Proper humane trap size for adult cats

Hi, I'm looking to purchase a humane trap to capture a feral cat in order to transport it to the vet but I have no idea of the proper dimensions of such a trap.

I found a 23cm X 25cm X 60cm (9¹⁄₁₆in X 9²⁷⁄₃₂in X 23⁵⁄₈in) trap online that looks affordable (pic here). Is this good enough for a relatively large cat or should I consider another?

Thanks  

To me that seems a little small.  The one I first used was 31.9 x 10.6 x 12.6 inches (Havaheart 1089) and my other trap is 30x9x11  This trap is the TruCatch  30 LTD. 

If it were me, I would want one larger.  The size you are looking at might be more for rabbits or skunks.  See if you can find one the next size up.

ShadowsRescue said:

 
To me that seems a little small.  The one I first used was 31.9 x 10.6 x 12.6 inches (Havaheart 1089) and my other trap is 30x9011  This trap is the TruCatch  30 LTD. 

If it were me, I would want one larger.  The size you are looking at might be more for rabbits or skunks.  See if you can find one the next size up.

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I can find a 32x32x102cm (12.59x12.59x40.15in) for twice the money, a bit on the high price range but still acceptable (pic here). It's supposed to be for Foxes/Dogs/Badgers but should also be able hold cats since the spacing between the bars looks acceptably small.

What do you think?

While there are many affordable solutions in EU and UK stores purchasing from outside the country is impossible due to capital restrictions on the Greek economy

Do you know how long the cat will have to remain in the trap?  I think I would go with the larger one.  Here in the US there is one that is inbetween the small one you first showed and the large one.  The ones used for cats are usually used for groundhogs, raccoons and opossums.

I would definitely go larger than smaller. 

There is an intermediate size but I can only find it in other (more expensive) stores and thus it costs more than the large one right above

As for how long the can will remain in the trap, that's not an easy question to answer. The plan is as follows:

Trap is set up and checked every 30 minutes or so until the cat is trapped. As soon as the cat is trapped, I'll notify the vet and have them see the kitty at his earliest convenience. While we're waiting for the vet, the trap will be transported in a shady well protected area (possibly indoors or in an external storage room to be secure). Food and water will be sneaked inside and the trap will be covered in an old towel to give the cat some sense of security.

As soon as the cat is taken to the vet he will be deflead, vaccinated, dewormed, neutered and perhaps have eye surgery (his eye is hurt, see my previous posts for background). Unless the vet wishes to keep the cat overnight I'll take him home with me and put him in my room. I plan to keep him in the trap for two more days, enough for some healing to take place. Of course the holding period is subject to vet advice, I'll do as he suggests.

Then I'll let him out and keep feeding him daily as I already do. I hope to turn him into a housecat eventually since he is rather sweet and never swats or bites.

Sounds like a very good plan.  Be very careful when giving the cat food/water in the trap.  I use a divider and have a trap that has a rear door and front door.  I can then use the divider to block the cat and open the rear to place food inside.  You don't want to ever open the trap with the cat inside.  It is just way too easy for the cat to bolt.  I was able to use a coffee filter that I placed some wet food on and squeezed through the bars.  I also was able to drop dry food inside.  As for water, I used a lid from a plastic container.  I squeezed it through the bars and made sure it was flat.  I then used an eye dropper to squirt water onto the lid. 

If you want this cat to be an inside kitty, now is your chance.  Have a room ready for him where he can have a room of his own that is cat proofed. It is very difficult to retrap a cat.  Once you have him, it is your best opportunity to try and socialize him.  Can you pet him or handle him?

ShadowsRescue said:

 
Sounds like a very good plan.  Be very careful when giving the cat food/water in the trap.  I use a divider and have a trap that has a rear door and front door.  I can then use the divider to block the cat and open the rear to place food inside.  You don't want to ever open the trap with the cat inside.  It is just way too easy for the cat to bolt.  I was able to use a coffee filter that I placed some wet food on and squeezed through the bars.  I also was able to drop dry food inside.  As for water, I used a lid from a plastic container.  I squeezed it through the bars and made sure it was flat.  I then used an eye dropper to squirt water onto the lid. 

If you want this cat to be an inside kitty, now is your chance.  Have a room ready for him where he can have a room of his own that is cat proofed. It is very difficult to retrap a cat.  Once you have him, it is your best opportunity to try and socialize him.  Can you pet him or handle him?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips, this larger trap has two doors so it should be easier to sneak him food. Don't worry, I know that as soon as he finds space he'll try to bolt so I'll push a flat bowl inside and thus the opening will never be wider than a couple of centimeters (about an inch).

I can pet him all the way to the end of his tail while he eats but he won't come for petting unless I have food and he's hungry. He also won't let me handle him, as soon as I put my hand on his side he moves sideways. Same for face/cheeks, he won't let me rub them and moves his face away. He's very kind though, not once did he bite, scratch or swiped at me.