How to Make a Trap to Catch a Cat

There are many reasons why you may want to make your own cat trap. Your cat can be skittish in general or selectively perceptive about avoiding upcoming unpleasant experiences, and not come home when you need it to. You may also have a feral cat -- or two or three -- around your home that you want to get to a veterinarian for spaying or neutering. Effective homemade cat traps run the gamut from simple cardboard boxes to elaborate metal drop traps.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • String
  • Prop sticks
  • Bait
  • Cage cover
  • Gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a wooden box frame covered by netting or mesh, or a milk crate for the cage.

    • 2

      Prop the cage up on one side with a prop-stick, such as plastic markers or mini-PVC pipes tall enough for a cat to get inside.

    • 3

      Place strong-smelling bait such as tuna, smoked fish or chicken inside the cage.

    • 4

      Attach a string to the prop-stick. Dropping the cage on the cat yourself requires attaching a long string to the prop-stick only, causing the trap to drop when you pull the string from a location a fair distance away.

    • 5

      Allowing the cat to drop the cage when you are not on the scene requires tying the hanging bait to one side of the string, then tying the other end of the string to the prop-stick. When the cat moves the bait, the attached string is also moved, unbalancing the prop-stick, and causing the cage to fall.