communitycatsofreno@yahoo.com
Trapping is generally a three day process.
Day One - Set traps for cats the evening before your clinic appointments, after you have prepared for success.
Make sure you are clear on location, day and time of pick up and drop off, costs, etc.
Preparation for Trapping
Clinics are usually requiring appointments. It's important you make these arrangements prior to trapping.
Towel to line the trap floor.
• Blanket or sheet large enough to cover the entire trap
• Plastic lid or small paper plate to hold the bait.
• Tuna fish, sardines, chicken, canned cat food for bait.
2. Do not do the regular feeding day before cat(s) will be go to clinic. Planning your trapping session at, or shortly after, the regular feeding time is often effective. Some hunger will make the bait more attractive.
3. Put a towel on the floor of the trap to cover the platform (release mechanism) and the mesh floor of the trap.
4. Place the bait on the plastic lid or paper plate and place it at the end furthest from the trap entry, beyond the platform release mechanism. Be sure that the food will not interfere with the release mechanism. Make a sparse trail of dry kibble leading from set open door of trap to the closed end where bait is.
5. Set the trap and put cover on trap. Covering all but the door opening to the trap often gives the best results, (make sure that the cover will not obstruct the door closing). If the cats remain nervous and will not enter the trap you may try uncovering the back end, or leaving the entire trap uncovered
6. Now you wait. Do not leave visual range, but watch at a distance that is not disturbing to the cats. Never leave a trap unattended. (Sitting in a car nearby works well.).
7. As soon as the cat is trapped, make sure cover is over the entire trap to calm and quiet the animal. Do not open trap door. Make sure trap is securely closed. Place cat in a quiet, safe place until transporting the next morning to the clinic. Always keep cat covered.
8. Keep a record of the cats that you trap. If it is possible to take a photo of each cat this is ideal. In any case you will want to record the description, sex, approximate age, dates of trapping and vaccinations for each cat.
Day Two:
Transport cats to clinic at appointment time, following instructions provided by clinic of your choice. Cats must arrive at clinic in a covered trap.
Make sure you are clear on location, day and time of pick up and drop off, if a carrier is required for recovery, costs, etc.
Cat should be kept warm for 12 hours after their surgery because they cannot control their body temperature.
Day Three:
Cats can be released the following morning where they were trapped – gently and away from traffic. Feral cats experience stress while in captivity they should not be held longer than necessary.
Please email Community Cats to borrow traps or assistance with making appointments, etc. communitycatsofreno@yahoo.com
FAQs
How are feral/unsocialized cats different from other cats?
A stray is a domestic cat that has been lost or abandoned. Strays are usually socialized. A feral cat, in contrast, is a cat that has reverted to a wild state, or is the offspring of a domestic or feral/unsocialized cat.
Ferals are not socialized, they often live in family groups, called colonies, near a reliable food source and shelter. Research indicates that most cats that start off as strays will eventually become fully feral/unsocialized after three years of living outdoors with minimal human contact. While socialized strays may often be placed for adoption, feral/unsocialized cats do best in managed colony settings.
Isn't it inhumane to sterilize and just send the cats back out on the streets?
When we return cats post-surgery, we are returning them to their home, their colony and the person who has already been caring for them. To participate in our TNR program, colony caregivers must agree to continue to provide food, water and shelter for their colony cats.
Are feral cats sickly?
It has been shown that cats that have been through a TNR program live longer, healthier lives. This is due to vaccinations and the decreased desire to wander.
What medical care do the cats receive besides spaying or neutering?
All cats who enter our program receive both rabies and FVRCP vaccines, a basic exam and a long acting antibiotic injection. Additional treatment for parasites or minor injuries will also be provided as needed.
Where do cats recover post-surgery?
The cats will be left in their carriers, provided by the caretaker, for recovery from surgery and/or medical treatment. We expect the colony caretaker to make sure the cats remain in a quiet, warm, dry environment at least overnight after surgery. No food or water is to be given until the following morning.
How can you tell if a trapped cat has already been spayed/neutered as a result of the TNR process?
The international sign used to indicate that a cat is a spayed/neutered member of a feral cat colony is ear tipping. A painless procedure, ear tipping involves removing the top 1/4" off a cat's left ear while the cat is under anesthesia.
The tipped ear allows the cat to be identified from a distance which is especially important for these unsocialized cats. If you trap a cat with an tipped ear, you should release the cat.
What do I do to get rid of a colony?
Colonies form from the advantages the cats find in the area, such as shelter, food, and water. While the removal of some cats may seem like an option, it will actually be a never ending task. There will always be those cats that can't be trapped, but are still being fed, so others will come. Spayed/Neutered cats will tend to roam less and rarely will allow new cats to join the colony, thus keeping the colony in check.
In residential and industrial areas there are usually more than one caretaker.
The best alternative available is to use our program in an effort to control the population, while also stabilizing the health of these ferals. All cats who enter our program receive both rabies and FVRCP vaccines and will have their left ear tipped. Ear tipping is an international sign used to indicate that a cat is a spayed/neutered member of a feral cat colony.Feral cats can minimize rodent problems, keeping their populations in check and discouraging rodents from moving into the area.
How do I migrate my feral cats into another colony?
This is not recommended.
Formed colonies do not accept strangers. A cat placed in an already formed colony will not be accepted and be forced to move on.
