1. Put the trap in a protected, secure area like a shed, screened porch, etc. Do not leave the trap outdoors. If the weather
is hot, flies will be attracted by the food and may lay fly eggs in any small wounds on the
cat's body. If the weather is cold, windchill can kill the cat. Passing predators and humans
(neighbor's dog) can terrorize the animal. The cat should be inside, or secured in the back
of a covered vehicle.
This should be obvious, but do not keep a cat inside an unventilated
vehicle in hot weather. A feral cat that is used to outdoor weather will be fine in the back of a
pickup truck with a cap on in the winter, if the trap is covered to keep body warmth in, and the trap
is on a towel to absorb moisture. Be careful about transporting cats in trunks or covered truck beds if
the vehicle is in poor condition and carbon monoxide poisoning is a possibility
2. The cat will need water. The cat should not be fed if it is facing surgery the next day, but if
not, the cat should be fed as well as watered.
If you do NOT have an isolator, you can gently open the back door, slide it up a few inches,
and push a small crock of water inside. Do not use cat food cans with sharp edges. Put a small
handful of dry cat food right on the wire floor. Uneaten food will then fall through the wire
when you need to move the trap the next day.
If you do NOT have a trap with a back door, gently lift the front trap door to push the water in,
but keep in mind if the cat rushes the door, it can push it open. If you keep a cover on the
rear of the trap so the cat hides in the back, and are calm and quiet, this should not be a problem
.
Always move quietly and calmly.
If you have an isolator, insert it as shown to block the cat from exiting, and open the back
door to place food and water inside. NOTE: The isolator shown here is TOO LARGE. Purchase and
use the isolator sized for small cage traps. I used this one so you could see it in the photo. Cats
can squeeze through the bars of this large size isolator. The small one is about the same width
as a cage trap, and the prongs are closer together.
When you take the cat to the veterinarian, be sure to lend them your isolator. As you can see,
the cat can be squeezed against the end of the trap with this device, and can be given its
anesthesia shot right inside the trap. No forcing the cat into a squeeze cage. The cat can
stay in the trap while falling asleep, and then, after surgery, a clean towel can be placed inside
the trap and the cat put inside to recover.
With the right inexpensive tools, and training, there is never any need to restrain a feral cat.
Hands-off is the best policy. The cat will be far less traumatized.
Fed, Watered, Covered, On Absorbent Towel, for the Night.
Make sure all doors are securely latched (and back sliding door LOCKED), the trap is on a towel
to absorb urine, and the trap is entirely covered. It may be a good idea to have plastic under
the towel if the floor is wood or carpet.
Now, leave the poor cat alone. Don't be peeking in on it every ten minutes, even if it is
howling pathetically. It does not want you to look at it. It does not want to hear your voice.
Dark and quiet will be the best gift you can give the cat at this point. Do NOT play music
or the radio. These techniques help when attempting to tame a cat, but right now you just
want this cat to be as relaxed as possible. This is not the time to get it used to a human voice,
especially if it is facing surgery in the morning.
Remember, no food after 9:00 pm if there is surgery scheduled the next day. Water is OK.
Click here for Trapping In Winter
Coming soon:
Long-term Cage Care for Ferals the Hands-Off Way
Socializing Feral Kittens
Moving Cats from Traps into Other Cages
Another Great Instruction Page From the Feral Cat Coalition (FCC)
Don't forget to come back to us!
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