How to Build a Barn Cat Trap

Trapping cats in barns or outbuildings is often the only way to contain the animals for veterinarian treatment or relocation. The same type of trap can be used to capture raccoons or skunks. The wooden trap can be built with limited carpentry skills and common hand and power tools.

Things You'll Need

  • 10 foot 1-by-8 lumber
  • 1/2 pound of 1.5-inch deck screws
  • 8 foot 1-by-2 lumber
  • 8-by-8 inch wire mesh
  • 1 1/4 inch carriage bolt and wing nut
  • Fencing staples
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Screw driver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut three pieces of 1-by-8 lumber to 28 inches in length. Cut another piece of 1-by-8 lumber to 24 inches in length. Cut the trap door of 7.5-by-7.5 inches square from the remaining 1-by-8 lumber.

      Cut four cleats for the trap door 7.5 inches long out of 1-by-2 pine lumber. Cut one 24-inch long and two 12-inch long pieces of 1-by-2 pine lumber for the trigger.

    • 2

      Build the body of the of the trap by forming the four 1-by-8 pieces of lumber into an 8-inch-square box with the boards flush on one end. The side with the 24-inch piece is the top of the trap. Use 1.5-inch deck screws spaced every 8 inches. Fasten an 8-by-8 inch piece of wire mesh, hardware cloth of any size mesh will work, across the flush end of the box using small fencing staples.

    • 3

      Fasten the cleats to each side of the trap with one cleat directly below the end of the top board of the trap extending to the bottom of the trap and the other spaced 7/8 of an inch to the rear from the first. The cleats create channels on each side of the box so the trapdoor can slide from the top across the opening at the back of the trap. The spacing must allow the trap door board to slide easily up and down.

    • 4

      Create the trigger by fastening the pivot, one of the 12-inch 1-by-2 boards, to the center of the top of the trap box with a 1.5-inch deck screw. The pivot extends straight up from the trap box. Fasten the lever to the top of the pivot with a 1/4 carriage bolt and wing nuts. The lever is perpendicular to the pivot and must be able to move freely on the pivot. Cut a notch about 6 inches from the end of the trigger, the other 12-inch 1-by-2 board. Drill or cut a 2-inch hole in the top board of the trap 6 inches from the wire mesh-enclosed end and about 3 1/2 inches from each side.

    • 5

      Tie a string or rope from the top of the trigger board to the lever near the wire mesh end of the trap. Tie another string from the other end of the lever to the top of the trap door. Adjust the length of the string so the trap door rests at the top of the cleats. Adjust the trigger string so the notch of the trigger, when engaged with the edge of the hole, holds the lever in a position holding the trap door up. If the trigger is disturbed the notched trigger will slip from the hole and the trap door will fall, enclosing the cat.