Situations arise when animals end up on the street due to their excessive curiosity or instincts. Then the owner begins to think about how to catch the cat. Often there is a need to return a lost animal to its owner or catch a stray cat in order to take it to a shelter. You need to know how to properly catch a stray cat so as not to harm either her or yourself.
Hide the trigger plate
The cat may have learned to recognize the plate covering the hatch and learn how to avoid it. To prevent her from tiptoeing on and around the dish, try covering it and some of the bottom of the trap in front and behind it with newspaper or cloth.
Or cut a piece of cardboard slightly narrower than the width of your trap and a couple of inches longer than the trigger plate. Tape the cardboard to the middle of the plate and loosely to the bottom of the trap. Cats won't be able to step over the trigger so easily!
Finding a new home for a street cat
If there is no doubt that the animal is a stray, or after a long time the old owner is not found, measures should be taken to rehome the cat.
The chance of quickly placing a foundling in a new home increases if the animal is sterilized (neutered). When visiting a veterinarian, you can decide on an operation or find out about a preferential sterilization facility. Some shelters pay for sterilization themselves. It is much easier to adopt a sterilized or neutered cat than their mature relatives.
The style of presentation of the ad is of no small importance. The text should be interesting and original. A photo of a pet in unusual poses will also pique the potential owner’s interest and speed up the process of finding a new home.
A decision such as surrendering an animal to a shelter is a last resort. For a stray animal, this option is, of course, better than living on the street.
Good shot of a cat
Having caught a cat on the street, you should clearly understand that it is necessary to take measures to find its owner. At the same time, it is necessary to conduct a veterinary examination of the pet and treat the cat for worms and fleas. It may be necessary to treat the sick animal or sterilize it if the owner is not available. Finding an old owner or a new home can take some time. During this period, it is necessary to take on all the care of the pet (feeding, hygiene procedures, treatment, disease prevention, etc.).
Use a drip eliminator
If a standard box trap just won't do it, try using a drip trap. It's a large mesh box that you prop up and launch manually using a rope. Be sure to place the drip trap on a level surface and have a partner, as the size of the traps makes them difficult to handle alone. Prop the trap with a wooden stick or a full bottle tied with rope, leaving enough rope so that you can hide a few meters away and hold the end of it.
Bait the trap with plenty of food in case cats you don't want to catch wander in before your target. Don't trigger the trap until your target cat is inside; if she sees other cats trapped, she will stay away! Once you have set the trap and caught the desired cat, immediately cover it with a sheet and prepare a trap box. Move the cat into a trap box to make it easier to contain and transport.
Correct assessment of the situation
This is the first thing the expert recommends doing. You should find out if there is a mother cat nearby. Perhaps she left her baby for a while to get some food. However, you cannot ask the kitten about this directly, so you will have to wait a while. You should position yourself close to the abandoned kitten, but do it in such a way as to remain unnoticed and not scare it away.
Be patient if you really want to help a lonely kitten and not take it away from its mother who may have been gone for a while. Animals usually go in search of food in the daytime. If the kitten is left alone in the morning or evening, this indicates that it has indeed been abandoned. However, it is still better to wait for the cat to return to be sure.
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To make sure it really is a stray kitten, the expert recommends talking to your neighbors. It is possible that this is a missing pet that the owners have been looking for for a long time. Talk to people who live near you to get information. You can also post flyers around the area to make sure no one is looking for your missing kitten.
Lure your cat into a more confined space
It's easier to catch a trap when you don't have to do it outdoors! Place food in a smaller space that you can get close to, such as a garage or shed. Hide and wait for the cat to come in, then close the door behind it. Before you lure your kitten in, prepare the room.
Clear the space of any possible hiding places, then lean one large board against the wall. Set up a trap box and hide it behind the board. When a cat is confined to a smaller space, it will immediately try to find the nearest hiding place. Since you only left her with one option, she will rush behind the board and possibly straight into a trap.
