It's never taken us three days to trap a feral cat for the first time. Yes, the weather has been working against us (freezing cold and snowing or sleeting). But on Christmas Eve, Tommy sat on the deck while I fed the cats. That was totally new. His face, back leg, and tail are covered in something - looks like maybe grease? One side of his face looks puffy. We got out the binoculars inside to see if we could get a better look at it, and it appears he has a scratch on his face (maybe that abscessed?). His eyes are really runny, so clearly a URI. His teeth were... "chattering." Not like excited, and not like cold - like a neurological kind of problem? Pain? And he was drooling.
So we have an injured, sick feral that needs to be sterilized. We've tried all our tricks - other than creating a "trap cave," which is what we'll be doing tomorrow if he's here. We'll be baiting it with KFC. But the trap is clean (no smell of fear or other cats), sprayed with Feliway and catnip, the bottom has been covered, we've tried our best baits - until everything was covered with snow/ice yesterday, we disguised it completely in leaves (In fact, because they were kind of frozen in clumps, we created a "leaf cave" for the trap). We've taped the mirror to the back of the thing (that was this morning) - and instead of lunging at the intruder (and he used to be pretty aggressive), he turned and ran.
The hot sardines clearly attract him - but he'll just circle the thing and sniff and sniff and sniff. He's watched several of the other cats enter the trap to eat the bait trail we left. (They're all smart enough not to step on the trip plate to get that last bit in the bowl at the far end of the trap) - so he's seen cats go in it, eat, and leave unharmed.
:dk:
He's been eating on the deck recently, so tomorrow (hopefully he'll be here) we'll try putting the trap inside a large garbage bag - all the sprays - leave the cardboard in the center down, and use the KFC. Unfortunately, we'll have to feed everyone else first so they'll disperse, otherwise they'll eat the bait trail and hang around because of the smell, and I think this deters Tommy as well.
He's made it through at least one, and I believe two winters. He showed up this summer - but was just never here as a regular visitor until just recently. And now it's because he's in need.... but we need him in the trap to get him the vet care!
Come on, Tommy - please take the bait! We just want to get you fixed up in ALL ways. You'll be released back here to the life and territory you know!!!!!! :rub:
So we have an injured, sick feral that needs to be sterilized. We've tried all our tricks - other than creating a "trap cave," which is what we'll be doing tomorrow if he's here. We'll be baiting it with KFC. But the trap is clean (no smell of fear or other cats), sprayed with Feliway and catnip, the bottom has been covered, we've tried our best baits - until everything was covered with snow/ice yesterday, we disguised it completely in leaves (In fact, because they were kind of frozen in clumps, we created a "leaf cave" for the trap). We've taped the mirror to the back of the thing (that was this morning) - and instead of lunging at the intruder (and he used to be pretty aggressive), he turned and ran.
The hot sardines clearly attract him - but he'll just circle the thing and sniff and sniff and sniff. He's watched several of the other cats enter the trap to eat the bait trail we left. (They're all smart enough not to step on the trip plate to get that last bit in the bowl at the far end of the trap) - so he's seen cats go in it, eat, and leave unharmed.
:dk:
He's been eating on the deck recently, so tomorrow (hopefully he'll be here) we'll try putting the trap inside a large garbage bag - all the sprays - leave the cardboard in the center down, and use the KFC. Unfortunately, we'll have to feed everyone else first so they'll disperse, otherwise they'll eat the bait trail and hang around because of the smell, and I think this deters Tommy as well.
He's made it through at least one, and I believe two winters. He showed up this summer - but was just never here as a regular visitor until just recently. And now it's because he's in need.... but we need him in the trap to get him the vet care!
Come on, Tommy - please take the bait! We just want to get you fixed up in ALL ways. You'll be released back here to the life and territory you know!!!!!! :rub:
