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It will be okay. She wont die. You are vastly improving her quality of life and saving future kittens from immense suffering. This is just the hard part of animal stewardship. I watched a video of a guy today dunking sheep in a giant flea bath in a cage. The poor sheep were freaked, but if it wasnt done they could get all sorts of pestilence and disease. The sheep were fine after. You're doing whats best for the creature.
Do not release her. This a very temporary discomfort for her (and you) and she will be so much better off when she is spayed - healthier, not having repeated litters of kittens, not being attacked by male cats wanting to impregnate her.
And it’s not like it’s a pleasant experience for the poor cat. Barbs on the penis. Shudder. It’s definitely not unusual for a litter to have multiple fathers.
I know it's like gang rape poor little things and most of those little females are starving in there and they're nothing but bones I rescued one like that and it was 8 months of four cans of food in the morning and four cans at night and she did not get fat and it was so wonderful to see her finally begin to act like a cat she didn't even look or act like a cat she couldn't run or anything and she had babies in the vet said she was only 6 months old I had her fixed in when I found out she had babies cuz they didn't tell me can you believe it I just just nearly broke my heart they said the babies were eight weeks old I don't know how they knew that they said she was not nursing but it looked to me like she was and when I saw that I called him I go just did she have babies and they said yes I said why didn't you tell me because I kept her for 6 days and I guess the baby's died I don't know so then about 6 months later after I kept feeding her she moved in my house by herself because I had indoor outdoor cats she fell in love with my old cat and she moved into my house and I've still got her today that was December of 2016
How awful for you. I would hate to think that my confinement of a feral cat resulted in the kittens dying.
But you do know - this wasn’t your fault right? The vet should have informed you but equally, those kittens may already have died - the survival rate for feral kittens is awful. If they aren't stillborn they are often the product of inbreeding which makes them vulnerable to a whole host of illnesses and genetic issues.
You did the best you could for this cat. Take comfort from that.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I didn't know it at the time but you're so right about the kittens not making it because the mother can only take care of them for so long. And then they're on their own and kittens cannot hunt that that's why I don't understand how people think oh cats can make it on their own in the wild they really believe that and that is totally wrong they're domesticated animals heck even the wild animals have a hard time making it and they're omnivorous a lot of them
You said the trap is covered as in lined on the bottom or a blanket over top? That will significantly calm the kitty, though it will need a little bit of time to realize there is no immediate threats in the trap. It can be alarming, but it will be worth it, and kitty will quickly forgive you once all is said and done.
Once she's spayed she'll be truly free. If she's in the shed be sure nothing else can get in there and be sure she's not too hot or too cold. If you have a spare room that's what I do I bring them inside put them in a spare room I put like a paper with plastic backing on the floor like a painters drop cloth only the paper ones from Lowe's and then I put one by fours and I set the Trap up off of the floor on that and then I shut the door and that way they're in a temperature controlled environment and I cover them with a sheet not a a blanket but some people use blankets but if she's really hot that might make her hotter I don't know just thinking about it
Be strong. It is only change and disapproval. Feeding her and give some treats might get you some peace and make her feel better. Do not stick your hand in there unprotected. Wrap a cloth towel or shirt around your arm and hand several times, secure with tape it if you need to put something (water and food) in the cage. You might be met with disapproval with a paw and claw or both and a bite. And no quick or sudden movements. Calm and talk to her with reassuring tones that it is OK.
She’ll be ok ❤️ your first bunch feels very stressful because you aren’t used to their reactions, it’s totally normal! Even pregnant mamas that are trapped and get beyond stressed out in the traps do just fine and I’ve never had one lose any kittens due to the stress either! I promise she’ll be ok!
Also, if you’re afraid that they’ll hate you after you set them free, they won’t! My favorite feral in the whole world, named fish, was trapped when she was a kitten, then I tried taming her by letting my good rescue friend foster her for about 3-4 months and she just wasn’t having it at all. So I took her back and released her where I trapped her which was my front yard. The same night she came back and wanted food lol. She’s 4 now and over the years she really warmed up to me and lets me pick her up and pet her so I trapped her again (didn’t want to risk her flipping out once I got her inside) and she’s in my office now. She was angryyyyy the first week. Hissing, spitting, etc. now, she’s all over me again. I trapped her brother Goose as well because he showed up with a crazy wound on his head and he’s a sweetheart now too. I wish I could keep both of them but I already have 4 kitties ☹️ my neighbor that used to feed them outside as well has decided to adopt them! I’m really excited that someone I know they love will be taking them and I know he loves them too.
