Since I am looking at 8 weeks now for one avoidant cat, I was wondering how long it took some other people to catch trap-savvy or otherwise frustrating ferals. If you never did catch yours, you're welcome to weigh in on how long you tried, too.
Here below -30 is not very rare at winter, but at least she did settle with heated and insulated cat box I had made, so at least some cover from weather, but when water started to freeze in bowl while transporting it to near her, it started to be bit problematic.I will try not to lose heart after two little months, JTbo! It is cold here too; we recently had spells of below zero temperatures, and I worry about all the outdoor cats in the winter.
That is something that has happened to me too. My trap has a hook that holds hatch open position, when trip plate is pushed down, hook should move so that hatch closes as hook is no longer holding it up in the air.My most difficult one is ongoing, my indoor feral Patches. I haven't tried to trap her continuously but I've made quite a few efforts over about four years! Just a couple weeks ago I succeeded - she actually went in the trap and stood on the trip plate and ate the food - and the trap didn't spring. Soooo frustrated! This is why I've now bought a new trap.
I'm not sure if my trap even has a brand, it was bought from Saiturin Mekka in Seinäjoki, Finland and I have not seen similar ever since, probably it is some Chinese brand as it was so cheap, but it does work just fine once you learn how to use it.Whaler, how do they know? Evil little masterminds.
Trudy1, thank you for your encouragement. I think I can get them in time, though now the race is on to catch them before the skunks and raccoons get all my cat food. I try to distract them away from the cat traps with other foods but my budget is very tight.
Bastfriend, one of mine did that too one time when I rigged the trap wrong and the hook slipped out or something. That's one cat I only see every few days, is unpredictable, and I really want to catch her! The next day, when I made sure I set the trap correctly, it caught a starling (a bird that weighs only around 3 oz or 80g). So frustrating! I would have had that cat!
Those are heroic efforts to get Patches-kitty in there. Vibes to you for your eventual success, though you deserve success yesterday and then some!
Bastfriend and JTbo, what brands of traps are you describing? My (borrowed) Hav-a-hart 1079 always looks like the hook is just barely holding the door adequately open.
Whaler, how do they know? Evil little masterminds.