Some useful tips for catching wild cats
Cheetah kitten trap in Africa and a good ending
Whatever method you choose to catch a wild cat, you will have to face some serious challenges. The main one is the wariness of cats. To overcome this, here are some helpful tips you might want to try.
Find tight spaces
Whether you use a blanket, trap or carrier, the task of capturing a feral cat becomes easier if it has limited available exit points. If possible, coax your feral cat into a confined space using food or treats. Once inside this enclosed space, you can wait and find the right opportunity to make your move, while reducing the likelihood that the cat will run after it.
Hide the trap
If you are using a dropper or carrier to trap a feral cat, you must force it to blend into its surroundings.
For example, if you are trying to catch a cat in the garden, you should place the trap near the bushes. You can place additional leaves and twigs on top and around the trap. Alternatively, you can use a towel or similar cloth and drape it over the trap.
Ask a partner for help.
Any job becomes easier when there is someone who can help you. If you are planning to trap a feral cat, ask a family member or friend for help. An extra set of hands can be invaluable. For example, another person can close the door of the carrier while you lure the cat with a laser pointer.
Call the professionals
When all else fails, don't hesitate to call in a professional, especially if the wild cat you're trying to catch needs immediate help. Contact your local animal control department or volunteer animal control organization for help. They may have all the necessary tools and skills to catch the cat. In addition, professionals can also help you stay out of trouble while minimizing disturbance to your feral cat.
Use the cat's kittens to catch her
Kittens are a powerful lure for avoidant cats. If you manage to catch her kittens first, place them in a carrier or other box trap and place its door on the back of the trap you plan to use to catch the mother.
Place a dark sheet or towel over everything except the entrance to the mom trap. Mom will think she can see her kittens through a dark tunnel and will walk into a trap to get to them. If it's cold outside, keep the kittens warm by lining their carriers or the floor with the trap with a towel and placing a couple of hot water bottles under them.
When to contact a specialist?
If an escaped cat climbed a tree or fell into a sewer hatch, it is better not to climb yourself, so as not to get hurt. There is a special rescue service for catching wild animals. We need to contact them. They will help you get the animal without causing harm. If an escaped pet shows signs of rabies or other dangerous diseases, you should not approach it under any circumstances. This is done by specially trained people together with the veterinary service.
Having set out to help a street animal, a person inevitably faces the need to catch it. Everything is easy and simple if the cat reaches out to you when it meets you, demonstrating exceptional friendliness. Such animals are waiting for human help, and picking them up from the street is not difficult.
However, the situation is completely different with timid and cautious cats, who do not really trust humans and prefer to keep their distance. In addition, it is important to distinguish a potentially aggressive animal from one that is simply fearful. Volunteers of the Murkosha shelter talked about how to do this and what behavioral tactics to choose in the article “How to distinguish a wild cat from a shy one? ".
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Important! When interacting with stray animals on the street, use disposable medical gloves. As a rule, novice volunteers have a vague idea of the capture process, so next we decided to answer the most frequently asked questions to help you figure it out.
Can all cats be caught and which ones do not need to be caught? To improve the situation with homeless animals, the catch, sterilization, vaccination and release (TSRV) program works well. There is quite good evidence of this practice even without a subsequent device, which, of course, is still preferable. The more street animals pass through the WWTP through volunteers and charitable organizations, the higher the effectiveness of our joint work. But there are still a few exceptions that a novice volunteer should take into account. 1) It is obvious that cats on their own, although they are exposed to great danger, are still domestic. Since not all such pets have collars, it is better to check with your neighbors in the yard if the cat belongs to one of the local residents and make sure that it is ownerless before grabbing the cat catcher. 2) A cat with signs of rabies (aggressiveness, drooling, convulsions, paralysis, etc.) must be taken from the street, BUT not you. Contact the service for catching stray animals, reporting the symptoms, external signs of the animal and the exact address. 3) Some cats have adapted to life on the street so much that they behave in the urban jungle like their wild relatives. They are very careful, hide well and run away at the slightest sign of danger. Of course, such animals are worth catching in order to be sterilized, vaccinated and released back, but this is really very difficult to do.
