- Joined
- Oct 5, 2012
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Hi everybody, starting Wednesday night I'll be trying to trap Patches my super-smart trap savvy indoor feral cat who hasn't been to the vet since she was spayed seven years ago. Over the years I've made attempts to get her, playing with toys inside the cat carrier, tasty food in a trap for a few hours didn't work. A few years ago I did move to another state and succeeded in getting her to go voluntarily into a carrier after tricking her into an empty bathroom with a string. She stayed in that carrier for four days - it was big enough for me to put a tiny litter box in for her. Ever since she will not go into a bathroom with me in it. Now she's finally showing symptoms of possible illness - drinking more, dilute urine, low appetite these last few days, kinda twitchy in general.
So here's my plan.... I've had an unset Havahart trap out for weeks putting tempting treats in the back of it. My other kitty Big Guy marches into it all the time to eat the treats. Two weeks ago I saw her do it for the first and only time so far. Tomorrow I take Big Guy to board him at the vets so he won't interfere (he has many times before) and I'll set the trap and remove all other food and she'll have two whole days to go in there. Do you guys think it'll work? I'm worried if she's already low appetite she won't do it. Then my only option left would be to grab her and I've never wanted to do that because I'm honestly scared of getting hurt and she's damn fast. I also don't want to lose her trust - she lets me pet her very often now and trusts me more than she ever has. Geez it's going to be hard to take her in even if the trapping goes well.
So please send vibes!!!! Advice appreciated too.
Thanks everyone
Edited to add...a little history. When Patches was spayed the vet estimated she was 3 so she's 10 now. She had been an indoor cat whose humans left or lost her when they moved away - a neighbor told me the story. Based on her behavior I feel pretty sure she did not have a positive experience with her original people - she acted as if she had been abused. She has half a tail, not sure if it is natural or not. Sometimes I think the abuse is why she hasn't ever truly become handle-able in all these years. She has a very sweet soul though and a soft purr, a vivid tortie calico with bright green eyes.
So here's my plan.... I've had an unset Havahart trap out for weeks putting tempting treats in the back of it. My other kitty Big Guy marches into it all the time to eat the treats. Two weeks ago I saw her do it for the first and only time so far. Tomorrow I take Big Guy to board him at the vets so he won't interfere (he has many times before) and I'll set the trap and remove all other food and she'll have two whole days to go in there. Do you guys think it'll work? I'm worried if she's already low appetite she won't do it. Then my only option left would be to grab her and I've never wanted to do that because I'm honestly scared of getting hurt and she's damn fast. I also don't want to lose her trust - she lets me pet her very often now and trusts me more than she ever has. Geez it's going to be hard to take her in even if the trapping goes well.
So please send vibes!!!! Advice appreciated too.
Thanks everyone
Edited to add...a little history. When Patches was spayed the vet estimated she was 3 so she's 10 now. She had been an indoor cat whose humans left or lost her when they moved away - a neighbor told me the story. Based on her behavior I feel pretty sure she did not have a positive experience with her original people - she acted as if she had been abused. She has half a tail, not sure if it is natural or not. Sometimes I think the abuse is why she hasn't ever truly become handle-able in all these years. She has a very sweet soul though and a soft purr, a vivid tortie calico with bright green eyes.
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