So, I have a family of feral cats in my backyard, that include mother cat, 2 kittens, and possibly a father cat. I have been trying to catch them without any success
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I've seem some smart stray kitties. They will hold the trap door up with their butts while eating the food and then walk out of the trap.
I've found using larger traps helps. If you can find larger raccoon traps or even dog traps. That way the cat HAS to go all the way into the trap it helps.
I actually think the trap I have is for a raccoon. The cats aren't holding it open, they've somehow managed to eat food without standing on the trip device. :/
Maybe contact http://www.animalperson.net/ - she's been talking a lot about trapping feral cats recently, so maybe she might have a contact in the area or.. something.
Aww man, now I wish I was with my father (he lives in Hall where I was raised) because my father and I would probably help you in the capture situation. We both like taking odd jobs together.
Thank you! I have a coworker, whose roommate may be able to help me, but I'm just trying to reach as many people as possible so I can try to find some help. I'm also concerned about the cats having FIV, since I already have two cats. Hopefully once I can get help, I'll be able to figure out logistics from there.
If you can get them immediately to the vet for testing perhaps they can board them? Or do you have anyone who has a non-cat household who could quarantine them for you until they get the all clear?
I don't know much about live trapping. If you send me your email I could see if my coordinator (I work with a rescue) knows any tricks. I know we've had to live trap escapees before. ;)
You could also contact Alley Cat Allies and see if they can give you some help.
I've heard that sometimes the animals don't weight enough to spring the trap so it is suggested to put a light weight on the pad. I think I've heard this more in relation to live trapping released domestic rats, though, but I could be getting my stories all mixed up!
"I've heard that sometimes the animals don't weight enough to spring the trap so it is suggested to put a light weight on the pad. I think I've heard this more in relation to live trapping released domestic rats, though, but I could be getting my stories all mixed up!"
It's not a bad idea. OP's going to want that trap on a hair-trigger. Then again, I remember the time where I went to pick up the traps that I'd set the night before and had FOUR kittens in one trap, so sometimes having it not spring shut right away is good.
Ok, we had a wily old matriarch at the feral colony I used to manage. We considered drugging the food, but if you do that, you have to follow her until she passes out, and that can take 20-40 minutes, so it is not a good option. The way we finally got her was to cover the trap snugly with a cloth cover so that she couldn't reach through the bars to pull the food out, baiting it with the cheapest tuna flavor cat food we could find, which is the smelliest, most irresistable bait ever. What you want to do is prop the trap open, and just feed the cats in the trap for about a week like that. Then bait it and set it for real. Don't feed anywhere but in the trap while you are doing this.
The kittens I would guess are maybe 4 months old? They definitely are not nursing anymore - they've been eating the tuna I've been regularly feeding them with.
Ok. 4 months is really pushing it on the tameable age. I've never had particularly good luck with ones much older than 2 months.
But not nursing is good, you can't spay a nursing mama. If you have to, set a feeding station up in a box that is open on one end like the trap for a while to coax them into eating in a box. You do want to move on this- if the babies are weaned, she'll be pregnant again very soon.
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I've found using larger traps helps. If you can find larger raccoon traps or even dog traps. That way the cat HAS to go all the way into the trap it helps.
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I did catch one cat with a net once, but it wasn't pretty. And it almost ate me. You could try that. Good luck.
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Good luck. :/
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I'll try asking him today, though.
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I don't know much about live trapping.
If you send me your email I could see if my coordinator (I work with a rescue) knows any tricks. I know we've had to live trap escapees before. ;)
You could also contact Alley Cat Allies and see if they can give you some help.
I've heard that sometimes the animals don't weight enough to spring the trap so it is suggested to put a light weight on the pad. I think I've heard this more in relation to live trapping released domestic rats, though, but I could be getting my stories all mixed up!
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It's not a bad idea. OP's going to want that trap on a hair-trigger. Then again, I remember the time where I went to pick up the traps that I'd set the night before and had FOUR kittens in one trap, so sometimes having it not spring shut right away is good.
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have you tried contacting alley cat allies? they're really great about helping with feral cats and TNR.
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How old are the kittens? Are they still nursing?
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The kittens I would guess are maybe 4 months old? They definitely are not nursing anymore - they've been eating the tuna I've been regularly feeding them with.
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But not nursing is good, you can't spay a nursing mama. If you have to, set a feeding station up in a box that is open on one end like the trap for a while to coax them into eating in a box. You do want to move on this- if the babies are weaned, she'll be pregnant again very soon.
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