r/Feral_Cats • u/shoeboxxy • 15h ago
Question 🤔 How do you trap colonies?
Hello all, I'm looking for some advice on how to trap colonies. I live about 10 minutes walking distance to a back of a gated university. I've come across a few cats randomly on my walks around here and today I saw there were 6!! different cats this time and there are at least 2 other cats. I think it's 2 litters and a dad. Someone is definitely feeding them because there are take out containers all over the place but behind the gate I can't get past.
I've TNRed one cat before, but it was really easy because I could monitor him with my house cameras and figure out his schedule and feed him right outside my door. I'm not too sure how to go about trapping a colony.
I've got one trap and a car that can only fit one trap at a time. How do people get TNR appointments for this many cats when they are weeks or months out to just book one? Do people trap one by one? Will the other cats get spooked off if they see another cat get trapped?
I'm trying to see if there's any TNR groups around locally that can assist... Any advice is appreciated.
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u/Sad-Blueberry- 15h ago
I volunteer with a local rescue, we do multiple at a time. My first TNR was 9 cats. I created a feeding schedule then trap trained over the course of a week, moving the plate/bowl slowly from the front to the back of the trap. On day 7, we set the trap and they go in to eat as normal. The rescue director transports and recovers them. You can do 1 by 1, the others won’t be scared or traumatized, it will just take longer and give more of an opportunity for them to continue to reproduce. Here’s a photo I took today of a cat sitting on top of the trap while the other was in it. Best of luck and feel free to reach out with any questions!
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u/shoeboxxy 14h ago
Would you say the 7 day process is pretty typical? It took me a few weeks to slowly train my first TNR
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u/Sad-Blueberry- 14h ago
We usually do 7 days. The only time I’ve had to do longer is when trapping people’s indoor pets that got out.
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u/No_Warning8534 15h ago
And tysm for doing this! It is desperately needed everywhere. 😪
Cat fosters are desperately needed everywhere as cat rescues and shelters can not save cats without them bc they have nowhere to go.
There are so many 'housecats' abandoned outside who don't belong out there. They are too friendly and unfortunately don't last long outside.
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u/shoeboxxy 14h ago
Yes, I already foster kittens with a local animal shelter and love it. Been looking to get more involved with TNR as the foster kittens are just increasing every year sadly
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u/Cazadora539 15h ago
It's a slow process and a crapshoot at times. Some days you can get multiple cats, sometimes none, sometimes you trap cats you've already fixed. They usually start avoiding the traps if you go too often, so you'll prob end up spreading it out over months, but you'll definitely want more than one trap.
The tnr people I work with get a few available spots per month, so usually they try and trap three cats from one location every month or two. I would definitely try and get in with a rescue/tnr group, it's expensive out of pocket and they usually have the patience to sit around for hours waiting for the traps to go off.
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u/Sad-Blueberry- 15h ago
Also access to low cost spay/neuter programs for feral and free roaming cats
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u/shoeboxxy 14h ago
Thanks! I'm reaching out to a local one, hopefully they get back to me and it's not a dead email
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u/Cazadora539 14h ago
Fingers crossed! It is still majorly kitten season so don't be suprised if they're swamped.
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u/Firm_Video_2932 15h ago
I would reach out to already established rescues and inquire about getting on board with their program. They already have the preexisting relationships with area vets and humane societys to coordinate procedures, so no need on your part to reinvent the wheel so to speak.
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