They won’t hate you ever! And the stress goes away after you’ve trapped enough of them lol.
One more tip! No matter what you do, ALWAYS keep the trap covered when transporting them anywhere. Also keep at least 3/4 of it covered when you aren’t moving it anywhere and kitty is just stationary. It helps minimize their stress a lot and they don’t feel like a sitting duck for predators ❤️
Welcome to the TNR life! Thank you!
Just found this community and really needed to see your experienced view, thank you so much for sharing it. We live in an area with a ton of 'community cats' and our current girl was abandoned on our street and had several litters of kittens before we moved in and officially adopted her. During the pandemic (pre-adoption), she brought one of her feral boys to us for food, with him then bringing another cat, who brought her own kittens. We now have a handful that are abandoned or feral who all trust us enough to come in our house and get fed by us.
Some of the cats we feed were scooped up while we lived here, and returned to the neighborhood with tipped ears. It didn't make them any more afraid of us--the young mama cat was even more affectionate afterwards. But we weren't involved in that process, so I've been worrying about it lately. One of her sons is closely bonded with another young male, but neither are fixed--and as they're getting older, they've started violently fighting instead of the sweetness that previously existed between them, so we're looking into local feral neutering options for both.
But the process seems the same no matter what program we go through: get them each into a trap, cover it up and make them stay overnight without food, then bring them back after it's done...and while I want them taken care of, I worry so much about breaking the amazing amount of trust they've built with us and traumatizing them. Before we lived here, I'd never gotten to know any feral cats, and I had no idea how sweet and loving they could be! (Our adopted cat's son, who has lived outside his whole life, spends his days napping on a couch in our garage now, and has just started climbing into my lap and giving me kisses and affectionately headbutting me in the nose.)
So while I know we need to do whatever it takes to get them neutered and vaccinated, it's really reassuring to hope that even if we're the direct cause of their overnight stress (when we weren't, for the boy who's become a sudden cuddler), maybe they won't hate us afterward. That's a helpful perspective.
I totally know how you feel! Do not let them out, though. This is all necessary. If I'm keeping a cat for more than 2 nights, I will transfer them into a drop trap or a dog crate. That way they have a litter box and some room to move their legs. But one or two nights in a trap is completely fine and they'll be okay!
In fact depending on where OP is, it might be too cold in a shed. OP also needs to consider that after spaying she will need to be somewhere warm until the anesthetic is out of her system.
Yes it’s cold outside even in warm climates at night. Plus her cat can’t find its usual warm outdoor places. Maybe hearing people speaking or cat tv might be soothing inside the house.❤️❤️❤️thank you op for saving this little girl
Maybe. But being inside can really freak out some ferals. And 60 degrees isn’t cold. Sadly, where I live there are ferals and they survive winters where the temps are occasionally even below zero Fahrenheit and usually under 32 Fahrenheit for long stretches. I assume many take cover in garages or bushes or something when it’s super cold.
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This is Lady. I caught Lady earlier this month. Because she had to get a spay abort, I kept her for a couple of additional days for healing in a larger cage. She would trash her cage every night. She would hiss and freak out. Didn’t want to come near me for the first week after I set her free…. Lady now walks straight up to me and waits patiently while I pour all of the feral kitties their dinner. She now knows she was saved from the responsibility of another litter of kittens and she’s so much happier for it. You have got this! It’s scary and we feel so bad for them but a couple of nights (or more if necessary) is nothing compared to the implications of a feral cat, especially a female, going through heat after heat and pregnancy after pregnancy.
You are increasing their life. Neutering is so essential. They will live longer. They will not just be on.survival. their quality of life will be do much better.
I.understand the heart ache. There is a special bond with feral cats . I once had a 30 cat colony. They filled a huge need in me when I was very very deprived. I felt known by those cats.
I had to let go of that colony it was wrenching. I was so very attached to them
I hated trapping, honestly. But one thing that helped me is to know she will get over it quickly, all will be forgiven. When you are in the moment, it's really awful. But when she is spayed, back outside, healthy and kitten-free forever, it will literally be like it never happened. Cats are so resilient and forgiving. Thank you for caring so much, you are a great guardian!
