Hours adjusted at work to take her. Last night I took trap out of box and tried it! I have her coming nightly now for food. Any last minute advice for me since this is my first trapping try alone!
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Spay appointment made
- Thread starter bonepicker
- Start Date
BEST of luck with your capture. I usually set out the trap for a few days with door tied up to get the feral going in and out to eat and desensitizing them to the trap. BUT you already have that appointment. So do not feed her the night before so that she is hungry in the morning and will go right in. I have also used very large dog food kibble bags to slide the trap inside to make it more cozy and it smells quite inviting to them as well. If no pet food bag big enough then use a towel (with no laundry scent) to drape over the trap and the back side. Lay some leaves, grass along the bottom of the trap and drizzle some tuna juice in front and inside the trap on those leaves, grass that leads to the special food. Once you have her trapped, she may become quite fierce. Trashing about for a few minutes. They are very quick to settle down though once completely covered in the safety of the garage. She will want to remain covered and hiding inside that trap. Make sure you lay an old towel and newspaper in the car/truck under the trap in case she losses her urine/bowels out of fear on the drive to the vet. Although, this only happens rarely that I know of.
GOOD LUCK and thank you for doing this.
You are saving lives. 
GOOD LUCK and thank you for doing this.
You are saving lives.
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- #3
She comes at night so I thought I would catch her Thursday evening 07/30. I made appointment for spay rabies, flea, deworming for Friday am. I did not think about feeding from unset trap first, I have a week to try that! Thanks for suggestionBEST of luck with your capture. I usually set out the trap for a few days with door tied up to get the feral going in and out to eat and desensitizing them to the trap. BUT you already have that appointment. So do not feed her the night before so that she is hungry in the morning and will go right in. I have also used very large dog food kibble bags to slide the trap inside to make it more cozy and it smells quite inviting to them as well. If no pet food bag big enough then use a towel (with no laundry scent) to drape over the trap and the back side. Lay some leaves, grass along the bottom of the trap and drizzle some tuna juice in front and inside the trap on those leaves, grass that leads to the special food. Once you have her trapped, she may become quite fierce. Trashing about for a few minutes. They are very quick to settle down though once completely covered in the safety of the garage. She will want to remain covered and hiding inside that trap. Make sure you lay an old towel and newspaper in the car/truck under the trap in case she losses her urine/bowels out of fear on the drive to the vet. Although, this only happens rarely that I know
GOOD LUCK and thank you for doing this.
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- #4
I was going to put kitty litter under cage while it sits in garage all night, will that smell scare her, if she is covered?
If I have to keep one of them in a cage over night I put the cage up on a couple of bricks and put a plastic sheet and some cardboard under it. Easier to clean up than kitty litter. If you line the floor of the cage with straw it will be more comfortable for her to stand on and any liquid will soak straight through.
By the way, have you weighed your trap? It's easier for the vet to weigh her in the trap so they know how much anaesthetic to use. If you write the weight of the empty trap somewhere on it in permanent marker your vet will thank you.
Good luck with the trapping.
By the way, have you weighed your trap? It's easier for the vet to weigh her in the trap so they know how much anaesthetic to use. If you write the weight of the empty trap somewhere on it in permanent marker your vet will thank you.
Good luck with the trapping.
Tidy cat ironically makes a throw away litter tray that fits and slides perfectly inside a Hav-a-hart trap. I couldn't believe it when I found it at the grocery store. It is only a few dollars. That works great for overnight care for ferals in a trap. Water bowl in other side. But no food.
It can be a bit messy so I have also used the straw that Norachan mentioned above. When I do use the disposable litter tray, the cats usually sit in the tray and don't move from that spot so not too much of a mess is made from the litter scatter. Good luck!!!!!
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- #7
Thank you I will weigh the trap.
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- #8
I put food in trap and trap in bag, she has been sitting at the entrance for 30 minutes, what is she waiting for? Nightfall?
This is excellent progress and please be patient... :bigthumb: The fact that she is sitting near the trap considering going in is good. This can take hours, sometimes. You will know if she has eventually gone in if that food is gone UNLESS you leave the food out overnight. And I would not do that. Make sure she understands that there is a time limit on the food in that trap or you will end up attracting everyone else to the trap - raccoons, opossums, etc. That way she will come right on time each night this week because she will be hungry!!! Do you have the trap door securely tied up? I use those zip ties. That way in the next days she will become more and more comfortable about going in and out. I have even had a feral cat NAP just inside of a trap facing outward. :lol3: Poor things, though, I always feel bad about tricking them this way but in all honesty, I think it does help them become a bit more acclimated to the trap and they will settle down more rapidly once trapped and covered up in a quiet place till car ride to vet.
