trapping advice

catmom5

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My feral boy, Tommy, is very street smart and stealth. Right now I have the food out next to the unset, open trap, and in the area where he ate all winter where the shelters are, but he refuses to go anywhere near it. I wondered if there are other cat smells on the trap - since it's a loaner from the humane society - or if he's simply not hungry or something else. Someone suggested placing the trap inside a large dog food bag, and it will take me a bit to find one of those. In the meantime, I was hoping he'd get used to eating by the trap so I could gradually move the food into it. Should I put the trap into the garage and see if he will eat there without a trap at all?

Lucy went into the trap the second time the food was in it (the first time it was set) but I don't think she is a true feral and she was pregnant to boot, so I'm guessing she was very hungry. But Tommy is not going to be nearly so cooperative, I fear!

And . . . still no sign of Lucy and it's been 2 weeks tomorrow. I just want to know that she's okay!

catmom5
 

feralvr

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More vibes for Lucy :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: I am sorry you have not seen her YET... I am hopeful that she will soon return :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:

I did suggest the dog food bag :lol3: But you could cover the trap with a towel as well. Just make it dark and secure looking. I would just leave the trap outside and keep putting the food IN the trap or just in front of the trap. Tommy will eat when he is hungry enough. I had a male tomcat that was very trap shy and trap smart as well. It took about a month to catch him. I just kept putting the food inside of the trap, in the back. I figured if he was hungry enough, he would go in and eat. He finally did. It was hard on me NOT to put the food outside the trap as I am sure he was hungry. BUT my priority was to get him OR another cat trapped. Also, my feral cat's are all used to me feeding them at a certain time each day and that really helps with trapping.

You could put the trap away until you get Tommy on a regular feeding schedule - same thing, same time everyday... and then put the trap out again after he is used to coming to you at the same each day for food. Then start putting the food ONLY in the trap. BUT I think I would just leave the trap outside and continue to feed directly in front of the trap only. He must learn that the trap it just another part of the scenery. :lol3: you know what I mean. That way he will just get desensitized to it. :nod: GOOD LUCK :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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