Advice on catching a possibly pregnant stray who won't go into a live trap?

xkitty loverx

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Hi everyone! This lovely lady I have affectionately been calling Pretty Girl since I started feeding her several months ago. She is friendly & for the past 2-3 weeks has been letting me pet her, although she is still very skittish. I have tried to trap her before with no luck. Recently (probably about the time she has been letting me pet her) she is starting to look suspiciously round. Since I believe she may be pregnant I would really like to catch her before she has babies. The problem is she will NOT go in the live trap. I've tried it covered/uncovered, have baited it with regular canned cat food, tuna, mackeral...she won't go in.
Any tips, advice on how to either get her to go in the trap or possibly a different way to trap her? I have caught many cats before & she is the only one who has given me a hard time! :(
 

shadowsrescue

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You could start by trying to feed her first in the trap with it not set.  Start by placing the food right outside the trap and then move it just inside and then move it further back each day until it's in the back.  Once she eats inside, then you can set it.  Make sure the bottom of the trap is covered with newspaper or puppy pee pads.  This helps to hide the trip plate.

If this doesn't work, you can look into a drop trap.  Search the internet and youtube for how to use one.
 

ondine

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If a drop trap is not possible, you can rig up a trap with a regular dog crate.  Start by making that her feeding station.  Do not feed her anywhere else.

Once she has gotten used to eating in the crate, tie a length of twine to the door and loop it through the top of the crate.  Walk away with the length of twine in your hand (you will need as long a length as it takes to get far enough away from the crate for her to go inside it).

Leaving the door open, the next time she goes in, slowly pull the twine until the door closes.  You may need an accomplice hiding close to the crate who can run up and secure the door before she bolts.

Good luck.  She look like a tri-color and they are usually quire smart and independant.  Fingers crossed you get her caught in time.
 
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