Missing cat-advice -trapping advice now needed

System

advice still needed here please with regards to trapping.
she is still being seen in the same garden,we set up the trap 10 days or so ago,we did not set the trap till she had been in and taken food several times,then when set a wire wasnt in the right place i believe and she went in but it didn't go off!!

the last sighting was on tuesday at 2.30pm but she was there yesterday also as there were paw prints in the snow
she was looking very nervous/timmid and thinner on tuesday according to the lady whose garden she in visiting,she went in the trap but came out without eating anything.

i have not been setting the trap in the evenings as it has been too cold so usually go round 9-11pm and cable tie it up

she has not taken any food from the trap in the evenings for a week
she did eat a little dried food i left under a table nearby yesterday
as i just want her to have some food and to keep returing.

All the advice i read is regards to feral cats not domesticated lost cats.

i am keeping it covered,have put some newspaper down inside and putting a little catnip or sardine juice to try to entice her to the back of the trap.

i did try to move the trap yesterday so she wouldn't have to come across the back of the garden but she still went to where it use to be,so i moved it back this morning.

does anyone have any more hints/advice or is it just a matter of time and hoping she will eventually go in?

spookylukey

Sorry to hear your cat is still 'missing' - I've read that KFC chicken is a good lure for the trap so worth getting a piece especially for her. Good luck and keep us posted.

System

hi,thanks for that suggestion, i will try it soon, i don't think the cold weather has been helping food wise as all wet food was freezing
quickly so have only been able to leave out dried with some catnip mixed in

RacyRed

Have you tried boiled chicken breast, put in the set trap while still warm and smelling nice? If you know where the gap she comes in through is then maybe scatter a couple of very small bits of chicken there so she gets the scent more easily?

Apricot

Another thought - have you put something that smells of you in the trap? Perhaps a t-shirt that you have worn? It may encourage kitty to go in the trap if they have found something that smells like home.

Good luck x

spookylukey

Any updates on the trapping?

MrsTinks

If you want smelly then sardines in tomato sauce is you friend... Stick some in a bowl and microwave it first so it's nice and warm and HONKS :rotfl: It might lure her out of hiding and get her to come to the trap... thank goodness the neighbours who's spotted her for you are happy to be so helpful!

System

sorry havent checked post for a while.
she is still missing, the last time she was spotted was over 3 weeks ago in the same garden,last week i got fed up of it all and didn't trap for a few days,left it open,just cable tied it up.

anyway no food had been going from the trap either,i felt she might have moved further afield with the warmer weather,till yesterday the people told me they had seen her 2 days ago sitting on the fence,bold as brass!!!

he didn't try to call her as when they have,she just runs.
i did put out more leaflets further afield,but i am sure is hiding out on this
row of houses.

it gives me hope that i might get her,but how i don't know,at the moment she doesnt seem to be eating the food from the trap.

on sunday i am going to try to knock the houses down from this garden and see if they will let me look round there gardens,i have talked to a few people on that block.

i set the trap overnight once,but too cold at mo,but she hasnt fed from it for ages,day or night.

i can't leave food out by it during the day as there are a lot of birds and they just eat it.


i am trying to think as what to do next,suggestions always welcome!
still hoping

helpjack

Hi,

Have you tried putting a towel over the trap so she feels safer going in it.

Can I ask, where did you get your trap from? My cat is also currently missing. We think we saw her in our own garden this morning eating the food we left out for her but she was already sprinting away when we caught sight of her. We have also heard the odd meow coming from the surrounding gardens in the last few days. Therefore, I'm thinking I might try a trap as well.

Don't give up. If you are having so many sightings of her it is really good news.

dawnie1972

When i moved house my 2 cats escaped out of the cat carrier - as i was moving an hour away and the time before when i moved it took me 3 days to catch them i borrowed a trap off a friend who runs a cat rescue - 1 cat went in straight away the other wasn't as stupid - so i hid the traps in the bushes covered with a big throw so that only the opening was visible - put the food (sardines) right at the back and left it overnight - hey presto the next morning she was there in the trap. Try a local cat rescue ie cats protection they should have a trap to lend you - if putting a blanket over it make sure it doesn't interfere with any of the latches etc.