Best time to trap a feral cat???

[chuckzoo]

A feral cat has produced a litter of 3 kittens near our shed. The kittens are now old enough to go to homes but I wanted to trap the mother cat too. Would she come to a trap during the day, or would night be best.

I am taking the kittens away today so was hoping to trap her today so she could go to a barn with her kittens.

 

[Tomhusker]

Feral cats shouldn't be moved they should be exterminated. They are a burden on the environment, killing native wildlife including young rabbits, quail, pheasant and others.
Rehoming the kittens is a noble act, if they are not too wild. But moving them to a barn is only giving them somewhere to grow up and into reproductive machines capable spitting out more furry weeds.

 

[kichohana]

anytime is a good time. i had a feral cat give birth to 3 babies under my back deck. they were a few weeks old by the time i realized there were even there. i called animal control and they brought me a trap. i put some tunafish on a paper plate in the back of the trap and caught mom & two babies within 10 minutes in broad daylight. kitten #3 was so distressed that mom and siblings were trapped it stayed right next to the cage. i called animal control and they came the next day to remove the mom and leave another trap. i had that kitten trapped before animal control was even off my property.
i have also trapped adult male feral cats (nasty nasty nasty creatures!) overnight. i also used a bit of tunafish on a paper plate. darn cat was so hungry he ate the paper plate too!

 

[Miltonchix]

Its easier to shoot 'em. Once a cat see a trap in operation they pretty much won't go near it. If you've trapped all the kittens mamma knows better. I agree with above post. Why move them so they can continue killing the birds and other NATIVE wildlife?

 

[aprophet]

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X2 . Depending on which you catch first either mother or babies can be used as "bait" to catch all of them

 

[arch_cpj]

yep throw a can of cat food in there youll get the mom Id be careful could have diseases if the mom is a mean feral cat (Some are some arent) you cant adopt her out kittens if young enough will come around MOM No way.. They as said before are a bit of a issue to wild life Ive had farm cats and the best way is to feed em enough to keep em aroung but not enough to get em fat that way they stay near the farm (where food and shelter is) but they also hunt mice Rats etc... TOMS good luck they go where they want and are usually mean as heck!!!

 

[chuckzoo]

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I have spoken to someone who does kitten rescues. The kittens will go to farmers who have mice etc. in their barns. I am not too sure what happens to the mother, she may either be put down or spayed and go to the barns too.

I agree with you in terms of the damage they do to wildlife - my masters is in conservation so I do not want these animals to reproduce either so hopefully the people who get them for rodent control will also get them spayed.

We have wild birds, chipmunks and squirrels in or backyard. We currently have blue birds that are working on their second clutch of babies.

I do not want to transfer the cat problem to someone else, but if someone can protect their livihood from rodents and be responsible I am hoping this will be a solution.

Thanks for the advise I have set the trap with some cat food and hopefully I can catch her soon.

I don't own a gun and live in a suburb so would probably get in trouble if I did.

 

[33yardbirds]

I have had good luck baiting with tuna fish, for coon and feral cats, the cats are completely bonkers in the have-a-heart so they are dispatched in the trap. They are usually dumped by DA people who are irresponsible pet owners. They're not mine so I don't feel a bit bad. Other preds get the same treatment. It's a hard world, protect your birds!!

 

[chooniecat]

PLEASE make sure ALL are neutered as you will continue the feral cat problem otherwise.

 

[LizzyJo]

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