trying to trap feral cats (and going crazy)

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
I know the trap is reasonably effective. I keep catching the same poor
possum in it!

How much ya want fer that possum? Checkin' spice rack for fixin's

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months --- I'll call them Mama
Cat, Daddy Cat, and Big Sister and Little Sister (their 2 female
offspring). My mother feeds them every day, but we want to get them
"fixed" and vaccinated for rabies. I trapped the Mama Cat and Big
Sister with no problems. However, Daddy Cat and Little Sister have
been elusive. (Both witnesses Mama Cat and Big Sister being trapped.)

The trap I'm using is a Tru-Catch trap, which basically works on the
same principle as the popular Hav-a-hart traps. I've baited it with
sardines, tuna, Fancy Feast, and mackeral (even heated in the
microwave to make them really smelly). I've put food half way in the
trap to make a path to the food beyond the trip plate. I've put catnip
& catnip treats in the trap as well. I put newspaper on the bottom so
they wouldn't feel the metal cage under their paws. I also place Mama
Cat in a carrier behind the trap with a towel over both so any cat
wanting to get close to her would have to walk down the "tunnel" to
see her better. She was in heat, but Daddy Cat wouldn't fall for that
(even though he'd been chasing her around the yard the whole day
before). I also thought Little Sister would want to be with Mama Cat
but she too wouldn't go in either.

Unbelievably, Little Sister actually went into the trap one time,
tripped the plate but managed to zoom out as the gate was falling. The
gate falls very fast so I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen
it with my own eyes. Little Sister also wandered into the living room
when I put a bowl of wet food near the cage where Mama Cat and Big
Sister are now recovering from being spayed. I hid behind the door and
tried to slam it when Little Sister was about 10 feet inside. Yes ...
she managed to get out as the front door swung shut.

Daddy Cat and Little Sister are now taunting me. I stopped feeding
them so they killed a squirrel and left its dismembered remains on the
porch. This was particularly upsetting. We like squirrels and keep a
feeder for them. As far as we know, these cats haven't killed anything
before when my mom was putting out lots of food for them.

I know the trap is reasonably effective. I keep catching the same poor
possum in it!

I'm actually laying awake at night agonizing over this situation. Any
ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm desperate to keep Little
Sister from reproducing and would like to have Daddy Cat neutered just
so he'll stick around (and of course not contribute to the
overpopulation problem). I thought about buying a different brand
trap, but I'm afraid they won't go near any trap at this point.

No suggestions for Daddy Cat, but what is the length of the trap? A much
longer length trap may be all that's needed to catch Little Sister, as that
may more than offset her quickness.

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months --- I'll call them Mama
Cat, Daddy Cat, and Big Sister and Little Sister (their 2 female
offspring). My mother feeds them every day, but we want to get them
"fixed" and vaccinated for rabies. I trapped the Mama Cat and Big
Sister with no problems. However, Daddy Cat and Little Sister have
been elusive. (Both witnesses Mama Cat and Big Sister being trapped.)

The trap I'm using is a Tru-Catch trap, which basically works on the
same principle as the popular Hav-a-hart traps. I've baited it with
sardines, tuna, Fancy Feast, and mackeral (even heated in the
microwave to make them really smelly). I've put food half way in the
trap to make a path to the food beyond the trip plate. I've put catnip
& catnip treats in the trap as well. I put newspaper on the bottom so
they wouldn't feel the metal cage under their paws. I also place Mama
Cat in a carrier behind the trap with a towel over both so any cat
wanting to get close to her would have to walk down the "tunnel" to
see her better. She was in heat, but Daddy Cat wouldn't fall for that
(even though he'd been chasing her around the yard the whole day
before). I also thought Little Sister would want to be with Mama Cat
but she too wouldn't go in either.

Unbelievably, Little Sister actually went into the trap one time,
tripped the plate but managed to zoom out as the gate was falling. The
gate falls very fast so I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen
it with my own eyes. Little Sister also wandered into the living room
when I put a bowl of wet food near the cage where Mama Cat and Big
Sister are now recovering from being spayed. I hid behind the door and
tried to slam it when Little Sister was about 10 feet inside. Yes ...
she managed to get out as the front door swung shut.

Daddy Cat and Little Sister are now taunting me. I stopped feeding
them so they killed a squirrel and left its dismembered remains on the
porch. This was particularly upsetting. We like squirrels and keep a
feeder for them. As far as we know, these cats haven't killed anything
before when my mom was putting out lots of food for them.

I know the trap is reasonably effective. I keep catching the same poor
possum in it!

I'm actually laying awake at night agonizing over this situation. Any
ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm desperate to keep Little
Sister from reproducing and would like to have Daddy Cat neutered just
so he'll stick around (and of course not contribute to the
overpopulation problem). I thought about buying a different brand
trap, but I'm afraid they won't go near any trap at this point.

No suggestions for Daddy Cat, but what is the length of the trap? A much
longer length trap may be all that's needed to catch Little Sister, as that
may more than offset her quickness.

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months --- I'll call them Mama
Cat, Daddy Cat, and Big Sister and Little Sister (their 2 female
offspring). My mother feeds them every day, but we want to get them
"fixed" and vaccinated for rabies. I trapped the Mama Cat and Big
Sister with no problems. However, Daddy Cat and Little Sister have
been elusive. (Both witnesses Mama Cat and Big Sister being trapped.)

