Helpful TNR Tips
Stubborn Kittens
Inevitably you will come across a kitten you’re trying to trap that just does not want to be caught. She’s wedged herself into a hard to reach hiding place and refuses to leave, regardless of how patiently you wait or what kind of delicious bait you use. When all other options fail, try turning to YouTube. Find a video of kittens meowing and put your phone under a drop trap or near the back of a box trap. Chances are, your stubborn kitten will come out to investigate these other ‘kittens’ and possible to trap.
Lightweight Tips
For kittens who are too lightweight to set off the trip plate, try resting the tip of the trigger against the trap’s crossbar instead of the elbow of the trigger. Doing this means it will require less weight to lower the trip plate and therefore shut the trap door. When using this method, it is wise to use the bottle and string technique in order to reduce the chances of another kitten getting stuck or potentially injured by the front door.
Catching Mama Cat
Once you’ve successfully trapped a litter of kittens, next you need to trap the mama. One effective technique is to put the kittens in a carrier and position the front door against the rear door of the trip. Place a sheet over the carrier and the trap, so that only the trap’s front door is uncovered. This way, mama will only be able to see her babies through the trap, and in order to reach them, she has no choice but to go in. Remember, however, when using this method, never leave the kittens unsupervised and stop after an hour so they don’t get fatigued.
Helpful Headgear
When trapping at night, performing even basic tasks can become complicated. Instead of using a flashlight, try switching to a headlamp. Using a headlamp means both your hands are free to do all the other important things that need to be done for the trapping.
Grease Up
Are your traps’ moving parts performing as well as they should? The last thing you want to happen is failing to catch a cat because something went wrong with your trap. One solution to this problem is to use a non-stick vegetable oil spray to grease up your traps. It’s safe for cats and can be bought at any supermarket. Apply a small amount to the trigger, trip plate hinges, and any other parts that are sticking. Using a butter-flavored spray will help lure the cats inside. After you’re done trapping, make sure to thoroughly clean the traps.
Garden Hose Helpers
Lifting and carrying cats around after a long day or night can start to wear and tear on your hands. Those metal handles are unforgiving and can leave you with achy fingers and palms, as well as sometimes blisters. To combat this, take a regular garden house and cut it into handle-sized pieces. Cut each piece open length-wise, place it over the trap handles, and wrap in place with duct tape.
Cheap Sheets
Many trappers use full-size sheets as trap covers. However, fitted crib sheets are an excellent alternative. Because crib sheets are smaller, they fit snuggly around a trap and don’t slip. Crib sheets can be found at most thrift stores and are very inexpensive.
Widening the Trip Plates
Traps with narrow trip plates, such as ones designed for animals other than cats, can make it difficult to trap your cats. More clever cats will simply step over or around the trip plate in order to reach the bait at the end of the trap. One solution to this problem is to extend the trip plate with a piece of cardboard. Cut a piece slightly less than the width of the trap, about seven inches long. Then, duct tape it to the middle of the trip plate. This way, it will be much more difficult for the cat to avoid stepping on either the cardboard or the metal.
Inevitably you will come across a kitten you’re trying to trap that just does not want to be caught. She’s wedged herself into a hard to reach hiding place and refuses to leave, regardless of how patiently you wait or what kind of delicious bait you use. When all other options fail, try turning to YouTube. Find a video of kittens meowing and put your phone under a drop trap or near the back of a box trap. Chances are, your stubborn kitten will come out to investigate these other ‘kittens’ and possible to trap.
Lightweight Tips
For kittens who are too lightweight to set off the trip plate, try resting the tip of the trigger against the trap’s crossbar instead of the elbow of the trigger. Doing this means it will require less weight to lower the trip plate and therefore shut the trap door. When using this method, it is wise to use the bottle and string technique in order to reduce the chances of another kitten getting stuck or potentially injured by the front door.
Catching Mama Cat
Once you’ve successfully trapped a litter of kittens, next you need to trap the mama. One effective technique is to put the kittens in a carrier and position the front door against the rear door of the trip. Place a sheet over the carrier and the trap, so that only the trap’s front door is uncovered. This way, mama will only be able to see her babies through the trap, and in order to reach them, she has no choice but to go in. Remember, however, when using this method, never leave the kittens unsupervised and stop after an hour so they don’t get fatigued.
Helpful Headgear
When trapping at night, performing even basic tasks can become complicated. Instead of using a flashlight, try switching to a headlamp. Using a headlamp means both your hands are free to do all the other important things that need to be done for the trapping.
Grease Up
Are your traps’ moving parts performing as well as they should? The last thing you want to happen is failing to catch a cat because something went wrong with your trap. One solution to this problem is to use a non-stick vegetable oil spray to grease up your traps. It’s safe for cats and can be bought at any supermarket. Apply a small amount to the trigger, trip plate hinges, and any other parts that are sticking. Using a butter-flavored spray will help lure the cats inside. After you’re done trapping, make sure to thoroughly clean the traps.
Garden Hose Helpers
Lifting and carrying cats around after a long day or night can start to wear and tear on your hands. Those metal handles are unforgiving and can leave you with achy fingers and palms, as well as sometimes blisters. To combat this, take a regular garden house and cut it into handle-sized pieces. Cut each piece open length-wise, place it over the trap handles, and wrap in place with duct tape.
Cheap Sheets
Many trappers use full-size sheets as trap covers. However, fitted crib sheets are an excellent alternative. Because crib sheets are smaller, they fit snuggly around a trap and don’t slip. Crib sheets can be found at most thrift stores and are very inexpensive.
Widening the Trip Plates
Traps with narrow trip plates, such as ones designed for animals other than cats, can make it difficult to trap your cats. More clever cats will simply step over or around the trip plate in order to reach the bait at the end of the trap. One solution to this problem is to extend the trip plate with a piece of cardboard. Cut a piece slightly less than the width of the trap, about seven inches long. Then, duct tape it to the middle of the trip plate. This way, it will be much more difficult for the cat to avoid stepping on either the cardboard or the metal.