How to Capture a Stray Cat

If a stray cat has wandered into your house through your cat flap or has decided to make its home on the grounds of your property, then you will have to handle it with caution as the cat could be feral. If you can't catch it yourself, you may have to call animal rescue. Don't panic! There are a few methods available that will enable you to capture and contain the cat so that you can remove it safely from your home.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard poster tube
  • Nylon cord (washing line)
  • Cardboard box or pet carrier
  • Cat food
  • Bowl of fresh water
  • Trap cage
  • Towels
  • Blankets
  • Dark piece of fabric
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Instructions

  1. Indoors -- Catch With a Loop

    • 1

      Make a makeshift neck loop similar to the ones dog catchers use. Fold a long piece of nylon cord (a clothes line) in half and feed the loop end through a cardboard poster tube so that a neck loop hangs down from the furthest end of the tube.

    • 2

      Hold on to the slack cord at the hand-held end of the improvised animal catcher pole.

    • 3

      Attempt to carefully place the loop over the cat's neck. When you have caught the cat in the loop, hold on tightly to the cardboard tube and gently put the cat inside a box or, better still, a lockable pet carrier. Unhook the loop and quickly close the box or pet carrier to keep the cat from escaping.

    Outdoors -- Catch in a Cage

    • 4

      Leave some cat food in a sheltered, quiet spot in your yard or garden. Do this for several days so that the cat doesn't feel threatened and gets used to the spot.

    • 5

      Introduce the cat trap and place it beside the cat's feeding post. Put a blanket or towel inside the cage for comfort and disguise. Cover the rest of the cage with fabric and tie the fabric down. Camouflage it further with an old blanket or foliage. Put some cat food and fresh water inside the trap.

    • 6

      Keep reducing the amount of food you leave outside the cage to encourage the cat to go into the cage. This technique will be even more effective if you put a strong-smelling food inside the cage, such as tuna. Put the food at the farthest end of the cage so that when the cat enters and triggers the trap door, it won't get hurt and can't escape.

    • 7

      Cover the cage with a dark piece of fabric to help calm the captured cat. Take the cat to an animal center so that the personnel can medically treat it and either release it or put it up for adoption.