The New Huntmastersbbs!: Tips on trapping house cats please

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Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on January 20, 2012, 08:37 AM:

I have a neighbor that has at least 20 stray house cats that they are feeding. I want to reduce their numbers and so I purchased a trap. Any tips will be appreciated.
Thanks

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 20, 2012, 09:41 AM:

A small can of cat food on the trip plate, and it's better if there isn't much in it, make them lick the bottom/BANG!

Attaching the can. I used museum wax so I could set it way out on the edge. You do have museum wax for your Swarovski crystals, right?

Good luck, El Bee

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on January 20, 2012, 10:09 AM:

Cage trap or foothold????

Posted by Jay Nistetter (Member # 140) on January 20, 2012, 10:51 AM:

I've had the best luck using cheap hotdogs. Worked far better than cans of cat food in my area. Can't explain why. It just worked.

Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on January 20, 2012, 11:23 AM:

Cage trap and what in Sam's name is museum wax? Also, I can't afford anything with Swarovski written on it.

[ January 20, 2012, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: Aznative ]

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on January 20, 2012, 12:10 PM:

Go with the cat food then,, Lay a couple of 2x4 on the ground (flat) leaveing enough room to place a openned can of cat food in between the two 2x4 at one end. Place the cage trap on top of the two 2x4's.. This way the cat can enter the cage but cant get at the can of cat food so it will work the cage more and set it off....

What you gonna do when you catch one?????
Have you ever played cat skeet???? [Big Grin]

[ January 20, 2012, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]

Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on January 20, 2012, 12:37 PM:

What is cat skeet?

[ January 20, 2012, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: Aznative ]

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 20, 2012, 01:09 PM:

Anybody else get that squirrel skeet video from Steve Craig?

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on January 20, 2012, 02:06 PM:

Aznative;
Cheap advice..............Maintain a really low profile and don't get caught. Above all, remember; The fish wouldn't have gotten caught if it had kept it's mouth shut. Say nothing / admit nothing.

Posted by JD (Member # 768) on January 20, 2012, 03:41 PM:

And for cryin out loud don't video tape it and put it on you tube. [Smile]

Send it to me instead.

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on January 20, 2012, 04:08 PM:

quote:
What is cat skeet?

LOL

We have a guy here in town that live catches cats that are causeing trouble, he takes them to a vacant farm that has a 1/2 mile long driveway..
He parks at on end of it and then gets the cage out of the truck with the cat in it.. He gets his shotgun and holds it in one hand while he shakes up the cage with the other and then opens the door. I'm sure you can figure out the rest...

Disclaimer: stray cats and dogs are not protected here so no laws were broken... Have fun... [Big Grin]

Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on January 20, 2012, 05:17 PM:

TA: I kinda guessed,but I never though of shaking kitty up before turning kitty loose.

Az has a fairly tough animal cruelty law, and Sheriff Joe even has a special task force so mum is the word guys. Anything with a collar gets out of jail free. All else gets relocated.

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on January 20, 2012, 05:21 PM:

quote:
I kinda guessed,but I never though of shaking kitty up before turning kitty loose.

LOL Yeah it has about the same effect as kicking a dog in the azz.

Good luck with the cats and mums the word....

Posted by the bearhunter (Member # 3552) on January 20, 2012, 05:48 PM:

i would use a cage trap if there was any chance of someone finding out. would cause bad relations if owners kids were to see puddy in foot hold/conibear.
puddy skeet sound fun>
PULL!! [Smile]

Posted by EO caller (Member # 4058) on January 21, 2012, 12:42 AM:

Whatever you do don't trip and drop the trap into a water trough with the poor kitty inside.

Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on January 21, 2012, 08:05 AM:

Cats 1, Aznative 0
Yesterday I simply set the trap up and thru some tuna fish behind the trip plate. I went out there this morning and found no kitty and no tuna fish. I'll try the 2x4 trick next. If nothing else at least one kitty will fear the trap even less. I'm also thinking about installing it inside a shed with a hole cut in the shed's wall aligned with the trap entrance. That way the trap won't be as visible if someone was to simply go looking around my property.

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 21, 2012, 08:47 AM:

Hmm? Dropping a cage in water? A damned cat can swim like a seal in a cage, for about a minute. I've heard that said? Fluffy says you guys are bad men!

Speaking of Fluffy. He is outside the slider ever since I got up this morning. (under the eave) It's raining hard and he doesn't want to walk around the side and get in the house through the garage kitty door. He doesn't know that it's supposed to rain for three days and he will have to get his feet wet, at some point. Meanwhile, he won't get breakfast...maybe I will set it by the door where he can see it? That might jog his brain cells? And, stop calling him FLUFFY!

Good hunting. LB

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on January 21, 2012, 10:19 AM:

OK, here are some helpful hints on live trapping.

http://www.gemplers.com/product/72824/8x7x24-Live-Trap-Sliding-Rear-Door
On most of the commercially made cage traps like this one, the pan that they must step on is too short, which makes it too easy for animal to step or jump over the pan, steal the bait and leave. Take a piece of plywood and cut it so that you can lean front of the board onto the trip pan, so the animal needs to walk up the board in attempt to get the bait. Now your bait needs to be somewhat hard to get at. What I used to do was drill a small hole near the top of a two pound coffee can so that I could fasten bailing wire to the can, place smelly fish like mackeral in the can and hang it at rear of the cage. Can is wired to top of cage so that it hangs a few inches from bottom of cage. raccoon, or cat in this case walks up the board, trips the pan and BINGO, you have your critter.

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 21, 2012, 10:50 AM:

Fluffy got tired of waiting and found his way into the house, soaking wet, I might add. Not to worry, he begged and breakfast was served, but he's still bitching.

For me, I am quite sure I will catch more opossums than cats. Have not seen Rocky in a coon's age?

Good hunting. LB

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on January 21, 2012, 12:59 PM:

quote:
Have not seen Rocky in a coon's age?

Neighbors proably figured you are too soft with Rocky and got the job done themselves... [Wink]

Vic one of the problems with the havaheart or simular cage traps is the pan or trigger is'nt very adjustable thats why I mentioned putting the bait under the trap so they have to work for it and hoefully set it off...
I had some cages out for rockies cousins this year and had one trap that had the door shut and empty every time I went to check it.. I put the bait underneath and caught the critter that was stealing my bait..(cat)

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