We caught the elusive Mom Cat today - HUZZAH!

[GoneOffShore]

We have an outdoor feral cat who moved into our back garden this past spring. She has, over the course of the past 9 months provided us with 5 kittens. We've trapped the kittens, had them spayed/neutered and adopted.

We've tried to catch her with humane traps and finally succeeded this AM! No more kittens to find homes for! Mom Cat will be spayed tomorrow and then returned to our back yard after recovery next week. She's way too feral to bring in and our inside girls would go crazy if we tried.

[MassLiberal]

1. that's great

what do you think finally worked?

[GoneOffShore]

2. Long process of getting her used to the trap

Put it under the picnic table with the trapdoor secured with a cable tie. Kept feeding her near the trap, then just inside for at least three weeks, then further in and finally putting the food dish all the way past the trigger. Did that for about 5 days. Then I set the trap this morning, put the food inside, called her and in she went without a care. The trap sprung on a very surprised cat.

To make sure she didn't think it was us who caught her we made sure that the spay clinic person picked up the trap rather than us.

[MassLiberal]

3. very clever

I'm happy for you that this is working out. I have friends who have trapped feral cats, had them spayed and either adopted or returned to their "turf," and it's always so good to hear. Well done! :toast:

[Richard Steele]

11. Brilliant!

Congrats on your success, and thanks for caring enough
to do what it took! :thumbsup: :toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear GoneOffShore!

How clever of you!

And what a wonderful and responsible thing to do!

:yourock:

[Arugula Latte]

5. Thank you for helping these kitties!!!!

:applause: :yourock: :toast:

[EFerrari]

6. So great! Congratulations!

:applause:

[stuntcat]

7. you are an Angel!

This is so good, and you earn endless karma for it, I swear.

There are a few feral cats in the woodsy parts of my neighborhood but I can't rent a trap to help catch them and neuter them. The local cat-saving place AND the animal shelter won't lend me one without me spending many dollars and going there every week to report back and I can't drive and I'm sorta mental :mental: so it was impossible the time I tried it- I only caught one of them who I'm sure they put to sleep but even that's better than another littler of kittens out there :( Anyway sob story aside, I am so glad you've caught her and helped her!!!

[GoneOffShore]

12. It is possible to make a "drop trap"

Drop traps can be constructed with 1x2's, a piece of plywood, a couple of hinges, chicken wire and a staple gun (though I would use nails or screws for fastening the 1x2's).
Make sure the chicken wire is fastened on the INSIDE of the wood and stapled down every 2 inches, so the cats can't force their way out.

You might also try to find a feral cat person who will lend you a trap. Seems to defeat the purpose to rent them to people who are trying to help the cats. The woman who lent us the traps does ask for a $20 donation for the spay or neuter, but she let us keep the trap for 6 weeks. Actually we had several traps over the summer for trapping the kittens. And though we live in the city we also trapped a raccoon, an opossum and a house cat (all of whom were immediately released - the raccoon was really scary).

[emilyg]

8. You're a good person.

[Flaxbee]

9. Excellent!

I'm after two feral males (well, will be once i pick up the trap next week) and almost got completely shredded a few years ago getting a feral female.

Thank you so much for helping her, and finding her babies good homes! :hi: and a :toast: to you!

[FloridaJudy]

10. The humane society

May be able to steer you to a free spay/neuter program for feral cats. Our local one is called "Operation Catnip": someone gets points for coming up with that name.

[GoneOffShore]

13. The woman we've been working with gets them neutered

She asks for a $20 donation and lends the traps.
She also manages several colonies of feral cats in her neighborhood, which is a lot tougher than mine.

Flatiron Wildcats.

[applegrove]

14. A good deed you have done. Good karma coming your way.