What do I need to catch it myself? 1. Kotolovka. A special trap for cats with a tightly slamming door. Perfect option. You can ask about rentals at animal protection organizations, shelters, or among experienced volunteers. If not found, use the next option. 2. Carrying. For your purposes, you need a durable plastic carrier with a removable lid and a metal door. Firstly, the presence of a door allows it to be used as a trap, secondly, such material is easy to disinfect, and thirdly, a removable lid will allow the veterinarian in the clinic to most carefully remove a cat from the carrier in a state of severe stress. 3. A fragrant and tasty treat. Used as bait and positive reinforcement. 4. Plastic bowl. Wet food suitable as a treat should not be placed directly on the ground. 5. Time and patience. In addition to the direct process of catching, feel free to spend several days taming a timid animal. Yes, with a competent approach, it may take some time, exceeding one free day, but the likelihood of a successful outcome of the operation increases. And it's better for the animal. Be prepared in advance for the fact that catching and all subsequent mandatory activities will take you the whole day.
Important! Blankets, rugs, sheets and similar items are not suitable for catching a cat. You risk missing, since a person’s reaction is inferior to a cat’s, and after such an attack the cat will no longer come within a cannon shot of you. In addition, you can overdo it and harm the animal, or it itself will rush to attack, defending itself.
How to catch a cat on the street? Earn her trust and offer favorable conditions. The simplest thing is to feed the animal in the morning and/or evening. At first, you leave food (choose one type and do not change in the process) near the cat’s shelter and move away at a respectful distance. With each feeding, reduce the distance a little. When the cat stops being afraid of you and begins to let you approach, offer her food inside the carrier. This stage is also carried out in several passes: at first the food is almost on the threshold, with each feeding move the bowl deeper. As soon as you realize that you can quickly close the door without missing the nimble cat, it’s time to act. Please note that a mistake will cost you lost trust and you will have to start all over again, so there is no need to rush.
This method of capture is much preferable, since harsh methods for cats with weak psyches are a strong psychological trauma, the consequences of which you will have to deal with for a long time. Accordingly, by speeding up the process at the beginning of the journey, you will not achieve anything good and will not gain time.
When should you contact professional trappers? This option may be relevant for you in the following cases: • the cat is aggressive, does not make contact at all and is clearly ready to attack; • the cat hid in some hard-to-reach place and essentially found itself in a trap; • emergency situation (threat of immuring cats in the basement, bullying, demolition of their habitat, etc.) – the choice between stress and death is obvious.
Important! Based on the experience of working with cats at the Murkosha shelter, harsh catching is extremely stressful for cats, greatly undermining their previously weak trust in people . The socialization of such animals subsequently takes a lot of time. Therefore, do not resort to aggressive methods unless necessary. And, of course, choose a specialist based on the recommendations of experienced volunteers.
What should you do next when the cat is caught? Take him to the veterinary clinic, having previously arranged an appointment (highly advisable), so as not to spend half a day in the waiting room with a frightened animal. For detailed information on the necessary tests, precautions in terms of infection safety and the principles of quarantining a stray animal, read the following material from the Murkosha shelter: “Safety rules when communicating with a stray animal".
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Fans of furry creatures are often faced with a situation where they need to catch a cat. The prankster could run away from home during the sexual hunt or end up on the street out of curiosity. And then you have to solve the problem by finding ways to catch the cat. Often there is a need to return a lost pet to its rightful owner or catch a stray cat for further transfer to a shelter or a new owner.
Read in this article
Taming methods
Time and hunger are the most faithful helpers on the path to taming a wild cat. First, the animal must be isolated by placing it in a cage or carrier. It is better to place the cage in a separate room or cover it with a rag, creating the illusion of loneliness for the animal and depriving it of all kinds of entertainment, even the opportunity to observe the situation. There should be no food or toys in the cage, only a bowl of water and a tray.
