How to Build a Humane Cat Trap

Stray and feral cats can be a nuisance. They can carry diseases and make your flower bed smell like a litter box. Luckily, a humane trap can catch the cat and allow you to transport it to Animal Control or a Humane Society without harming yourself or the cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood or other lightweight wood
  • 1-by-1-inch boards
  • Straight-grained fir tongue-and-groove flooring
  • Nylon netting
  • String
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Saw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how large of a trap you will need based on the size of the cat you plan to trap. Keep in mind the length of the tail so the cat has plenty of room within the trap and to prevent the trap from trapping the tail when it's lowered. On average, a base size of 3 feet wide by 2 feet deep will do.

    • 2

      Cut the 1-by-1-inch board into four 3-foot pieces and four 2-foot pieces for the base frame and top frame. Cut larger pieces for larger traps.

    • 3

      Secure the base frame and top frames together with the hammer and nails.

    • 4

      Cut four pieces of wood that are 1 foot in length each for corner pieces to connect the base and top frames together.

    • 5

      Nail the corner pieces on the corners of the base frame and top frame.

    • 6

      Cut a piece of rectangular plywood, about 7 inches high and 18 inches in length, to act as the door.

    • 7

      Construct the sliding rails by ripping the straight-grained fir tongue-and-groove flooring in half. Do not attach the door until after the netting is nailed on the trap.

    • 8

      Measure the amount of nylon netting to determine how much you need by stretching it across the top and the sides of the trap frame.

    • 9

      Cut the nylon netting and nail it to the top and sides of the frame. Do not place the netting over the trap's bottom and door.

    • 10

      Attach the sliding rails by nailing the two rails to a corner toward the front side of the trap. The door should be able to slide in the middle of the two rails.

    • 11

      Cut a piece of wood to 1 foot in length. This will be used to prop the trap up while waiting for a cat to enter.

    • 12

      Tie string to the piece of wood that is to be used as the prop. The string must be long enough for you to sit away from the trap, yet still have sight of the trap to know when to pull the string and trap the cat.

    • 13

      Set the trap in an area you know the cat visits. Use the prop to keep the trap up and place a bowl of food under the trap.

    • 14

      Wait for a cat to enter the trap. Once it has, pull the string to lower the trap onto the cat. Use the door to safely get the cat into a carrier for easy transportation.