Updated for 2023! Trapper Tips And Tricks Presented by Neighborhood Cats
Vložit
- čas přidán 19. 03. 2023
- Drawing from over 20 years of experience working with feral cats, the folks at Neighborhood Cats have gathered together their favorite ways of catching the wiliest of felines. Whether it's putting in a clear rear door, using Spam as bait, wrapping your trap with green garden netting, keeping raccoons and skunks out of your traps, or training a cat to enter a trap, you're bound to learn something new that will improve your trapping success!
Fantastic video! thank you!!
Uncooperative feeder is the nice way of putting it 😂
It's one of my favorite phrases. Their hearts usually in the right place but it *is* less-than-helpful.
Absolutely great video! I've done tnr for a long time & I still got alot out of this presentation, especially the part about cats that are hard to trap. I have a serial mommy that I've tried forever to catch. I'm limited on some options as my own ferals are on a military installation & it certainly complicates things as feeding or tnr is strictly prohibited on base. Now that I've watched this, I've learned a few tricks that I will try & hopefully I will be able to finally catch her. Thanks so much for this presentation!
Glad you liked it! Bryan gives this presentation every year and adds all kinds of new tricks he and his team learned between this presentation and the next. It's amazing that there's *still* new things to try.
Thank you for all those tips, these are very helpfull. I don't have access to cat urine, I do however have a recording of a female in heat calling which I use to trap those big males. When I play the recording they allow to me to get closer so I can place the trap in front of the cat. The smell of bait and the sound of the female is usualy enough to get the male into the trap.
A great tip!
Thank you for the update. The previous trapper videos for me started fast, without any help
That's so good to hear!
The only thing I would suggest to include are instructions on how to check the cats belly after trapping to check for signs of lactating, by turning the trap over. This step can make the difference between life or death for nursing kittens.
Oh good suggestion. We do talk about it in the TNR workshops but it would be a nice addition here.
Maybe don’t turn the trap over. Most of us use gravity traps, with TruCatch being hands down the favorite, and if you did that, the safety release mechanism will open the door. Instead, I’d set it up on the edge of a durable surface in a well lit area and look under it to try to check for lactating.
We need some device that alarms the phone when the cat is trapped. I have a few shy cats that come out only at night. I have been up every 2 hours when the traps are set to check since we have different predators in the area
I've been there. I had three traps in a wooded part of the neighborhood and had to do a 1/2 mile loop every few hours overnight in the snow to check them. It was...an adventure? LOL :) But! You're in luck! There's all sorts of devices that will ping your phone when the trap shuts. I'm going to check in with Bryan to see if he has any particular recommendations but it you google "cat trap phone alerts" a whole bunch of options come up. A trial camera that will connect to your phone might be an options as well?
@communitycatspodcast wow, thank you!!!
I prefer to use the the gravity traps when dealing w kittens since they tend to walk in the trap one behind the other so the other traps I feel who ever got first to the trigger can hurt the ones at the very back .
Yes! In the TNR workshop Bryan goes into detail about each trap and how to use them and the drop trap is definitely a favorite for that reason, among others. It's a pretty great tool.
I need tips on how to deal with your fixed community cats going into the traps
Have you used a drop trap before? They are AWESOME for picking out a particular cat. If you've never seen/used one there's a recording of a webinar we did on it here - czcams.com/video/kyKv0D1aVrs/video.html - and we're also doing an updated one live this weekend if you want to join in. (It's totally free. :)) The registration is here - register.gotowebinar.com/register/4676636804079928662 - and Bryan and Suzi will be available for questions. If you don't want to get super into the details on the drop trap though you can always do the bottle and string trick on a box trap to keep the door open if the wrong cat goes in but drop it once the right one heads in. I think they go over the finer points at 27:30 on this video.
we live in FL, would you have any recommendations how to discourage the frogs from getting into the trap? Some of the toads are so big that they trigger the plate, not to mention they can hurt the cat if trapped together (invasive toads) thank you
I went right to the experts to find out. Here's what Suzi at Neighborhood Cats had to say...
