Somehow Sunday, Mandy got out.
About her: Mandy is an all black girl, about 9 pounds. Trapped her when she was about 8 months old, she is now 12 years. Been indoor only all that time. Mandy never really tamed up; I walk down the hall pass the bedroom she is in and she will jump down and hide. Getting her for periodic vet visits is an ordeal for both of us. So approaching her outdoors is not going to happen.
I got a trap from the MSPCA yesterday (they are closed on Mondays), was ready to set it out in my backyard last night but a neighbor's outdoor male cat was enjoying my catnip plant, so I knew I'd just end up with him. 7 houses away, another neighbor said she was sitting on his stone wall watching him mow his lawn, so I set the trap in his yard - this was about an hour after he saw her. I checked the trap just after dark, nothing, so went to bed. Went down first thing this morning, I had a young gray and white who became very vocal when she saw me. Released her, she went 15 feet away and sat grooming, lol. Brought the trap back and reset it in my backyard.
Since I did TNR (which is how I got Mandy initially), I have some knowledge of how to trap; though its been at least 8 years since I did that. I'm using canned salmon as bait. I have the base of the trap covered inside so the cat won't feel the cage on her paws, and a white sheet (hot here, upper 80's to low 90's and humid) draped over it to make a cozy den. I found it interesting that the gray and white had somehow pulled that full-bed sized sheet IN to the trap with her, no clue how she managed it!
Not sure if I should have left the trap down at the other location? There are a LOT of cats which hang out 2 doors further down, at an overgrown currently uninhabited house. I have visions of trapping and releasing all of them. Repeatedly.
Prayers, fingers crossed, whatever you believe in, appreciated. Hard to focus on the other things I need to get done, knowing she is out and about on adventures.
About her: Mandy is an all black girl, about 9 pounds. Trapped her when she was about 8 months old, she is now 12 years. Been indoor only all that time. Mandy never really tamed up; I walk down the hall pass the bedroom she is in and she will jump down and hide. Getting her for periodic vet visits is an ordeal for both of us. So approaching her outdoors is not going to happen.
I got a trap from the MSPCA yesterday (they are closed on Mondays), was ready to set it out in my backyard last night but a neighbor's outdoor male cat was enjoying my catnip plant, so I knew I'd just end up with him. 7 houses away, another neighbor said she was sitting on his stone wall watching him mow his lawn, so I set the trap in his yard - this was about an hour after he saw her. I checked the trap just after dark, nothing, so went to bed. Went down first thing this morning, I had a young gray and white who became very vocal when she saw me. Released her, she went 15 feet away and sat grooming, lol. Brought the trap back and reset it in my backyard.
Since I did TNR (which is how I got Mandy initially), I have some knowledge of how to trap; though its been at least 8 years since I did that. I'm using canned salmon as bait. I have the base of the trap covered inside so the cat won't feel the cage on her paws, and a white sheet (hot here, upper 80's to low 90's and humid) draped over it to make a cozy den. I found it interesting that the gray and white had somehow pulled that full-bed sized sheet IN to the trap with her, no clue how she managed it!
Not sure if I should have left the trap down at the other location? There are a LOT of cats which hang out 2 doors further down, at an overgrown currently uninhabited house. I have visions of trapping and releasing all of them. Repeatedly.
Prayers, fingers crossed, whatever you believe in, appreciated. Hard to focus on the other things I need to get done, knowing she is out and about on adventures.