Our Disclaimer
First off, let us just say we are Not Professionals and do not operate with any specific animal care/control service. Any trapping that we do is strictly for the health, safety and well-being of our feral friends.
Reasons for Trapping:
- Noticeable Physical Concerns: We use our cameras to monitor the physical attributes of each feline. Should we see any physical injury, trouble breathing or other concern, we will attempt to trap and find an animal center to have them checked out.
- TNR – Trap-Neuter-Return: When an appointment can be made to have one of our friends checked in for the trap & return program, we will do so. This can involve them going through a wellness check, blood work, spay/neuter and ear-tipped. Pending no major concerns, the cat will then be returned to us for release or they may be placed into a foster home looking for adoption.
Whether you have a new kitten or you’ve taken on a stray or feral cat, it’s paramount that you get them spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering plays a key role in cat population along with several health and behavioral benefits for the cat.
Our Trapping Method
We use a standard Humane Trap, modified for what we have found to work best in our situation. These traps can be purchased online from $30-$45, depending on the style and size your looking for. We’re using a large 32″ folding trap.
Solar Powered Camera: We use an additional camera outside of the trap, to monitor who or what enters. The notifications we receive allow us to watch in Real-Time and help us to decide whether to “Trigger” the remote or not.
Our Trap Design
These traps have the standard pressure plate connected to a rod that triggers the entry to close when an animal steps on the plate. As we have way too many critters like skunks, opossums, rabbits, etc. coming thru our yard at night, we needed a way to trap just the cat!
Our solution, was to remove the rod and add a remote switch to trigger the entry gate by our smartphone(s). Basically, we purchased a simple “Smart Switch Button Pusher” and “Bluetooth Gateway”. We added the Gateway which allows us to trigger the trap from anywhere, even while at work or on the road. After a little ingenuity to attach the switch to the cage and setup a way to release the trigger, we found our solution. The switch/router run about $40 online, plus a few small zip ties. *Note: the switch is for indoor use, so you must keep it dry. It has worked all winter for us.
Trapping Technique
As with all traps, the setup and placement is key to a successful catch. Since we utilize cameras that allow us instant notification of movement at the trap, we can monitor the activity in Real-time in order for us to trigger the trap when our feline friend is safely inside.
When Trapping: The trap can be set up anywhere around our property, but so far we have found it works best just outside the feeding station on the ground. We place cardboard inside on the floor to help protect paws, especially during the winter. Plus, this makes adding food to the trap much easier. Just slide the cardboard out to place the food at the end and slide it back in. We do add some tidbits of food or treats to the floor leading out to the entrance as well. We then cover the trap with a dark towel, to hide the shiny metal and give the appearance of a more welcoming cubby for the cat.