After your pet has been sitting in the cage for several hours, you need to go up and hand him a piece of tasty food in your palm. This could be some soft food or a small piece of chicken. If the kitten hisses, tries to hit with its paw, backs away, immediately remove your hand and walk away. Try again after a couple of hours. If the result is the same, leave the animal for a few more hours. Sooner or later, hunger will force the cat to come up and take the treat from your hand. Once this has happened, you can consider that half the job is done.
Now the main thing is patience and systematicity. It is necessary to approach the kitten more and more often with small pieces of food, each time giving it food from your hands. If he refuses, immediately leave, taking the treat with him. This way your pet will quickly get used to eating from your hands.
At the same time, you need to start raising your pet. With the cage door slightly open, place your hand close to him (without touching him). Ignore the hissing, but if he tries to attack, then lightly fight back. When the kitten stops objecting and calmly accepts the owner’s hand in close proximity to itself, reward it with a treat.
Frightening look
When the baby is already eating from his hands, it's time for the next step. Holding the food in your palm, you should try to pet the kitten before giving it the food. To his objections, the owner’s reaction is the same - to leave and take away the delicacy. After several approaches, the animal will understand that stroking is pleasant, safe and will accept it with pleasure.
What to do next?
It is recommended to take the captured animal to a veterinary clinic. The veterinarian will examine him and take blood tests to determine his general health and infection status. It should exclude:
- feline distemper;
- feline viral leukemia;
- calicivirus infection;
- feline immunodeficiency virus;
- coronavirus.
Until results for panleukopenia are obtained, it is recommended to leave the animal in an infectious diseases hospital. The cat must be treated for parasites and vaccinated against rabies. The use of a live polyvaccine is required if the results of tests for viral leukemia and immunodeficiency virus are negative. The veterinarian can adjust the timing of vaccinations and prescribe additional tests and procedures.
At first, the animal must be kept in quarantine in a bathroom or on a glazed balcony (at adequate air temperature and no drafts). Subsequently, the cat can be placed or kept with you. It must be taken into account that people are more willing to adopt neutered animals.
Source
Traps are an excellent mechanism for catching
If you are not constantly involved in volunteer activities, then there is no need to buy a special device for catching animals. You can borrow it from a shelter, rent it, or make it yourself. In some cities there are organizations that are interested in catching and sterilizing animals. They can readily rent out a cage for free.
How to catch a cat in a trap? First of all, put on gloves. There is a special device in the center of the trap; attach food to it, and then place the cage in the most suitable place. As soon as the animal enters it and touches the trigger, it will work and the door of the device will slam shut.
It is important to understand that after catching an animal, it must be immediately taken to a veterinarian. The doctor will check the cat’s condition, give the necessary recommendations, vaccinate, and, if necessary, perform castration or sterilization. It is advisable to make an appointment with the veterinarian before you catch the animal. The specialist needs to tell all the details from your observations of the cat.
How to catch an animal that finds itself outside the apartment
First of all, collect your thoughts and try to find out exactly where your pet is. Act collectedly, quickly, but without undue haste. Remember, if you immediately rush into the yard and try to catch the cat, with a 99% chance your attempt will fail.
For a pet that has never crossed the threshold of its apartment before, being on the street is not an easy ordeal. The calmest and most balanced animals in such a situation show unusual aggression, simply not recognizing their owner. Before resorting to more serious methods of catching a fugitive, try the following: put on a jacket and trousers made of thick material, and put thick leather gloves on your hands. Bring along a cat treat or toy that your pet has a strong attachment to. Spray catnip spray on his litter and take it out into the yard. You can apply a little spray to your own sneakers.
You shouldn’t expect that when a pet sees its beloved owner it will immediately rush into your arms. At best, he won't run away. If the cat gets close enough to you, you can try to grab it. But you will have to act very quickly. It will be better to lure your pet with food and, when all its attention is absorbed by a tasty piece, throw your jacket, bag or old blanket over it.
The tricks of catching a cat, which we will talk about in this article, will help you get out of the most difficult situation with honor and return the fugitive home safe and sound.
