Columbia Gorge Cat Rescue
gorgecat.org
Here are the basics of using a humane trap in advance of your clinic appointment.
DO NOT TRAP IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CLINIC APPOINTMENT
PLEASE NOTE: you need to have one trap per kitty you are trapping to bring to us – it works best if you start 4 days prior to your clinic appointment
DAY 1 AND 2
Goal is to acclimate cats to the trap before trapping. Place trap in area where the cat is used to eating but best against a wall (as opposed to out in the open). IMPORTANT Face the opening of the trap where you can see it from a distance. Tie trap open - FEED IN TRAPS ONLY using soft food or smelly fish or tuna at the back of the trap, cover each one with a towel on top – it is very important you do this at the same time every day – dawn/dusk work best unless you have a set time the cats are already used to, keep that time & location the same if once exists, if not use a sheltered quiet spot away from activity. Do not leave food out overnight. It will attract wildlife.
DAY 3
Leave traps secured open and covered in the same spot but DO NOT FEED the entire day or just tiny amounts so the cat is hungry for trapping day
DAY 4
This time untie trap and set it following the instructional images below – re-cover the traps and be on the watch. Make sure you can see the trap from a distance. Do not go near the trap for the 1st 2 hours to give them time to investigate – and don’t keep going to the traps, its best to check from afar! Do not leave traps unattended. They are vulnerable to predators and meddlers once trapped.
Once a cat has been trapped, make sure the trap is completely covered with a towel or sheet. This will help keep the cat calm and from hurting itself. Remove the cat from the trapping site – keep it covered and move it to a garage or enclosed space without activity so they have very little stimulus – the exception to this is for mothers & kitten litters being trapped, whichever one you get 1st move the set traps so the back of the trap abuts the other cat and cover them together so the kitty seeks out its mom or kitten at the back of the trap – they are the best bait for each other.
KEEP THE TRAP COVERED FOR TRANSPORT TO THE CLINIC. We suggest putting down plastic or absorbent paper in your car prior to putting the trap in.
USING AND SETTING A TRAP - INSTRUCTIONAL IMAGES BELOW
STEP #1
Using one finger, push in near the top (AVOID all the tension wires, only place the finger on front gate as shown
STEP #2
Pushing in on the front gate; use other hand and lift both gates using the finger loop at the bottom of the front gate.
STEP #3
Holding both gates open with left hand; use one finger of right hand and reaching INSIDE the trap place the trigger on the little gold roll bar. Note: some of our older traps do not have the roll bar-they will just catch on a gate wire.A good illustration from the top of the trap putting the trigger in place.
STEP #4
Place about 1/3 can of soft cat food or smelly fish on a paper plate and place at the the very rear past the trip plate. Cat must step on the trip plate to close the door.Its VERY important that the back be secured LOOP over LOOP and latched with the snap closure
For more great information and tips on trapping you can visit NeighborhoodCats.org
