Trapping Guide
Pick up your traps early!
After you make your reservation and receive a confirmation number traps should be picked up from the depot 1-2 weeks prior to the clinic to ensure availability and time for strategic trapping.
Acclimate cats to the traps slowly.
As soon as you have traps place them out in sight of feeding stations. In unsecure areas bicycle locks or a combination of chain and padlock are recommended to prevent trap theft.
Prop open traps using a stick or bungee cord so that they cannot be triggered.
Gradually move traps closer to the food source each day as the actual day of trapping approaches.
Gradually move food closer to the trap until the cats are being fed just inside the trap opening.
On the day of trapping, remove the stick or bungee and bait the trap with something more savory, such as canned mackerel).
Trap placement is essential.
Try a variety of trap locations. Traps can be placed out in the open (in a safe location), on the ground in a bush, in a crawl space under a home, etc.
If cats seem wary of traps try placing a towel or sheet over them. Sometimes cats are more comfortable with a secure, closed in cubby as opposed to a trap in the open where they can see the wire.
Be sure not to place traps where they can fall or be in the way of traffic (auto, pedestrian or otherwise).
Use a feeding schedule to your advantage.
Ideally a colony will be used to stable feeding times. If feeding times are irregular it can make trapping more difficult.
The day before you intend to trap, go light on the feeding. The idea is to keep the cats in their routine while making sure that they have a healthy appetite when you begin trapping. Do not starve the cats.
Safety is vital.
Trapping should be done the day/night before the clinic. If you trap earlier cats are forced to go without food and water too long to be safe and cages will become unsanitary as cats eliminate.
Do not try to place dishes for food or water in the traps once cats have been trapped. Trapped cats are fearful and likely to bite even when normally friendly. Opening the trap even a tiny bit may lead to an escape, making it unlikely that the cat will be trapped a second time.
For the safety of cats undergoing anesthesia cats must not have food or water after 10pm the night before surgery. Do not worry about dehydration, if cats are dehydrated they will received fluids while under anesthesia.
Trapped Cats
When trapping multiple cats, be sure to move occupied traps to a location that is not visible from traps not yet triggered. Cats figure out what is going on pretty quickly.
Cover trapped cats with a towel or sheet to quiet them and make sure to keep them out of the weather in either a climate controlled garage, bathroom, porch, barn, or the like.
Be sure to keep pets and children away from trapped cats to reduce stress on the cat and potential injury from getting too close.
Transportation
Cats should only be transported inside closed, climate controlled vehicles. Be aware that trapped cats are under a lot of stress and anxiety and should be made as comfortable as possible.
Never transport cats in pick-up truck beds, on trailers, or in trunks. In Florida’s extreme climate this can be deadly.
If you are concerned about cats spraying in your car, a trash bag or piece of cardboard under the trap and a towel or sheet over the trap works great.
Do you have questions about trapping? Do you have tips to add to our guide? Contact operationcatnip@nmhp.net