Trapping Instructions

 Getting Ready

• Establish a routine feeding schedule. Feed the cats at the same time and place each day, preferably for at least a week prior to trapping. You will eventually place the traps in this area, so make sure it is a safe and level location, free of rocks, gravel, dogs etc.
• You should also assess the cat(s) you are trying to trap. If any are tame (friendly), contact RMACA so the cat(s) can be transferred to one of our partner shelters in the Metro Denver Shelter Alliance after sterilization.

• Be sure to alert your neighbors that you will be trapping. Most will be very grateful that you are trying to prevent overpopulation and may even wish to help. Ask them to keep their own cats inside on the days that you trap and/or put a collar on them, so that you do not accidentally take their cats to the vet.

  PLEASE DO NOT TRAP A CAT UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE A CLINIC TO TAKE THE CAT TO WITHIN 24 HOURS.  For a schedule of RMACA clinics and other spay/neuter resources please email kathleen@rmaca.org.

Supplies

In order to trap effectively you will need:

• Humane traps
• Cans of tuna, sardines, or mackerel in oil, or other enticing bait.
• Newspaper, lightweight towel, or pillowcase to line the bottom of each trap.
• A large towel or cloth to cover each trap. This will calm the cat and lessen the risk of injury once it is inside the trap.
• Lids or small containers to hold bait (optional). You may also put the bait directly on the newspaper or towel.

Withholding Food

You must withhold all food (dry and canned) from the cats you intend to trap for 24 hours before trapping. This will ensure that the cats are hungry enough to enter the traps. Also, surgery will be easier on the cats if they have empty stomachs. While this may be hard, particularly if the cats appear hungry, remember that you are doing what is best for them. You should continue to provide clean drinking water.

Start Trapping

• Make sure that you know how to work the trap BEFORE you begin to trap.
• Test the trap beforehand to make sure there are no openings or faulty connections that may mean the cat can escape once caught.  This can be done with a stick or other device.
• Line the entire length of the trap with newspaper or lightweight cloth.
• Place a few tablespoons of bait along the very back of the trap. Drizzle some juice from the bait along the trap towards the entrance in a zigzag pattern. Place about teaspoon of bait in the middle of the trap, near or on the trip-plate, and another teaspoon about 4-6 inches from the entrance of the trap. You can also place teaspoon of bait outside of the trap, an inch or two in front of the entrance. The cat will follow the bait toward the back of the trap until they step on the trip-plate. It is important not to leave too much food in the front and middle, as this may satisfy the cat before the trap is set off.
• Set the traps in the area where the cats are accustomed to eating, at the same time they are used to eating.
• If you are using multiple traps, stagger them, and place them facing in different directions, with at least a couple of feet in between each trap. Move quietly and slowly and try to remain relaxed, so your mannerisms will not frighten the cats away.
• Set each trap and cover it with a large towel or cloth.
• Leave the area quietly. If the cats are used to being called for their food, do so before you leave. DO NOT LEAVE THE TRAP UNATTENDED. Find a place away from the trap (in your car, house, behind a building) and wait for the cat to go in. A cat left alone in a trap for even short periods of time can be terrified by dogs or children, or released, injured, or tortured by passersby. They are also vulnerable to hypothermia or over-heating, depending upon the weather. If you are trapping at your home, remember to trip the trap before you go to bed at night.

After Trapping

• After the cat(s) have been caught, keep the trap covered at all times. This will help calm them. It is normal for the cat to thrash around inside of the trap and it may be tempting to release the cat(s). As long as you keep the trap covered, the cat will eventually settle down. No matter what, NEVER LET A CAT OUT OF A TRAP WITHOUT BEING FIXED FIRST (even if you catch a cat you weren’t expecting). Cats become trap-shy easily. If you release a cat before it is altered, you run a very strong risk of not being able to catch it again and you will be stuck with an untrappable breeding cat. If the cat has babies, they will be fine without her for 12 hours, and mom cats will continue to nurse even if they are spayed. Injuries from traps, if they happen at all, are usually very minor (bruised or scratched nose or paw pad) and will not affect the cat long-term.
• After surgery, allow the cats to recover in the same trap, still covered. For about 12 hours after surgery, cats cannot regulate their own body temperatures, so they MUST be kept out of excessive heat or cold. Female cats usually need to be held for 24-36 hours after surgery, while male cats should be held for 12-24 hours. You should very carefully place a small dish of wet cat-food inside the trap. Do not worry about water, as the cats will probably spill it.
• Make sure cats are fully conscious and alert before release. Release the cats in the same area that you trapped them. Open the door of the trap and pull off the cover. Stand back and allow the cats to come out on their own. It is not uncommon for the cats to stay away for a few days after release; they will return eventually. Keep leaving food and water out as they may eat when you are not around.
• NEVER release cats into an unfamiliar location without following our relocation guidelines. Relocating cats without following the proper guidelines is cruel and will endanger their lives. They will try to return to their old home, facing busy streets, predators, and starvation. Also, feral cats form strong bonds with their colony members, and leaving them alone in a new environment will cause stress, depression, and loneliness.

Special Trapping Tips

If certain cats will not go into the traps, try feeding them in unset traps for several days before trapping. Wire the trap doors open. Feed the cats in the same place and time as usual, but place the food right inside the trap entrance. Gradually move the food farther into the trap, until the cat feels comfortable eating in the trap. Once they become accustomed to eating inside the traps, they should be easier to trap.