Trapping FAQ #1

Trapping FAQs

How do I safely & humanely trap a cat so that I can take her to a veterinarian?

Become familiar with the trap before attempting to use it. NEVER leave a set trap unattended. On the day that you plan to trap, watch the trap from a comfortable distance. The instant the trap is sprung, move the cat to a safe area indoors.

See our TNR Checklist for step-by-step instructions.

1		We recommend the Tomahawk® or Havahart® trap size shown with a soccer ball for size comparison. The top of the trap has a handle. The front of the trap is the one that has the slanted door. The rear of the trap has a flat back panel. Some traps have two slanted doors and no flat rear panel. In that case, use either door.
2		Open the trap by lifting the wire handle that secures the trap door.
3		While holding the wire handle up, push the spring mechanism in and pull the door up until it is parallel with the ground.
4		Put your hand under the door to hold it up, and tug the arm that runs the length of the trap downward and toward the open door.
5		There is a small hook at the end of the arm closest to the open door. Place the hook in the notch to set the trap. Set the trap on level ground for best results.
6		When the trap is set, the trip plate will be slanted upwards. When the cat walks into the trap, he must step on the trip plate to cause the door to shut behind him.
7		If you have the trap for a week or two, we have had great success with getting the cat accustomed to eating in an open, unset trap for a few days, then setting it the day you wish to trap. Secure the door in an open position by using twist-ties. It's unset because even if the cat steps on the trip plate, the trap will not be sprung.
8		Place signage on the trap to alert others of your good intentions. Place the signage in a plastic baggie to prevent damage from rain or snow, and rest it on top of the trap.
9		Cover the trap with an old sheet, blanket or towel. This will help the cat to feel safe and will prevent the cat from trying to snatch a morsel through the wire from outside the trap. Tuck the cover underneath the trap, or secure it with safety pins from the outside, to prevent the wind from causing it to flap & possibly frighten the cat. Line the trap floor with a few sheets of newspaper; cats don't like the feeling of wire mesh between their toes. Put the trap in a quiet, out-of-the-way area where the cat is accustomed to eating. The trap is shown here out in the open so that the photos are clear. Put the food at the opening of the trap the first day, and gradually move the food plate back a couple of inches each day until it's near the trip plate.
10		Plan to trap the night before or early the morning of your veterinary appointment. Untie & discard the twist-ties. Place a small amount of food on a paper plate underneath the trap, and behind the trip plate, as shown. This will ensure that the cat must step on the trip plate to get to the food, and will eliminate the need to remove the food from the trap after it has been sprung.
11		Place the trap on top of the food, even if it's wet. Trust us, it's going to get a lot messier from here. Make sure that the layers of newspaper do not prevent the door from closing. Push it in a couple of inches just to be safe. If the newspaper halts the spring action of the trap door for even a few seconds, the cat could escape before the door is securely shut.
12		This stuffed animal is about the size of a 15-18 lb. cat. The trap is uncovered so the view is not obscured, but your trap should be covered as shown in photo #9 when trapping.
13		When the cat steps on the trip plate to get to the food beyond it, the trap door will shut securely behind him. Immediately move the cat to a safe, quiet, temperate indoor environment, keeping the trap covered.