Please Help Me Catch Stray Kitten

Hello all,

Please Help Me Catch Stray Kitten or lure him inside...

I spent time trying to find information before starting a new thread, but I have limited computer time, so decided to post.

We have 3 cats, two older and one we adopted a year ago in November because somebody dumped it in our development in the freezing cold. Well, there is a new kitten in the neighborhood that my husband stated feeding. We decided that 4 isn't much more than 3, so we have been wanting to bring it inside to give it warmth, food, and a happy forever home, as the temps in Missouri are in the teens overnight and he seems to be living down a drain area. Unfortunately, he is very skittish of people and loud noises, so we haven't been able to catch him. He will come for food at night, so I have been getting dressed in cold weather garb and going out to coax him to the food with me there. I was very patient, but at a point I thought I could grab him, he slipped thru my hands. Now he is real skittish of me, will come up close but not close enough for me to grab him. And I would rather not have to try to grab him, but believe me, it is freezing sitting outside at 10 at night. If it was summer, I would just leave the door open  till he came inside for food, but I can't with it being so cold. Any ideas?? I mean, he could freeze at night. So my latest effort is to put food in a cat carrier for a couple of nights, and he/she (and maybe some other cats) have eaten the food. Last night, I went out, and he went half way in the carrier for the food, but then heard something and ran off. I feel like I am catching a cold continuing to go outside, and missing spending time with my family for Christmas, but I hate to see him out in the cold.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

~~Shari

Luring him with food is the way to go.  I used a crate and got mine used to eating in it.  Took awhile because he was so skittish.  But with patience, it can be done.  In the meantime, maybe you can set up a tote or crate and put straw in it so he'll have a warm place to sleep.  This may help him get used to the idea of being near humans.

Just take thing slowly.  He may be feral (although I doubt it if he's let you touch him).  He's probably been on his own for a bit and is leary of humans.  You may never know what another human has done to make him afraid.  Please have patience - that's the key.

And thank you so much for helping him AND welcome to TCS!

I haven't actually touched him yet. I had lured him up to the cat bowl with me sitting close, figuring sooner or later he would come to me. He never did, but at least he ate the food when I was sitting there. Then my husband said that if I was getting him that close . . . to just reach out and grab him. I wanted to lure him in slowly and get him used to me over time, but because it is so cold out, I thought I would give it a try. But when I tried, he slipped away from me and now is leery of getting as close as he had before. Then for 2 days I put a carry crate out with food all the way back toward the far end. He ate it, but other cats may have eaten it as well. So then I sat out close and he actually went into the crate and took a couple bites with me sitting near him, but then got scared and ran off. He has gotten close to the crate again, but never went in far enough for me to close the door before he could get away. Now he won't come near me or the crate when I am out there, and because I gave up and left the food out a couple of nights, he has learned to wait for me to leave and the food will still be there. So my next idea, was to only have the crate with food out when I am out there too, but I have to say it is really hard for me to deprive him of food when I know he is hungry. My last attempt out of 5 tonight was to let the plain bowl sit out far away from me. He finally came to eat it, and I just wanted him to get used to eating with me sitting there, he ate half, but then I moved and he ran away again. It is so frustrating when all I want to do is help him!!!! So I brought the crate and food back in and will try again later tonight. It's killing me that he is out in the cold, but at least it is not raining or snowing...  

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Shari HELLO and Welcome to the site .. AWWWWW This kitten is definitely a feral kitten. And I do have empathy for you going in and out of the cold - Last December I spend three days going in and out of five degree temps' to bait a trap to catch a family of feral's... Anyway. YOu could tie a rope to the door of the crate and run it through the slat's on the side of the crate - at least fifteen to twenty feet long. When the kitten goes into the crate to eat - pull that rope HARD - and reel in the crate to you and latch the door. This will be very, very traumatic for the kitten but it must be done. OR you could leave out a Havahart trap. You can borrow one from you local Trap/Neuter/Return Organization, shelter or Animal control. With a Havahart trap you can watch from the comfort's of the indoors by looking out the window. Use warmed up KFC Chicken, Sardines or Tuna to get the kitten tempted to go into the crate immediately.

Make sure you have a small room all set up for this kitten to be confined too. Once you get the kitten trapped we can assist you further. You will need to get the kitten to the vet right away for sterilization, FeLK/FIV test, vaccines and worming. You can also contact the TNR organization - they might be able to help you with the cost of getting the initial neutering, shots, etc. done..... :cross:....

Much luck and please let us know how this goes. A big for caring and saving this poor baby....

Since he is going into the crate to eat, seems like a havahart trap is your best bet. You and your husband are angels for caring for this little baby.

When you do get him in, remember to keep him separated from your other cats until he has been to the vet and tested for diseases.

There are many members here skilled in trapping and rescuing, so you will get lots of help, including what to set up for him outside to help keep him warm until you can get him in.

Welcome to TCS and please keep us posted.

Welcome to the TCS!

Adding to my collegues advices:

Semiferal or shy stray?  As now you should think semiferal.  Although cats allowed to go outside are quite often shy. and being homeless this shyness gets reinforced.  Anyway, you can surely foster him with time. 

Catching by grabbing is dangerous: 1. he will see you as his enemy. 2. At the moment of catching, they tend to defend themselves vigoruously. They may scratch you severely...  So unless you are sure he is a stray - a havahart trap, or a rigged carrier is the best bet.

In catching in the cold, you can use a heating pad (mentioned in recent treads). Both for yourself, so you dont freeze. And in the trap, so the warm trap gets a bait in itself.

When catched, take him preferably at once to the vet. At home, prepare a quarantine room, and let him be there 7-21 days, depending on.

If your residents are fully healthy, fully vaccinated, used to go outside, you probably doesnt need to overdo this with quarantine. But if not - take it slowly and safely. Better safe than sorry.

Tx a lot for caring!

Good luck!  *vibes*