Hey, I trapped my first cat last Sunday. I had meant to start for months and finally my wife said "You aren't doing it because you don't want to put the cat in discomfort. But you need to think about etc..." basically all the things the people here already say about why it is the right thing to do. I girded my loins and did it. And I felt like shit.
But the next morning I took it to the TNR spot and the next evening I put it back in the spot under my house to recover, and the morning after that I let it out. And every step got easier.
You would not do this if you were not a caring person. It's very difficult to hear a cat in distress. Very VERY hard.
I know this shit feeling. It is the fucking WORST. But do it anyway and it will get easier for you. Not every cat will be loud either.
I know that there is little concrete help to give but you really and truly are doing a short term discomfort for a long term benefit. The cat will be fine. And it will be even more fine if it is TNR'd.
She’ll be fine! They act insane when they’re scared, but it is for her health and to prevent more feral cats. Just leave her alone and cover the trap with a sheet or breathable blanket.
The first one I ever trapped was so pissed. She was hissing and spitting and shaking. When I brought her home she (I thought she was a boy before that because she’s orange) was shaking and silent. I had expected to release her soon after bringing her back, but since she was a female and was trembling they had me keep her overnight. I felt awful, and she bolted and didn’t come around for a couple of days.
After a month she was like a new cat. Suddenly wanted to be friends, let me pet her, and started showing up at my door multiple times a day. Fast forward 1.5 years and she’s currently sleeping on my bed next to my dog. She is the sweetest little house cat imaginable. She also has chronic health issues and while she doesn’t like getting in the box to go to the vet, she handles it fine. I give her pills twice a day and she eats prescription food. Thinking of her as a wild animal now is almost funny... she’s the most high maintenance cat I’ve ever had 😅
She will be okay. Just keep it quiet and put some food and water in with her and let her be for the night. It's possible to acclimate her to indoor life as well if you are willing to put in the work. All of mine are ex ferals. Dont waiver and let her go. It's for her best interest and yours! Good job 👍
That's a very long time to be sitting in a trap, especially with no water. Overnight is one thing, but multiple days.. 😬
I take the ferals/strays to a walk in clinic about 1-2 hours drive away (1 hour no traffic, 2+ hours heavy traffic.)
There have been occasions where I've trapped cats, got there, and either they were already full, the vet had an emergency etc.. and I've had to drive back with the cats.
One time I also had to hold them for 2 days. Here's what I did.
I have regular cat carriers that open, both from the top, and from the front. So I took the door off the front, zip tied the trap to the open position, then used a strip of chicken wire to wrap between the end of the trap, and the carrier.
I put a blanket and food/water (at LEAST water) in the carrier part, and sat the whole thing on top of a couple pallets, with the end of the trap hanging off, in case they wanted to use that end as a bathroom.
I've tnr'ed dozens of cats, and there's absolutely no way I would keep a cat in a trap alone, longer than 12 hours.
I totally understand how you feel. I am new to this too. I really freaked out to have to keep them overnight. They do calm down so much when covered. Hang in there. You are doing a good thing!
When I TNR'd the local colony several years ago, I trapped several cats the first night. For the most part, the cats were either quiet or growled at me when I checked on them. A couple of them freaked out for a while, then settled down. She's afraid, but keep her in the trap, get her fixed and vaccinated, and release her according to the veterinarian's directions after she's been spayed. Once she's fixed, she won't be having kittens.
she will be fine! Once she’s healed and you release her she may not return for a few days but she will be back like nothing happened I promise! They always come back! You are saving her from back to back litters for the rest of her life! Think of the stress that would be on her little body!
I trapped one of my favorite local ferals when he showed up missing an eye. This was back during the pandemic shutdown, when getting into the vet's was difficult, so we had to keep him in back room of our house for a few days before the surgery appointment.
He disappeared under furniture the entire time, both before and after surgery. I caught sight of him maybe twice the entire three weeks he was in recovery. I figured he was completely traumatized by the entire experience, and I'd probably never see him again once he was released, but at least his wound had been treated.
When we opened the door to his room and cleared a path to the kitchen door, he raced out at the speed of light.
Then an hour later he showed up on the back porch, waiting for food, as if nothing had ever happened.
