Tips for Homemade Cat Traps

Homemade cat traps are used to catch feral or stray cats. A common homemade trap is the drop trap. It is constructed with a wood frame covered in mesh and propped up by a stick on one side. Cats are lured into the trap with food or milk. Once trapped, the cat is quickly moved to a box trap, which is obtained a local humane society, animal control or through an online dealer. The Neighborhood Cats website provides instructions for assembling homemade cat traps.

  1. Location

    • Place the trap in a location far from where you are hiding, yet observable. Locate it in an area the cat has been known to frequent. If possible, place the trap against a wall in order to control where the cat enters the trap, making sure the sliding door on the trap is not obstructed. Leave the trap in the down position a few days before the actual trapping. This helps the cats get used to seeing the trap around.

    Timing

    • Timing is imperative. Pay attention to when the cat or cats are coming around the area. Are they visiting during the day, at night or both? When the time is right, position yourself along with the cord connected to the prop stick. Wait until the cat enters the trap and begins to eat before yanking the cord. Pulling too soon spooks the cat and allows it to run out of the trap.

    Urgency

    • Avoid going back and forth to the trap; this only bring attention to you. Keep a wire box trap or two nearby so that once caught, you are able to get the cat or cats out of the homemade trap as quickly as possible to avoid possible escape or damage to the trap. Once trapped, hold down the homemade trap so the cat does not escape.

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    Transfer

    • Once the cat settles down, place the box trap at the door of the homemade trap and cover it with a towel, leaving the end uncovered to appear as though there is an exit. Open the sliding trap door of the homemade trap. It helps to have some food in the box trap to entice the cat into it. Hold down the box trap with a foot so that the cat does not move it. Rattle the homemade trap to get the cat to move into the other one.

    Practice

    • Cats are able to escape from homemade traps, so practice in order to be better prepared. Practice on a different cat and become familiar with the routine to ensure success when it comes time to trap the problem cat.