It's A Good Feeling . . .

[lynnestankard]

Great work Avajoy - yep the older boys carry on stinking for about 4 weeks - well our Dan did after his little op., - he was about a year old when he was done - we rescued him and he'd JUST been done - yee gods the smell!! Made your eyes water!!
Fingers well and truly crossed for Debra's Mom walking into thed trap - how about sardines? They smell quite strongly and might overcome the residue smell of Chief Half Tail.
Good Luck.

Lynne

[AvaJoy]

Lynne! Sardines just might do the trick . . . I never considered them before; I've just been using canned cat food . . . thanks for the suggestion!

We have the trap already set for tonight, so wonder what I'll find in the morning . . . this is exciting!

[sasvermont]

Avajoy! What wonderful committment you have to these kitties. You have a big, big heart for sure.

I did this deed for a few ferals in my barn/backyard area. It took me three days to catch them all. There were three kittens, a Mom cat and BIG Papa. They went in the following order: two kittens at the same time, one more kitten later, BIG Papa and THEN Mom cat. I started on a Saturday at 4 AM, with tuna fish and five traps. I covered the traps with a towel, so they could not see the cage. Once they entered, they were at my mercy. Since it was Feb. when I did this, I couldn't leave the traps outside all night - cause the cat would freeze if it was in there all night. So I started at 4 AM each day..including Monday early morning, when I caught Mama. So I did four round trips to the Vet....as I caught them. The Vet was so impressed with my determination, that he was willing to come in when I called, do the deed then return them to me same day. The kittens were all males, saving me a bit of money....and then there was Mama. Mama had a bad infection and needed to be confined for a week. She ended up living on my screened in porch for two weeks (after escaping from her container, in my house..... )

You seem to be getting the hang of this and may want to seek reimbursement for your costs from some animal society.

My Vet does it at a reduced rate, since he charges me full price for my personal pets. He is a nice guy, for sure.

Keep us posted on the Mama cat. She sounds smart. But not as smart as you ARE!

[AvaJoy]

Sasvermont, thank you for the pointers! I will grab an old towel or blanket and go out right now to cover the trap . . . that is a SUPER tactic!!

One question: Did you use cat food tuna, or human tuna??

Wow, you certainly had your hands full, running back and forth with the whole family over the course of several days . . . I'm sure it was gratifying once that they were all rounded up and altered.

My vet honors SNAP certificates (see my previous post on page 1), so I don't know if I could qualify for any additional reimbursement. I have since contacted Friends of Animals and their program charges considerably more per certificate . . . $55.00 for spay and $40.00 for neuter. I'm hoping my next trapped cat is female, because I only have a spay cert. left . . . guess I'd better order another neuter, just in case "Debra's Mom" IS caught and turns out to be "Debra's DAD" . . . Uh-oh.

Sara ~ When I get the film developed I will try and post the photo of Chief Half-Tail, providing it is clear enough . . . I took about 3 photos of him just in case. I also should have a photo of Sasquatch on the roll, but didn't take a photo of Theo for some reason. He still comes around so maybe if he happens to get re-trapped, I can then get his picture. Thanks for your support and interest!

[lizbud]

Avajoy,

Lynne is right about the sardines. Works better than
regular can food and the smell is pretty strong.

Draping a towel or sheet over the middle of the trap is
a good disguise. I also put some narrowly folded newspaper
on the wire floor of the trap.Cats don't like to walk on the
bare wire. Best of Luck to you.

[AvaJoy]

Hmmmmm . . . newspaper to conceal the wire floor . . . very clever, Lizbud!

Thanks to everyone's input, I have a feeling I just may out-fox Debra's Mom, afterall . . . hee, hee, hee . . . can't wait!!!!