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- #10
My father said move food close to entrance, which I did and she saw me. It was like she associated food with my voice speaking to her. She is now eating, I will move it back in trap a little more each day. She went in and turned around to face outward, so no one could sneak up on her. She is precious! I will pick up trap after two hours while still light out. If I put crate on garage until I put out tomorrow and my indoor cat puts her smell on it will it scare feral kitty tomorrow?
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No, I don't think so. I always scrub my trap clean after I've used it to TNR as I've heard that cats can smell the previous cat's fear, but if your indoor cat is just checking the trap out and rubbing her face on it I don't think it will bother your feral cat.
You know... :lol3:, I have heard this too, but have never cleaned my traps unless the feral cat has messed. :shame: I do hose them from time to time but have never worried about other cat smells in or on them. Feral cats are already predisposed to expecting the smell of many wild animals outside and many other stray/feral cats which change on a daily basis. I think scrubbing them down and making them smell unnatural is more of a deterrent and cause for alarm/suspicion than leaving them dirty. If anything, I think the smell may entice them to investigate further, especially if they are more aggressive and dominant.
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Excellent advice from your father! This is always a good way to get the cats closer and closer to the traps by way of food bowl maneuvering. As well - as the crate trap method. That's AWESOME that she went in and turned around!! :bigthumb: Keeping up the vibes!!!!!!!!!!! :cross:
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- #13
Wish me luck everyone tonight is d day! Spay appointment tomorrow, say a prayer I catch her in trap.
Happy trapping, hope it all goes well.
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- #15
Thanks NC I am nervousHappy trapping, hope it all goes well.
Just thinking of you this morning and dropping in to send off those vibes for success. I know that nervous feeling VERY well. In fact, I think we all know it. I hope she is a very, very willing participant. GOOD LUCK and will be waiting for your update. :cross: :cross:
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- #17
Thanks feralvr she is such a little thing, I hope she triggers trap. Do you recommend putting food under cage rather than in it so she is not with food all night, no food after midnight for surgery. I did not know if they finish food or freak out when trap springs shut
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Thinking of you and hoping all goes well. Try to stay calm. I know how hard it is and how nerve wracking it can be.
The first feral I trapped, I had been feeding in the trap for a week. He was very used to the trap. He came every morning so I waited until morning to trap him. I set the trap and waited. Out he came and in he went. But the trap didn't go off. I freaked out. I went back out and of course scared the cat away and had to try it again. I had to wait another 30 minutes for him to come back. He went right in and it worked this time. I then quickly went out to cover the trap to keep him calm. It instantly calmed him.
So be sure you test the trap so that you know for sure it will go off. I just reached in through the sides with the handle of a wooden spoon.
Keep us updated.
The first feral I trapped, I had been feeding in the trap for a week. He was very used to the trap. He came every morning so I waited until morning to trap him. I set the trap and waited. Out he came and in he went. But the trap didn't go off. I freaked out. I went back out and of course scared the cat away and had to try it again. I had to wait another 30 minutes for him to come back. He went right in and it worked this time. I then quickly went out to cover the trap to keep him calm. It instantly calmed him.
So be sure you test the trap so that you know for sure it will go off. I just reached in through the sides with the handle of a wooden spoon.
Keep us updated.
I only put something small - something REALLY REALLY stinky - such as sardines, tuna or even warmed up KFC chicken. Just to get her to the back of the trap and step on the trigger plate. They will make a bit of a mess if you put too much food in the back. No big deal - it will fall through too once you pick up the trap. A little mess is worth this outcome, for sure. :bigthumb:
I also like ShadowsRescue will test the trap but not outside IF the cat is around. The noise may scare them off for sure. I also set the trigger clip quite loosely - meaning not all the way tightly pushed in - maybe half way. One of my traps is a bit older and a bit rusty and sometimes I wonder if that clip will stick.
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- #20
I can't believe it, first time in 2 weeks she has not shown up! Almost like she knows. Had trouble setting trap after I had it tied open for a week. I doubt she will show tonight, I will take trap down when sun sets. Ugh
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