Gary has another neutering appointment...He didn't come home.

[Moesha]

We had a trial run this morning. My fear is not being able to get Juliet and Jose inside the house. Gary is only concerned about food. It doesn't matter what it is, he wants to eat all of it. I have to get Julie and Jose inside so they don't get lured into the trap. Higgins is the wildcard in all of this. Today I had two plates with some canned food on them inside so that Julie and Jose would be tempted to come in and eat. Higgins is the pain the butt. He's the one that isn't scared of people and gets the others nervous. He came in and wanted food, I picked him up and took him to another room. By that time Julie and Jose were eating food, but I wasn't close enough to the door to close it. I didn't want to close them inside this morning anyway, I just wanted them to be comfortable enough to eat while I closed the door. Jose took his hunk of wet food and ran back outside. I'm going to give them more and mash it up so they have to stay there to eat. Once I get them closed inside I'll worry about getting Gary in the trap. I know he'll go in for any food. As long he is the only candidate out there to go in, I'm sure I can get him eventually. This might become a 3 person job! Thinking about your suggestions, I may just make up a really stinky and scrumptious mess of tuna and other stuff to keep Julie and Jose very interested. They will only come inside a foot or two.

[Moesha]

It was touch and go! I got the others inside without much trouble. I went around back as planned and loaded the trap with smelly yums. I cam back inside and Gary circled and circled. Finally he went in and ate. The big goof is so large he could eat the food at the end of the trap without stepping on the pad to close the door!!! Out he came and off he went. So I went out with even smellier stuff and he ran off the deck into the woods. I figured he was the only one out there, so eventually he had to come get those yums. I waited and waited and no Gary. I finally gave up and went around the block to get the other kitty that will be going tomorrow. When I got back, he was inside!!

Now here's my question. Will he be ok outside in the trap with a towel covering him overnight. It is supposed to be 25. I don't know where in the world I would put him inside otherwise. The other girl will be in the bathroom, which is normally where Aroara hangs out. So she'll have to find another place. I don't have any other flooring that isn't carpeted to be protected incase Gary "goes potty" except the kitchen which has no possible way of being blocked off. It is right in the middle of the house. I don't really have any other options. Tomorrow when he has to be inside I'll have to put someone in my sister's house. But they have already left and I don't have a key. They are leaving a key for tomorrow. Surely he'll be ok for tonight, won't he?

[Scooter's Mom]

It was touch and go! I got the others inside without much trouble. I went around back as planned and loaded the trap with smelly yums. I cam back inside and Gary circled and circled. Finally he went in and ate. The big goof is so large he could eat the food at the end of the trap without stepping on the pad to close the door!!! Out he came and off he went. So I went out with even smellier stuff and he ran off the deck into the woods. I figured he was the only one out there, so eventually he had to come get those yums. I waited and waited and no Gary. I finally gave up and went around the block to get the other kitty that will be going tomorrow. When I got back, he was inside!!

Now here's my question. Will he be ok outside in the trap with a towel covering him overnight. It is supposed to be 25. I don't know where in the world I would put him inside otherwise. The other girl will be in the bathroom, which is normally where Aroara hangs out. So she'll have to find another place. I don't have any other flooring that isn't carpeted to be protected incase Gary "goes potty" except the kitchen which has no possible way of being blocked off. It is right in the middle of the house. I don't really have any other options. Tomorrow when he has to be inside I'll have to put someone in my sister's house. But they have already left and I don't have a key. They are leaving a key for tomorrow. Surely he'll be ok for tonight, won't he?

Would you want to be outside in a metal trap with only a towel for covering in 25 degree weather? Surely there's somewhere you could put him inside?

edit: I'm sorry - that came out much harsher than I meant it to. I'm just concerned that 25 deg. would be too cold for him. Please accept my apology.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I am glad they will be fixed tomorrow. As for somewhere to put him, if you are worried about accidents, you could put a trash bag underneath the cage, so that it will "catch" the accident, so they dont soak in. That is what I do with new fosters until they get tested and can be out.

If that does not work, I hope that you have a heating pad, or a portable heater you can run outside to keep on him. At 25, that is below freezing, and might give him a URI or something, and I would worry that could lead to complications during surgery.

I pray that all goes well tomorrow, and that they are getting fixed! Good Luck!

[Catty1]

Moesha, get a few older towels and/or a blanket or two you don't really like, and put them flat and stacked on the carpet.

Put the trap on top...any pee will soak thru but not to the carpet.

Keep the trap covered...he'll be less likely to panic that way.

I like the trash bag idea...but any pee will run off the plastic and onto the carpet; that's my concern.

Good luck at the vet tomorrow.

[Moesha]

That's not a bad idea Catty and is similiar to what I'm planning for the car ride tomorrow. I was afraid with just trash bags or plastic underneath, he would somehow dig at it and injest it or something. Maybe I'll lock Morgan and Aroara in the extra bedroom with a litterbox and put Gary and the cage on the kitchen floor. I just hope he'll be quite through the night. He's going to have to stay outside until bedtime. Maybe if it is quiet and dark he won't make noise.

[Moesha]

I put the girl back in the carrier. I went in the bathroom and there was litter EVERYWHERE! Aroara is digging at the carpet in the bedroom trying to get out. I'm sure by tomorrow it will be in shreds. And so it begins. LOL

[Medusa]

Wow, this has been quite the saga. Your persistence has paid off, though. Hoping that you were able to get some sleep and praying that all goes w/out a hitch.

[Moesha]

I kept waking up, but things were pretty quiet each time. Now that I am up and out of bed everyone is squawking. I first heard Gary banging around in the trap wailing. He sounds so much like Morgan. Morgan was wailing in the bedroom. Then the girl in the bathroom started. I got up moved her to the room I'd been sleeping in with the light off. Made Aroara go in the bathroom to eat. Of course she hissed. She's such a spitfire! I came out here and Gary was still going but has since quieted down. Morgan is at my feet waiting for his morning dose of wet food. I hope the hour car ride is manageable. Thanks for the responses. I'll update later tonight when I get home from work, if I'm still able to write sentences then.

[Moesha]

edit: I'm sorry - that came out much harsher than I meant it to. I'm just concerned that 25 deg. would be too cold for him. Please accept my apology.

Apology accepted. I know we are all concerned about the animals and their welfare. I was concerned about it too. That's why I asked for suggestions.

[Freedom]

With a towel draped over the cage, he will be calm and quiet. The wild ones don't howl. That is something the tame ones learn as a way to communicate with us and get our attention. With the towel, it is like a little cave. He will be fine.

I was going to say a trash bag, then some old towels but I see someone already did that.

I usually just line the inside of the trap with newspaper. I leave them inside on the futon, and I've never had a problem with them going through; beginner's luck I guess! As if a couple sheets of news paper would do it!

Best of luck.

[Moesha]

The towel is over the cage. That was the first thing I did when I saw that he was inside. He was sitting there calmly until I turned on the outside light.

[Freedom]

Sure, the light means a human is around. Humans are the predator, he is the prey. I'm sure he will be alright.