[AvaJoy]

Thanks for the comprehensive website link, Spencer . . . here is a tidbit from it that others may be interested in knowing . . . it is particularly helpful to me, especially since trying to trap Debra's Mom: [/FONT]

17. Q: I've been trying to trap a particular cat, but the cat refuses to go into the trap. What should I do?

A: If after repeated attempts a cat will not go into a trap, take a break for a week or two (except in the case of an injured cat). A short break can reduce a cat's fear of the trap. During this time, feed that cat and others in unset traps for several days. Place the food first by the entrance of the trap, then inside, then over a period of days gradually move it closer to the back. Feed in the same place and time as always. The cat will see other cats eating inside the traps and will likely try it, too.

When you are ready to trap again, withhold food for 24 hours up to three days (for a very "trap savvy" cat). Never withhold water. You can make a trap more enticing by dabbing bits of jarred baby food (not containing onions), or catnip on the outside of the trap. Also, cats love the smell of a pungent herb called valerian. Make a strong smelling broth by boiling valerian in water, then douse the trap with it.

If you are still unable to trap a cat or if the cat has learned how to steal bait without springing the trap, consider using a drop-trap instead. Instructions for building a drop trap can be found in the Factsheet section of the ACA website, entitled Drop Trap Instructions. This material includes a materials list, step-by-step instructions, and illustrations of how to build and use a drop-trap to catch the obstinate feral cat.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Good luck, AvaJoy. With all the help you're getting around here, I'm sure Debra's Mom will be lured in in no time.

[tatsxxx11]

Just catching up on the great work you're doing helping all of these kitties! Just imagaine a world where everyone had a heart as big as yours! Yay, for Avajoy!!

[AvaJoy]

I'm going to attempt to share photos of Sasquatch and Chief Half-Tail, so here they are, hopefully . . . I scanned them together to save webspace . . . hope they are clear. Chief Half-Tail is the tabby with white and the length of his tail is difficult to see in the photo. Sasquatch looks so frightened, doesn't he . . . hope he is doing OK as I haven't seen him since.

[moosmom]

Avajoy,

You should be very proud of yourself for taking care of so many homeless and abandoned cats! It takes a special person to do the work you do. I've done it. I finally had to take a break because I was burning out.

Most people (present company excluded, of course) would simply turn their backs and make it someone else's problem. It's sad too because feral cats are feral because of humans.

My hat is off to you! Keep up the great work.

Donna

[lynnestankard]

So glad you've brought this thread back to the top Donna. How is it all going Avajoy - any luck yet with Debra's Mum? Fingers crossed.

Lynne

[AvaJoy]

Thanks for your supportive words, Donna!

Lynne, I'm always glad when you chime in . . . here is the latest:

Debra's Mom has been staying around the house more and more! Sunday afternoon we noticed her snoozing comfortably on the cedar chips/pine needles next to our front porch! Since it was Mother's Day, I was kinda secretly hoping she was going into labor . . . Her belly does look distended, so maybe if she is pregnant she will choose to have her kittens here . . . goody!! I have been faithfully leaving food out for her every evening, so maybe this weekend we can try to trap her once again, using all the tactics everyone has offered. We figured we'd gain her confidence and let her feel safe here before trying again . . . so it is time to give it another go!

[lizbud]

Avajoy,
Sounds like great progress in getting her trust.
Does the Momma cat have a safe place around your
house where she might hide & birth the babies? A shed
or dense bushes, under a porch, etc.? If you make her
secure it her food source (your place), & hope she has
the babies close by, she will not readily leave the area.
You have longer to trap her after the babies are 5-6 wks
old (and the babies too). Just a thought. Maybe you
don't want to wait that long? Good luck to you.

[AvaJoy]

Hi, Lizbud! As you say, maybe I should wait awhile longer . . . I used to feed her under a tree in the back yard, but noticed her by the front porch under the eaves when it was raining one night, so started to leave food there for her because she could stay dry. That is where I noticed her curled up and sleeping on Sunday. For all I know, she could sleep there every day and I hadn't been aware because I'm at work. It is a safe place for her, and shielded from view and the elements, with landscaping to hide her. Maybe I should just keep feeding her there, and keep an eye on her belly! She will run if I get too close, but will tolerate me on the screened in porch, as long as I don't try to go out the screen door.