How to Trap a Barn Cat

Barn cats are most often feral or semi-feral cats. This means that they are not socialized to people. Because of this, they cannot be picked up and put into a carrier. Barn cats must be caught in a live trap in order to be relocated or taken to a veterinary appointment. Most often barn cats and feral cats are trapped as part of trap-neuter-return. This process involves capturing the cat in a live trap, taking the pet to a veterinarian for spay/neuter surgery and then releasing the cat to live out the remainder of its life in its territory without reproducing.

Things You'll Need

  • Humane trap
  • Canned mackerel
  • Sheet or blanket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the trap you intend to use in the barn where you will be trapping a few days before you intend to trap the cat. This will give the cat sometime to get used to the trap being there so that it will be more likely to enter the trap when you are ready to attempt trapping. Do not set the trap at this time.

    • 2

      Take away all foods from the cat 24 hours before you plan to attempt to trap the barn cat. It is important the cat be hungry so that it will enter the trap.

    • 3

      Place a couple tablespoons of canned mackerel at the back of the trap.

    • 4

      Set the trap, according to the manufacturer's instructions for the particular type of trap you are using.

    • 5

      Move away from the trap, even leave the barn area, to make it more likely the cat will enter the trap.

    • 6

      Check the trap at least every couple hours to ensure the cat isn't left inside an unmonitored trap, or that the trap wasn't sprung without capturing the cat.

    • 7

      Place a sheet, blanket or other covering over the trap once the cat is inside. The covering will help to calm the cat that is caught inside the trap.

    • 8

      Check the trap's door to ensure that it is securely latched before you attempt to move the trap or transport the barn cat.