Question about trapping

I live in a suburb of Little Rock, Arkansas and I currently care for 6 feral cats in addition to my indoor babies.  This picture is of a cat we named Apache and I only got such a good pic by using my zoom lens.  Apache came from a litter of only 2 cats (the other kitten didn't survive) from a very smal framed mother cat who has since dissappeared.  Apache got pregnant when she was less than one year old and she also had 2 kittens.  The kittens are about 8 months old now and I worry that they too will soon be pregnant.  They all come every night to be fed but I can't get near any of them without them running off.  I have been seeing signs in our neighborhood recently about affordable spaying and neutering but I have no idea how to go about catching them.  I have heard about traps that can be used but I have no idea about the cost or safety of them.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I hate to see this cycle of unwanted, uncared for cats continue.  I already have 5 indoor cats of my own so I can't take them in but I would feel better just knowing that they were fixed.

Welcome to TCS! Thank you for sharing your story. I awarded you the Friend of Ferals badge because you originally posted in the badge thread.  I think you're the first member here to ever get a badge award with the first post .

Since you raised important questions in your post, I moved it into its own thread so you can get more replies.

Thank you so much for caring.  You're absolutely right:  cats will breed like, well, rabbits, if not spayed/neutered.  Cats are healthier, happier, when fixed.

Alley Cat Allies' website has a lot of information about feral cats how to trap them.

http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=285

Also I noticed that FuRR based in Little Rock has a TNR program.  http://www.teamfurr.org/index.shtml

You can often borrow humane traps from low cost spay/neuter programs and/or the local animal control/SPCA.

Traps are very safe; I TNRd 35 cats in a 2.5 year period, and no harm came to the cat (or me!)

If you want to see what one looks like, click on http://www.havahart.com/?gclid=COTy4IDQl7QCFQyk4Aod4R4AVQ  (Havahart are the most commonly used type of humane traps.)

As a first step, you should fed the cats at a regular time so they get use to you and the timing of food. 

Once you're done some reading and research, write/post back with specific questions.  Lots of learned/experienced people on this forum. 

Keep us updated with your plans and makings!  You are on the right way!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

I found these two listings at
http://www.warmhearts.org/links

these organizations often have volunteer trappers and/or traps that can be borrowed/rented. Call them and ask for more info on how to proceed with getting ur colony happy and healthy


Feline Rescue and Rehome – FURR (Little Rock)
*CATS ONLY* Monthly low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic at the
Little Rock Animal Village, 4500 Kramer in Little Rock
$25, reservations required. Only clinic accepting feral cats.
www.teamfurr.org
Contact: 501-661-0956,
[email protected]




North Little Rock Animal Shelter / Friends of Animals
(North Little Rock)
NLR has an income-based Spay/Neuter program to help
for NLR residents to sterilize their pets.
www.petfinder.org/shelters/nlrshelter.html
Contact: Friends of Animals, 501-791-8577