Smart Queen Cat Can't be Trapped

For the past three days, we have been trying to trap a queen feral cat but this cat is very smart and knows how to get the bait without setting off the trap trigger.

I have been trapping feral and stray cats for over a decade and have never come across a cat like this. But sure enough, this kitty knows how to get the bait and leave. 

The trap works fine with normal cats, but a smart cat no.

At first, I thought it was my trap and that it was not working properly. So I checked it by setting it outdoors and was able to trap a tomcat.  It's not the trap it works fine.

One of the cat's friends suggested putting a kitchen towel in the trap to cover the trigger.  This towel would trick the cat and they would step on the trigger.  I thought it was a great idea so I set up the trap at 5 AM inside my garden shed, asd that is where the queen cat is. 

We watch through the window of the shed to see if the cat was trapped. We couldn't believe our eyes but this queen cat sat in front of the trap door as if she was studying the towel. Then she pulled the towel out of the trap before going in to eat the bait.  She escaped being trapped once again.

I spoke to my veterinarian about what was going on and she said the cat has probably been trapped before and that the cat is very smart.

We are going to try again tomorrow to trap this queen cat that is in heat. We are hoping that we are successful.  Have you ever experienced a cat like this?

Trapping Feral Cats for Shelter Surrender

Today while on Facebook I asked if anyone put out a bowl of water for the neighborhood cats or wildlife. Most people were kind and said that they did, but one of my followers said that she used a humane method of trapping stray and feral cats and took them to the shelter.  Know that there is nothing humane about trapping a cat, they are terrified and if they are feral the shelter will euthanize the frightened cat.

I have no idea what she was thinking but the animal shelter does not put feral cats up for adoption and they do not sterilize them or place them in colonies. As a rule, shelters will euthanize all feral cats immediately and any cat that is aggressive, even if they are fearful; hiss-spitting cannot be adopted and they are not going to socialize it for adoption.

 It is a death sentence for stray/feral cats if they are trapped and taken to an animal shelter.  Here is an article from Alley Cat Allies that explains why trapping and killing cats is not a good way to control cat populations

Feral cats that I have trapped for TNR or socialization

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Feral kittens in my yard / both Trapped, Sterilized and socialized.  Had they been trapped and take to shelter they would have been euthanized.  They were Feral, wild and terrified of humans.  Cannot be adopted. Shelters would euthanize.

Many people assume cats without collars are strays or feral cats.  We find cats without collars in our yard all of the time, some stay a few days hanging out, others find their way back to their homes. 95% of them are neighborhood cats.

This cat without collar hung out in our yard for 4 days.  He was afraid of us, hissed and spit he also meowed.  Feral cats do not meow and they run from humans so they do not hiss or spit.  Today we saw the flyer, this cat was lost and scared.  He may have looked like a stray/feral cat with no collar, but the story is he got out of the house and was lost.

 If the cat hangs around for several days we will take their photograph and post it on a “found cat flyer” and pass it out to our neighbors. We will also go online to Facebook to share a photograph of found cat at the Humane Society and our contact information. We never trap the cat to surrender to the shelter for fear that the cat will be euthanized.

Here is a flyer that I use when looking for pet owners.

Lost or Found Cat Mailbox Flyer

by Susang6

Backside of cat flyer:

Lost or Found Cat Mailbox Flyer

by Susang6

As for feral cats we do trap them and take them to the veterinarian for feline disease tests, sterilization and rabies and other vaccines before we release them to an area called a colony where there are caretakers to feed these cats and watch to make sure they are okay. Learn more about neighborhood cats and their TNR at Alley Cat Allies  

Trapping Feral Cats in your Neighborhood

Trapping feral cats in your neighborhood is a way to save lives.  

When you trap the cats and take them in for spay, neuter, and their vaccines you are helping the cats to live a longer and safer life and you are controlling cat populations.  

"When I trap a cat or kitten I use Havahart 1089 a collapsible one-door live animal cage trap is the same trap that I use for raccoons, groundhogs, and other medium-sized animals that need to be rescued.  I always have good results with this trap."

Trapping is not difficult however you must be organized and take steps to be gentle and caring to the feral cats.  Understand that they are terrified of you, I always give them the respect that they deserve by approaching them slowly and calmly with my eyes lowered to the ground.    

Take steps to get the cat accustomed to you by feeding and providing them with fresh water twice a day at the same time.  This is a way for the feral cats to become dependent upon you.  When the feral cats are dependent upon you for food and water you would set a humane live animal trap.

The humane trap will allow you to confine the cat safely while transporting the cat for medical care and sterilization. 

Contact your veterinarian or pet clinic and inquire about their procedure. My veterinarian will take the feral cats as soon as I trap them. I schedule my trapping for Monday – Friday.  Some clinics will give discount services for feral and stray cats. When in doubt join a cat network and ask about inexpensive cat spay or neuter clinics in your area.

Refrain from feeding cats the night before trapping.  Do provide them with water.   On the day that you set up the trap, the only food available will be inside the trap. 

Choose a safe area for trapping, I usually put the trap on my brick patio behind the ornamental grass garden or I will set it inside our garage shelter. I have trapped many stray kittens inside the shelter.  They tend to go inside to hide. 

Line the trap bottom with newspaper.  Take a large sheet and fold it over so that it fits the confined space.  

 I trap cats in parks and in the woods and for these cats I find it best to line the bottom of the trap with a layer of straw and in some cases I will put down a layer of leaves.  It mimics the woods and the cats are more comfortable and trusting of the trap.

Spray Feliway Behavior Modifier Spray 75 ml onto the blanket that will cover the trap once the trap door closes.  Also, spray the paper that is in the front of the trap by the trap opening only. 

The Feliway will help in keeping the cat calm.  It takes the stress out of an anxious situation as the cat will think the trap is their safe place and not the scary place.  

Fold the blanket back so that it does not conceal the trap opening, but does provide a cozy area in the back of the trap.

Bait the trap with a strong fish scented and flavored cat food.  Set the food on the newspaper in the back of the trap.  The food in the back of the trap will draw the cat into the trap.

Havahart  Live Animal Trap  For Stray Cat

When the trap door closes, cover the entire trap with a blanket. The blanket will comfort the cat. Bring the cat inside your garage, basement, or house if you are unable to take the cat directly to the veterinarian's office.

Tips

When adult feral cats return from the veterinarian's office, the female will need to stay inside for medical care for 3-4 days, release the male cat to the same area in which you found him. Allow cat to regroup with the colony.

Ask the veterinarian to tag the cat's left ear. This universal symbol indicates to animal control workers that the cat is part of (TNR) trap neuter and release program.