The trap I'm using is a Tru-Catch trap, which basically works on the
same principle as the popular Hav-a-hart traps. I've baited it with
sardines, tuna, Fancy Feast, and mackeral (even heated in the
microwave to make them really smelly). I've put food half way in the
trap to make a path to the food beyond the trip plate. I've put catnip
& catnip treats in the trap as well. I put newspaper on the bottom so
they wouldn't feel the metal cage under their paws. I also place Mama
Cat in a carrier behind the trap with a towel over both so any cat
wanting to get close to her would have to walk down the "tunnel" to
see her better. She was in heat, but Daddy Cat wouldn't fall for that
(even though he'd been chasing her around the yard the whole day
before). I also thought Little Sister would want to be with Mama Cat
but she too wouldn't go in either.

Unbelievably, Little Sister actually went into the trap one time,
tripped the plate but managed to zoom out as the gate was falling. The
gate falls very fast so I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen
it with my own eyes. Little Sister also wandered into the living room
when I put a bowl of wet food near the cage where Mama Cat and Big
Sister are now recovering from being spayed. I hid behind the door and
tried to slam it when Little Sister was about 10 feet inside. Yes ...
she managed to get out as the front door swung shut.

Daddy Cat and Little Sister are now taunting me. I stopped feeding
them so they killed a squirrel and left its dismembered remains on the
porch. This was particularly upsetting. We like squirrels and keep a
feeder for them. As far as we know, these cats haven't killed anything
before when my mom was putting out lots of food for them.

I know the trap is reasonably effective. I keep catching the same poor
possum in it!

I'm actually laying awake at night agonizing over this situation. Any
ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm desperate to keep Little
Sister from reproducing and would like to have Daddy Cat neutered just
so he'll stick around (and of course not contribute to the
overpopulation problem). I thought about buying a different brand
trap, but I'm afraid they won't go near any trap at this point.

No suggestions for Daddy Cat, but what is the length of the trap? A much
longer length trap may be all that's needed to catch Little Sister, as that
may more than offset her quickness.

"Knack" wrote in message news:

No suggestions for Daddy Cat, but what is the length of the trap? A much
longer length trap may be all that's needed to catch Little Sister, as that
may more than offset her quickness.


HI --- The trap is around 31" long, and the cat is very small (an 8
month old female). Honestly I don't see how she got out of it. I
caught that dang possum for a third time yesterday in this trap as
well.

I have good news and bad news about this situation. I caught Daddy Cat
tonight. I bought a Hav-a-hart trap (Racoon sized), lined it with
newspaper and covered it with towels. I put dry food inside leading
toward a bowl of Kentucky Fried Chicken (the boneless popcorn size
which I microwaved every few hours so it would smell).

Now the bad news ... Little Sister must be in heat. She's had 2
tomcats chasing her around today. I thought this was supposed to
happen in the Spring. It was 20 degrees last night. I'm going to keep
trying to trap her, though now it will be even harder. She was out
there and saw her daddy trapped. She keeps looking at me like she
knows what I'm up to:-)

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Sheri

"Knack" wrote in message news:

No suggestions for Daddy Cat, but what is the length of the trap? A much
longer length trap may be all that's needed to catch Little Sister, as that
may more than offset her quickness.


HI --- The trap is around 31" long, and the cat is very small (an 8
month old female). Honestly I don't see how she got out of it. I
caught that dang possum for a third time yesterday in this trap as
well.

I have good news and bad news about this situation. I caught Daddy Cat
tonight. I bought a Hav-a-hart trap (Racoon sized), lined it with
newspaper and covered it with towels. I put dry food inside leading
toward a bowl of Kentucky Fried Chicken (the boneless popcorn size
which I microwaved every few hours so it would smell).

Now the bad news ... Little Sister must be in heat. She's had 2
tomcats chasing her around today. I thought this was supposed to
happen in the Spring. It was 20 degrees last night. I'm going to keep
trying to trap her, though now it will be even harder. She was out
there and saw her daddy trapped. She keeps looking at me like she
knows what I'm up to:-)

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Sheri

"Knack" wrote in message news:

No suggestions for Daddy Cat, but what is the length of the trap? A much
longer length trap may be all that's needed to catch Little Sister, as that
may more than offset her quickness.


HI --- The trap is around 31" long, and the cat is very small (an 8
month old female). Honestly I don't see how she got out of it. I
caught that dang possum for a third time yesterday in this trap as
well.

I have good news and bad news about this situation. I caught Daddy Cat
tonight. I bought a Hav-a-hart trap (Racoon sized), lined it with
newspaper and covered it with towels. I put dry food inside leading
toward a bowl of Kentucky Fried Chicken (the boneless popcorn size
which I microwaved every few hours so it would smell).

Now the bad news ... Little Sister must be in heat. She's had 2
tomcats chasing her around today. I thought this was supposed to
happen in the Spring. It was 20 degrees last night. I'm going to keep
trying to trap her, though now it will be even harder. She was out
there and saw her daddy trapped. She keeps looking at me like she
knows what I'm up to:-)

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Sheri

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months (snip)

Hi Sheri, good luck to you, but I came across this wonderful group that has
TONS of information Trap/Neuter/Release. You'll have to join the group,
but I found an absolutely amazing amount of information for the newbie
trapper.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months (snip)

Hi Sheri, good luck to you, but I came across this wonderful group that has
TONS of information Trap/Neuter/Release. You'll have to join the group,
but I found an absolutely amazing amount of information for the newbie
trapper.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Help! I'm at my wit's end. A family of 4 feral cats has been living in
my parents' front yard for the last 6 months (snip)

Hi Sheri, good luck to you, but I came across this wonderful group that has
TONS of information Trap/Neuter/Release. You'll have to join the group,
but I found an absolutely amazing amount of information for the newbie
trapper.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/