TRAPS

Quick Tips for Trapping Hard-to-Catch Cats

1. Use Smelly Bait
　　Try canned sardines, mackerel, or warmed fried chicken for better results.

2. Non-Food Bait
　　Use catnip in a small pouch behind the trip plate to lure some cats.

3. Hang the Bait
　　Hang bait like fried chicken from the top of the trap to make it more tempting.

4. Use Kittens
　　To catch a mother cat, place her kittens in a carrier near the trap to lure her in.

5. Cover the Trip Plate
　　Use newspaper to cover the plate so cats don’t notice it.

6. Cover the Trap
　　Some cats prefer entering covered spaces, so try using a sheet over the trap.

7. Disguise the Trap
　　Place the trap inside a box or bag to attract curious cats.

8. Check for Other Feeders
　　Ensure no one else is feeding the cat before you trap.

9. Train the Cat
　　Leave the trap open for a few days so the cat gets used to it.

10. Try New Locations or Times
　　Move the trap to a quieter spot or trap at a different time.

These simple strategies can help you trap even the trickiest cats!

Learn More

Trapping Do's and Don't

DO:

Use a sturdy and safe trap. Do not use anything collapsible (if this is unavoidable use zipties ties to secure the trap BEFORE trapping.

Set the trap on firm ground to prevent it from wobbling when the cats step inside.

Use smelly food as your bait. Wet cat food, tuna, sardines, fried chicken etc...

Place a tiny bit of food at the entrance and a trail of additional food leading to a larger amount all the way at the back of the traps. Don't put the food in a bowl or leave it in the can because a panicky, thrashing cat can easily be injured by these containers. Use a paper plate or paper towel instead.

Zips tie the door shut after catching your kitty!

Cover the cat with a towel or blanket to help them calm down. On a warm day use a lightweight sheet. Be sure there's enough air.

Move them to a temperature controlled environment while awaiting transport to the vet (l.e bathroom, garage, out of sun etc)

Trap training before a planned trap is a wonderful idea and helps acclimate the cat to an unfamiliar item, set food around the trap with the door closed or zip tie the door open and allow free feeding inside.. not trapping the cat.

Do not trap without a plan! You should have an appointment or permission from admin to trap PRIOR to doing so.

Do not use Harbour Freight traps! Too many cats escape out of them. (If you insist on using, ziptie the crap out of the back door before trapping and the front door after trapping)

Do not leave trapped cats outside without protection. They should be moved to a safe environment after they have been trapped to ensure no harm comes to them and no one lets them out.

NEVER release a cat prior to spay/neuter for any reason other than a the cat is already tipped!

NEVER TRANSPORT IN THE BED OF A TRUCK! This is how cats get killed, not to mention it is terrifying for them.

DON'T:

I need to spay/neuter a feral/stray/community cat. What do I do?

1. Make a Plan Before You Trap!!!

If possible, start trap training.
Find out where you can take him - here are some options:

a. Fresno T.N.R. (FTNR) - Private message through Facebook Messenger a BRIEF message to
an admin - Cassie Garcia / Savannah Hill / Brandi Sherman. $30 includes rabies, FVRCP
vaccines and ear tip. $45 without ear tip. You can post in our main group and ask for a sponsor if you can’t
afford the cost.
b. Central Valley Spay/Neuter cvfix.org- Appointments drop online Sun around 2:00 PM for
the next week. $20 includes rabies vaccine, and you can request ear tip. FVRCP vaccine is
additional $20. Feral or owned okay.
c. SPCA ccspca.com - $80 for feral cats, proof of rabies is required or they will vaccinate for
an additional fee. Appointments are booked out about a month.
d. H.O.P.E. hopeaf.com - Appointments are usually available within a week. $130 for feral cats,
includes rabies and ear tip. $75 for owned/friendly cats, surgery only. You can request ear tip
for a friendly for $5 additional.
e. Cat House on the Kings cathouseonthekings.com You can get vouchers online. $30 includes
ear tip. Additional $25 for rabies vaccine. Sometimes vouchers also include vaccines.
If you register as a trapper to do colonies and use trapper vouchers, ear tip is mandatory.
You will make the appointment at their cooperating vets. They are often booked out a month.
f. Private Vet - Call for prices and to confirm that they will do feral cats.

PLEASE VERIFY ALL PRICES YOURSELF

2. You've Made an Appointment or Received Approval From FTNR

Trap the cat. There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to trap for TNR.
Learn and then ask questions on the Fresno T.N.R. Facebook page.
Never leave the trap unattended! Animals and people can harm a trapped cat!

3. You've Caught Him!

a. Trap must be covered and kept in a secure, climate controlled place, and away
from other animals.
b. Open the trap door 1” to slip in a paper plate with wet food mixed with a little
water to keep him hydrated. Don’t feed after midnight the day before surgery.
c. Zip tie the door closed when not feeding. Cats can escape and harm
themselves doing so.
d. Keep the trap on pee pads or newspaper - it will get messy.

4. Drop-off/Pick-up Cat When and Where You Are Told

If transportation is a problem, figure it out ahead of time.
Be prepared to hold him in the trap to recover for 24-48 hours after surgery.
If you are using FTNR, you can ask for help on the Facebook page with transport
or recovery.

If you are a no-show, a valuable vet appointment is wasted!

How to Sanitize Your Traps, Crates, and Kennels

It’s important to sanitize after each use to protect your pet from diseases.

Here are some easy options:

Bleach Solution

Use 5% household bleach, diluted 1:32 (1/2 cup per gallon of water).
Do not use splashless bleach!

KennelSol Cleaner

A 1-step disinfectant and

deodorizer for kennels.
Available on Amazon: KennelSol

REScue Disinfectant

Ready-to-use disinfectant for animal shelters and homes.

Available on Amazon: REScue

Where to Purchase Traps

Tomahawk Live Trap: Tomahawk provides humane animal traps, enclosures, and handling equipment commonly used in TNVR, rescue, and lost pet recovery efforts. Best Friends Network Partners can use the code DCBESTFRIENDS256 for 10% off any order at livetrap.com. This code is valid through the end of 2026.

Tractor Supply offers different types and size traps. You will want to purchase one that is at least 32"x10"x12" or it will be too small for full grown cats. They do have a pack that comes with a small trap you can find here: CountryLine 2 pack