"The CZcamsr doesn't specify but I assume they're talking about Cane Toads, also called Bufo Toads, which are now widespread in Florida. They are a concern as they are quite toxic and can be lethal to dogs and cats if bitten or ingested or if the dog or cat even licks the toad's skin. There are a number of deterrents on the market that may help (we have not tried them, so recommend this caretaker do more research on which might be best) but a couple of options for Cane Toad repellants include Toadal Repellant and PupDefense. Properly used, the manufacturers say the products are safe around children and pets, and in lower applications will deter but not harm the toads or other wildlife."
@@communitycatspodcast thank you. Yes, we have now lots of cane toads, which are smart enough, that once they discover a food bowl for cats outside, they will continue to return back every night for more food. My biggest concern was during trapping, to trap the toad and the cat together in a trap for several hours waiting for the spay surgery, when stressed the toad is producing toxic substance that will kill the cat. Now I have purchased the trap divider, which allows me safely to separate and remove the cane toad from the trap. Thank you for the ideas about the repellant, will do more research on that.
Very informative video! Please help! A cat that is not mine was staying at my house while the owner is away long term (gets back in mid July 2023). She was very timid and hid, but 1.) figured out how to remove the vent plates to get in my house air ducts from the room she was kept in. I got a live trap and set it and within a half day she was trapped. Well, 2.) she slipped out the window in that room by pushing the screen out. I set food in the trap she was trapped in a few days before but she wouldn't go in to eat the food at the back. I've been trap training her and she will eat the food until it is past the trigger plate. The trap door is held open right now. I know she's been around because I set up a trail camera right at the trap. Several parts of this situation are making it really hard to be successful:
1. She is trap wary after the first time recently being trapped.
2. I am not her owner and my house is not her house. These are not safe spaces for her.
3. She will run as soon as someone sees her, even if it's from inside a house.
4. Not too far from here, people feed their cats outside.
5. The owner is gone for one more month.
6. Her home is a 20 minute drive from here.
Any ideas? I'm worried she'll decide to move on to an area farther away. Thanks!!
I'm sorry to have missed this comment! Can we ask if you were able to trap her? We really hope so! If not, send a quick email to support@communitycatspodcast.com and we'll see if we have some ideas.
Too long...short version...take cat in!!
“It looks worse than what it is“ I disagree😢😢😢I have seen cats really get hurt their nose, forehead and eyes where they are trying to frantically get out. Please, do something to coat the inside of the traps and SPECIALLY the drop box.
I especially hesitate to use the drop box cause most of them get hurt, even if box is covered immediately right after trapping. I have tried covering the inside of the drop box with different things but nothing has really worked cause it gets detached once the cats start trying to get out it detaches.
I use the thin yoga mats for the bottom of the individual traps …I buy them at the Five Below
Store. Also, I buy at the Dollar Tree some grey and black door mats (super thin) but heavy enough that it won’t fly away.
The yoga mats are an interesting suggestion - we'll pass that on. That's the reason they are never left unattended for the most part and not left without covering to help calm them unless they're already calm. (A lot of how to trap with minimal stress for the cats is covered in the TNR workshops - more as an advanced lesson for trappers who already know what they're doing.)
Great suggestions. Thank you for the tips and your compassion. 💖
You could try the Humane Roundhouse trap. It has plastic on the inside. I just learned about this round trap today and am going to order it. All the best to you. :)
Why is the raccoon smashed in like that? He looks so uncomfy. I hope he was released immediately!
Sometimes raccoons, because they have a pretty good reach and dexterous little paws, will grab things around them, drag them into the trap, and sometimes they kind'a shred them - especially if it was covered with a blanket or sheet. Looks like this little guy managed to get the covering, a mylar blanket, and some newspaper inside and made himself a comfy spot to hide while he waited to be let out. The trap divider in the picture is being used briefly to keep the trapper safe from the raccoon while they help him exit. He was off to continue his little raccoon day as quickly as possible. (As all trapped raccoons, opossums, and other wild critters should be. :) )
@@communitycatspodcast Awwww, thank you so much for your gracious explanation. I didn't doubt you are animal lovers of all kinds. I love the raccoons and possums in my yard from the forest. They are actually quite friendly--of course, they know who feeds them. :o) Merry Christmas 💚