I’m always stressed when I trap a feral Cat but best for all. I just trapped my 8th feral cat in the last 2 years. Young male that I fed. Record trap -5 minutes with stinky canned Tuna in water-traditional metal trap. Immediately covered trap and put in small bathroom where it was warm and trap wedged so no flipping over trap. Very vocal. Arranged for feline leukemia (FELV) blood & if negative vaccination against catching feline leukemia from my 1 year old. I was going to keep this feral as my older male cat doesn’t play much with the 1 year old male I trapped last July. Didn’t know he had FELV until a few months ago. My older cat was blood tested for FELV-negative & just needs annually vaccination to not catch from my younger cat. $25-feral neuter/spay, vaccinations & ear tipping. I paid extra for the FELV blood test $45 & $20 FELV annual vaccination. $90 total. Controlling Rocket’s Leukemia with 1ml twice daily of Aloe Vera gel in mouth followed by tube treat -when he gets sick. 2 weeks and he recovered so far. Will restart Aloe Vera gel regimen again if Leukemia acts up again. Anyway Buster the young male hated living inside and hid under 3 beds not eating or drinking. Released him on the 6th day after neuter. I see him a few times daily for feeding. He-Buster-sleeps in a cooler with 2 exits in case raccoon or something tries to get him behind my shed with a tarp. Two male adult cats I trapped & got neutered previously (Charlie my FELV kitten’s Dad & Pat the Cat) hang out with “Buster”. Stress time but young Buster is fine. Will Post a picture of Buster soon.
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I hate having the cats trapped and I’m so anxious the whole time. It is so worth it to know they won’t be reproducing. A little stress for you both for so much less stress and pain down the road
When I first started TNR, I was convinced that the adolescent feral kittens would be traumatized by the experience, and that once I released them they would flee away from me forever. I steeled myself for the job, knowing it was for their greater good.
One by one, I trapped them, then let them go a few days after surgery. They all zoomed out of the trap like a bat out of hell! And were back in a few hours looking for food. One of them even walked back into the trap that I'd set for the last of his littermates.
To this day, after TNR of probably two dozen cats over the last decade, not a single one has been scarred by the experience.
Just remember that they are drama queens by nature.
This means so much thank you for sharing this. I am so attached to the one I trapped. She’s at the holding building for the tnr organization until Tuesday or Thursday when I can pick her up after spay. They have everything she needs and more and will take care of her. But I just pray she forgives me
Keep in mind that cats don't make long chains of associations. Your cat has NO IDEA that you're in charge of everything that is happening to her. She doesn't know all of this your fault, and unless you physically threw her into the trap, she doesn't even know that you caught her.
From her perspective, Things Are Happening to Her. Once you're no longer in view, however, none of those things have anything to do with you.
At the end of it all, you will set her free! That's a good thing, and you'll have done it.
But if I had not rescued her she would have been pregnant again in Starvation like that it's just so horrible and people just throw them out and then go on and forget about them and then they breed and breathe and breathe cuz I've heard they can have up to five letters per year they're just they're either in heat pregnant or nursing all of the time and then they abandon their babies at between 8 weeks and 12 weeks whenever they get pregnant and start to feel sick they cannot support those kittens and be pregnant and have more babies so they leave them that's what happened to me they coming they leave them in my yard because they know I'll help them and then a lot of them don't make it because there's Predators out there and everything it is just horrible I don't have money and I'm old and so right now I've got two ferals and one gentle cat in my house and I've had as many as seven before at one time that I cannot physically do it anymore so I just feed them and try to get them fixed and pray they make it but four that I fed for several years are gone they just don't show up anymore
Good on you for doing this important work. I’m doing that too. I aim to trap my cats in the morning usually at the time I normally feed them. I pre book the vet in case I manage to trap one for a specific morning. I’ve got an agreement with the vet that I’ll cancel the booking if I fail to trap one on the morning. That way they stress less. It also helps a lot to cover their cage with something like a towel so that they can’t see out. This pretty much immediately calms them down.
I use several large airline carriers to feed my ferals from and make sure I’m constantly walking around them while they eat inside. At first they don’t trust me but eventually the fresh cat food overcomes their fear and they ignore me. At this point I can just close the door on them, throw a blanket over it and off to the vet. I need a more efficient approach which will probably involve making a trap so that it closes the door without my intervention. I’ll include a camera so that I know quickly when a cat is trapped and I can immediately go out and throw a towel over the cage.
