Trapping Do’s & Don’ts

The General Process

We are Not professionals! The below information is a basic guideline to follow when trapping feral cats.

Check Clinic Availability – Determine which vet clinics provide vet services to stray/feral community cats in your area. Take note of drop-off and pick-up times for each clinic. Schedule appointments at the clinic. DO NOT TRAP A CAT WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT (unless it is sick or injured and needs immediate care).

Trapping Supplies – Gather supplies such as newspaper/cardboard/puppy pads to line the bottom of the trap, old towels/blankets/sheets to cover the trap, and food to use as bait in the trap.  Fragrant food options are best: tuna, soft cat food, mackerel, sardines (in water), salmon are a few options. Having a strong pear of leather work gloves should also be considered.

Identify a Holding/Recovery Space – If you trap the night before your appointment, keep the cat in the trap in a dry, secure and temperature controlled location away from other animals.  This location will also be where the cat recovers overnight after being returned after surgery.  Bathrooms, laundry rooms, clean basement or garages that are not too hot or too cold work well.

Prepare Your Vehicle – Use waterproof material such as a tarp, shower curtain liner, or garbage bag to line your vehicles back seat. Place an old towel or puppy pad on top of the waterproof material to soak up any urine that could happen while the cat is riding in the car.

TRAP & RETURN (Release)

TRAPPING (T):

Try to not feed the area cats for at least 24 hours prior to your trapping attempt. Cats need to be hungry so that they will search out and smell the food/bait you have set inside the trap.

Watch the Traps – NEVER leave a trap unattended for longer than 15 minutes and never set a trap overnight. You Must be able to monitor the trap activity and be prepared to bring the feline to your holding space. Don’t feed them if you have a pending appointment. Cats must be fasted for surgery.

*It is possible that you might trap another animal; skunk, opossum, raccoon… so be prepared on how to safely release them. You may want or need to contact someone more experienced or prepared to handle certain animals; like an animal control officer, a pest removal service, etc..

Covering the Trap – Have a sheet or towel close by so that as soon as the cat triggers the trap, you can immediately cover the trap with the sheet or towel.  The cat may initially be upset and may thrash; however, cats generally calm down once the trap is covered and they feel protected.  The trap should be covered the entire time the cat is in the trap.  Optionally, when you set the trap, you can place the sheet or towel on the trap and pull it up in the back and front so the cat can see through the trap and then fully cover the trap when the cat is in the trap.

Placement – You don’t want the cat to feel insecure, to see anything moving from the wind, as he walks inside this strange contraption. Additionally, setting the trap parallel to a structure will make the trap look like it is a part of the wall, the fence, the tree or whatever object you choose. When possible and practical – set up trap close to the normal feeding location.

Ear Tipping – Cats also receive an ear-tip (¼ of the top right or left ear is clipped) while they are sedated for their spay/neuter surgery. The purpose of the ear-tip is to identify free-roaming cats that have already been fixed so they are not repeatedly re-trapped, transported, & sedated. Only re-trap an ear-tipped cat if the cat is sick or has an injury. If you catch an ear tipped cat, release it and reset your trap.

Vaccinations/Medications – All community cats are vaccinated for Rabies and some clinics also give the FVRCP – Feline Rhinovirus, Calici, and Panleukopenia (Distemper) vaccine as part of a TNR package. Some clinics also provide flea/tick medication and/or microchips. You may be able to ask for other services, but there is generally an additional charge for services not included in their TNR package. Be sure you understand everything that is being done and discuss any additional options and the costs associated with them.

RETURNING (R):

Recovery – Once home after surgery, place the covered trap in a safe and protected recovery area away from other animals. Cats can be returned between 12 and 48 hours post surgery. Make sure all cats are fully conscious, clear-eyed, and alert before returning outdoors.

Feeding – When the cat appears awake and alert, offer a small amount of moist cat food and water. Don’t worry if the cat doesn’t eat right away, most will have eaten by the next morning. When feeding, lift the back door of the trap slowly and only allow a small gap. Slide a plastic lid/small paper plate with food on it through the gap. Do NOT put your hand inside the trap.

Lactation/Kittens – If you learn a female cat was lactating during her spay surgery, you can return the female cat later the night of surgery as long as she’s bright and alert so she can go find her kittens. If you don’t know where her kittens are, keep a close eye on her because she will most likely run to her kittens when returned.

Return – Return the cat to exactly where it was originally trapped. Do NOT release to a new location as this is cruel! All people should be standing behind the trap, or opposite end that you will be opening. Open the release door of the trap, making sure the trap is pointed away from a street, then pull the trap cover off, and step back.