suggestions requested about different ways to train cats to use a trap as a feeding station.

have been unable to trap the female cat for TNR. DECIDED TO TRY TO USE TRAP AS A TEMORARY FEEDING STATION. am removing  trap door and tieing open trap door. covering trap with black trash bag. 

putting trap in bushes feeding station and only leaving food in trap. not leaving food in other feeding station in bushes. leaving fresh water.put second trap in wooded feeding station.leaving food in trap.adding one cup food to the other dishes in the wooded area. would like some suggestions if there is a better way of  useing trap as a feeding station.

I'd suggest not covering the trap with a plastic bag, as the rustling every time the wind blows will upset her. If you can get a cardboard box that is bigger than the trap slide the trap into that to keep the rain off. Does the trap open at both ends? If she has a choice of escape routes and can see her way out of the trap she's more likely to go in. Once she is comfortable with eating in there you could close one end, then give her time to get used to that before setting the trap.

Other than that, have you thought about using a drop trap?

Let me know  if I replied to your message correctly. the traps are in a box  and both ends are open. the trash bag is to protect from rain. should I remove all food from wooded area except the trap?

Is the trash bag secured so that it doesn't blow around in the wind? I found anything that blows around and rustles would scare the cats off. I used to have my trap inside a cardboard box with trash bags taped all around it, so that it was water proof and wind proof/quiet.


Sorry, it's not a very good picture. The yellow stuff outside the box is plastic trash bags.

Yes, I'd remove the rest of the food and just feed her in the trap. Is she the only one there or are other ferals coming to eat too?

That picture is identical to the two my daughter put together except she used black trash bags.  We do need to tape down the bags. There are about ten feral cats that feed at the two feeders at different times of the day.  Not all show up in the morning at feeding time.  I am not allowed to feed the cats any longer myself . I drop my daughter off at the site and park around the corner. am allowed to put out traps. ever since the new director at the nursing home took over ,I am no longer allowed to feed them (after feeding them for ten years myself).

do not have any thing covering the bottom of the trap except the box that it is in.