Trapping Feral Cats In Winter

Bales of straw are great insulation and a good windbreak.

Trapping feral cats in winter.

In this post i ll explain how to catch a feral cat in a trap in four easy steps. All cat traps are not made equal. Trapping cats in winter may also offer an opportunity to prevent the birth of more kittens come spring. I ve learned through my experience in trapping and socializing feral cats that they are really smart and unless you go in with a plan it s not nearly as easy as it may seem.

Set up your trap in an enclosed area to protect the cat from the cold. For cats who have learned to step lightly to avoid triggering traps slide a stick through the side holes of the trap just in front of the trigger plate and a few inches off the trap floor. Most brands of live trap work essentially the same way but follow the instructions particular to the model you get. This is important because feral cats can serve a purpose in our neighborhoods but a stray mama cat can give birth to 24 kittens in one year and that s a lot of cats roaming the neighborhood.

A medium sized trap should be fine for most feral cats and raccoon sized animals. If possible trap as far away as you can from the shelter you ve built. The cat will be forced to step over the stick and her paw will land harder on the trigger plate just beyond it springing the trap. For more populated colonies go with multiple shelters of a larger size.

Build your winter cat shelter in a safe spot concealed from predators where your feral cats can feel safe. They are resilient and able to live and thrive in all varieties of locations weather conditions and climates. Don t use anything folded on the floor of a shelter. Leave enough time always plan on at least two days to trap an entire colony three days if you re after ten or more cats when mass trappings fail to get all or almost all of the colony it s often because the trapper only allowed for one day and something went wrong like bad weather unexpected foot traffic loud construction noise or a similar disruption.

During winter you cannot safely trap and keep feral free roaming cats warm enough to heal properly after spay neuter surgery. Obtain a live trap. Avoid blankets which absorb. Bedding for feral cat shelters.

The safest way to trap a feral cat or a wild animal of any kind is to use a safe live trap such as the havahart brand. Warm and dry because it resists moisture straw is the top choice for insulation and bedding in your feral cat shelters says alley cat allies. Before trapping feral cats in cold months though it may be wise to first provide a shelter. Step one get the right kind of cat trap.

These cats are already struggling to stay alive and feral cat focus will not put one more obstacle in their way. We believe that fall is the best time to do major tnvr trapping. Cats rely on body heat to stay warm so keep your shelters small for colonies with just a few cats.