vet.

I really screwed up, and at Buff Boy's expense.

He may be frightened, and perhaps will very trap-shy for a while, but you still are doing the best thing by getting the little kitties out, and as many females as possible.

for you!

Oh Laurie, I feel for you but give it time and he may show up again, ready for that tuna! These things happen ans we can't get it perfect all the time. Good luck witht he continuing TNR.

Keep trying, he's probably just frightened for awhile. He'll come back. I'm sorry it didn't work the first time, but he'll be back he's hungry he knows there's food there.

Can you use a drop trap ? Not only saving time but emotional angst since it is something the cat goes under, not into, so few cats are afraid of it. No one is "too smart" for that. You will most likely be able to snare every kitty that shows up.

After you get a few more of them trapped, strap the trap open for a week or 2 and feed them in the trap. Hopefully the big buff boy will show up and regain comfort in that trap again.

I understand your fear, although I have had cats go inside a trap repeatedly in the past. I'll just keep my fingers crossed for you and send vibes!

Thank you for the reassuring words and sentiments. I've really been upset with myself all day - first for upsetting the boy, second, for potentially hurting him, and third, for being such an IDIOT and a kitty that was in a trap is now NOT being neutered and medically treated because I screwed up.

Originally Posted by elayman

Can you use a drop trap ? Not only saving time but emotional angst since it is something the cat goes under, not into, so few cats are afraid of it. No one is "too smart" for that. You will most likely be able to snare every kitty that shows up.

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A drop trap is (to me) just a different type of emotional angst, not a lack thereof. And unfortunately, a lot more snow and ice will have to melt before we could use one. The traditional trap fits neatly between the RV and the deck. There isn't room for a drop trap there.

And the cats we need to trap are invisible if we're visible. The ones that aren't aren't the ones that need to be trapped. The majority of the cats are TNRd already.

Awww, Laurie, I'm so sorry this happened and that Buff Boy was traumatized. I suspect he'll come back around and you'll have another chance. Sending lots of vibes that's the case.

Oh Sweetie!!! How emotionally upsetting for you. But I can assure you, I have heard of this happening before and the cats always recover from the scary experience and end up getting trapped after they calm down. I have actually had this experience at a barn once. Two cats were going in the trap at the same time. I WAS FREAKING OUT!!! One was walking over the trip plate and the other one was right under the trap door. And snap, I thought it killed the cat, but somehow it backed out because the other one freaked and pushed the door up just slightly enough for the one that was stuck to be freed. It ran off!!! All in one piece, thank God. Of course, the cat in the trap was completely terrified now. I toweled the trap.

I actually trapped that same cat about five days later, safely. It took two days of it sitting by the trap looking at the food, and on the third day started going in and eating the bait droppings, and on the fifth day, he walked all the way in with no worries, and trapped he was, safely!!!!! Surprisingly, cats do get over these things.

I am sure that Buff Boy will be alright! Please don't be hard on yourself, we live and learn and yes, sometimes at our cats expense (but in this case, he is JUST FINE!!!!! just a little scared). You are doing more good than bad by getting all of these cats TNRd. When we are trapping so many cats there is bound to be some bumps in the road along the way. Sleep easy tonight! You got the one girl done, good for you. Buff Boy will go in again, it is alright

Lauren - that's terrifying! Two previously TNRd cats were both eating the bait today too - I didn't want either of them trapped, so I tapped on the window LOL. But I was wondering what would happen if that scenario took place!

Well, I guess the positive side to this is... we've been trapping for nearly 10 years, and this is the first time we've had this kind of accident.

And I bet there are a lot of stories like these mishaps involving traps!!!

In December when I was trapping Magilla, pixie, Avery, yogi and Dixie, at one point one kitten was in eating and another one was standing in the back of the trap right under where the door would snap shut. I was hoping it would take a few steps forward and then i would have two!!! At the same time i had the flashback of the barn trapping mishap, so I had to go outside and just started talking and they both ran out. I had to get that kitten out of the way of the trap door slamming down on her back, as surely it would have seriously injured that kitten or worse, break her back. Thank God the trap door didn't even trip so they were not afraid of the trap but just wondering why I came out and interupted their lunch. Anyway, I am sure this happens a lot when trapping a colony with one going in all the way and another at the opening standing and waiting it's turn to eat, or like what happened to you today with the bowl getting pushed right under where the door is to shut. You certainly are not the first to have this happen and not the last either . Don't worry about Buffy he is a tough boy and will be back

Laurie,

When you can, go to the feed store and buy a large bag of dry cat food -40 pounds or better- a bag big enough the trap can easily slide in. Store the food in a barrel for safekeeping, set the trap and slide it into the now empty bag. Load your trap with hot tuna (sprinkle a tiny and i mean tiny bit of catnip in tuna)

The bag will hide the trap, create a man-cave for the kitty and also protect the cat from the elements. He won't go into the trap for quite awhile if it is just left out in the open with nothing hiding it. So you have to get a bit tricky.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention KFC. Original formula with skin and bones removed.

We'll use the tricks when we get to that point. Right now, there's no problem getting them in there (knock wood, so far). Yesterday's issue was keeping him in there with my bowl-in-the-way-of-the-trap-door-closing-all-the-way blooper.

This AM we had to take Tuxie to the vet (different vet than where we take TNR kitties), and tomorrow we've got a Doc appt, so trapping will resume later today or Friday morning.

Originally Posted by hissy

Laurie,

When you can, go to the feed store and buy a large bag of dry cat food -40 pounds or better- a bag big enough the trap can easily slide in. Store the food in a barrel for safekeeping, set the trap and slide it into the now empty bag. Load your trap with hot tuna (sprinkle a tiny and i mean tiny bit of catnip in tuna)

The bag will hide the trap, create a man-cave for the kitty and also protect the cat from the elements. He won't go into the trap for quite awhile if it is just left out in the open with nothing hiding it. So you have to get a bit tricky.

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I REALLY like the big empty cat bag idea, Hissy!! Great for many reasons too, acts as a wind barrier, rain barrier, etc. And would smell great and make the trap feel like a little cave/den.

Laurie, If you want, over the next two days, you could just leave the trap outside and just put the food around the outside of the trap so they just get used to seeing it there and eating around it. You could somehow (not sure if there is locking device on traps????) lock the trap open and feed in the trap for two days and when you are ready to have it shut, just unlock it at that point. This way the cats will just feel so comfortable going in and eating. But..... not sure if there is a way to lock a trap, if not, I just left mine outside and fed right next to the trap when I couldn't watch it. Just a thought.....

Good luck tomorrow with the DR. appt

We're not having any trouble (yet) trapping them! (Knock wood! ) No, my only problem was the hare-brained move of using a bowl that got in the way of the trap closing yesterday morning.

Actually, as long as they're going in there, I like being able to see if someone's in the trap. We just look out the window, because it's right out our front door. Rather convenient if we're able to do this without needing to cover the trap. We'll go that route if we need to, though we usually just cut down a cardboard box and draped it over it.

In fact, we just got back from running another one to the vet. OK - it was one already TNRd, but at least they're all getting their rabies boosters.

And I forgot to tell everyone - I saw Buff Boy today. He looks just fine! SIGH OF RELIEF.

Today was a GREAT DAY! We trapped a cat not previously TNR'd in the AM - dropped "it" off on the way to a doc appt. Almost as soon as we got home, we trapped ANOTHER one. Then as soon as we got home from dropping that one off, we trapped a THIRD cat!

The vet called - they were all SPAYED. Yes - Each one of them was FEMALE! One brown tabby, two gray tabbies. My eyes are really bad, and it's hard for me to tell if they're ear-tipped unless they eat in plain view (as opposed to under the deck) - and because these were tabbies, I wasn't sure how many there were. Now we know.

And the B&W kitty that's been around since the insanely cold weather - definitely female. She was yowling in heat today. I think we have just her and Buff Boy to go. I'm pretty sure the rest are "ours" and already TNR'd.

Originally Posted by Feralvr

You could somehow (not sure if there is locking device on traps????) lock the trap open and feed in the trap for two days and when you are ready to have it shut, just unlock it at that point. This way the cats will just feel so comfortable going in and eating. But..... not sure if there is a way to lock a trap, if not, I just left mine outside and fed right next to the trap when I couldn't watch it.

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The "lock" I used was twist ties or plastic straps. They work remarkably well for keeping the trap door open while you are reacclimating them to feeding them in a trap. I start by putting the food near the trap (with the door strapped open), then slowly move the food into the trap.

So you had a wonderful Happy Birthday

Originally Posted by LDG

Today was a GREAT DAY! We trapped a cat not previously TNR'd in the AM - dropped "it" off on the way to a doc appt. Almost as soon as we got home, we trapped ANOTHER one.

Then as soon as we got home from dropping that one off, we trapped a THIRD cat!

The vet called - they were all SPAYED. Yes - Each one of them was FEMALE!

One brown tabby, two gray tabbies. My eyes are really bad, and it's hard for me to tell if they're ear-tipped unless they eat in plain view (as opposed to under the deck) - and because these were tabbies, I wasn't sure how many there were. Now we know.

And the B&W kitty that's been around since the insanely cold weather - definitely female. She was yowling in heat today. I think we have just her and Buff Boy to go.

I'm pretty sure the rest are "ours" and already TNR'd.

Click to expand...

What can I say other than WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO

Unbelievable, and on your birthday!! Someone certainly blessed you with a fabulous b-day. What a great, great thing you have done today and those three females would have had kittens that would have been born this Spring, you saved ALOT lives today!!! WOW, this is a BIG success!!! Congratz!!! and GOOD JOB!!!