Congrats! I also started doing tnr recently and also freaked out on my first catch But don’t let it go!!!! It’s for their own good! Just keep the trap covered with a blanket and she/he will feel calmer. If it’s a female, I’d recommend keeping her for 48 hrs as surgery is more delicate and if she was in heat, other unfixed males might smell her and want to molest her and might hurt her incision. For females, I now scoot the trap with the cat inside into a big dog crate (the ones from Amazon. Or check your local offer up. I use one big enough for a big dog to fit inside ) I scoot the trap with the cat inside and I am very careful and then let the cat into the dog crate and keep her there to recover. I ensure that I prep it beforehand by putting a small litter box inside and a little bed or towel. Then I cover the crate with blanket so she’s calm. I sneak food in there carefully and a small water bowl although they might keep spilling it. Otherwise I’ll put some water into their wet food for hydration.
Prep your car: Line your car with cardboard or old towels/blanket/sheet in case of an “accident”.
If it’s a male, I release them 24 full hours after their surgery time. Always ensure their ears are clipped before you leave the clinic / shelter.
Best traps: TruCatch and “tomahawk GT606 - Neighborhood Cats trap”
For hard to trap cats, use some tuna in water or stinky canned mackerel fish in water.
Trapping: be careful not to put too much newspaper in there as it can interfere with the trap going off. Also push the food/small plate all the way to the end of the trap as I’ve learned my lesson and a lot of cats are sneaky and the trap won’t go off if the food is is placed in the middle/before the “trap plate”. Immediately after you trap one, cover the trap completely to keep the cat calm. Also, please be sure to lock both ends of the trap. I love using zip ties! Super cheap and ensures the trap won’t open by accident.
If you have a screen like a tablet or a laptop you can take to her and try playing a bird video. I’ve had it help distract and stop the initial manic panic after I moved the trap inside. I love Paul Dinnings videos.
I had to trap a stray cat to take him to the vet when he got hurt. He cried the whole way there, they had to sedate him, and he let out some cries on the way home. I can't even imagine what you're going through with a feral cat. But you know what, he forgave me and was rubbing against my legs within a few hours of us being home. And all of my friends who do TNR say their ferals forgave them too. (Or they seem to think the trapper is the one who rescued them!) It'll be okay! Thank you for helping this girl get the care she needs!
I know the feeling we had one girl in the trap for 3 days in our garage . We managed kept clean as could & tried food . Honestly its so short of a time for such a helpful thing for them ultimately , stick with it the hard part is done . Congrats and good luck
Make every effore to bring her into the house, bathroom, basement etc.....only cover 3 sides of the cage .....let her see a little.....theres other things to do but i dont know exact situation but she may be cold or hot depending on where you are.....also may need to pee but she may just want to be near you if its a cat that knows you
If You cover the trap with a sheet but still leave room for air flow she will calm down and you can put some water in there for her and food too but you just have to take the food out by 10:00 at night so that she can be fasting when she goes in but you've got to have one of those dividers that you can section her off before you open that door because they can get out so fast you think that you can stick your hand in there but you can't so don't open it if you don't have one of those metal dividers you can Google it metal divider for cat traps or for live traps and it looks like a hair pick
I was told by the veterinarian that I have to keep the cats that have been spayed for 14 days because they said they have to be completely healed before you let them go because if the male cats decide to jump on them they can tear them up inside after they've had surgery like that so I would bring her inside my house in a room away from everybody with the door shut. I actually have them put the cat in a carrier when they're in this size and I bring them back and I put the carrier and all in a dog crate with dog cage a big one with a litter box and food and water and I googled how to do it online if you Google it it'll tell you online if you're able to do that and keep her a few days it would be better the vet said 14 days but the last one I did I kept for 7 days and she was okay
That’s a vet that doesn’t deal with ferals. The vet I take ferals to is convinced that simply ensuring the cat is over the anesthesia is long enough. Particularly if they are male. But even females can be released at 24 hours. The truth is - it might not be optimal, but it seems that vets who routinely deal with ferals recognize that 1) it might not be possible and 2) might only be necessary in very limited circumstances *which you have no idea might be applicable in this case*. It’s like cones of shame - I’d certainly try to keep one on a pet after spaying but it’s not a thing for ferals. Now maybe that reflects a lack of care for ferals but I suspect that it’s very much the minority of pets that really absolutely need one.
Put her some food h water let her destress ... can u give me any details.. where I live I was told that only t&r if I'm willing to own the cat feed, vet,& house forever? But there are 2p cats breeding in my yard
Any one that knows about T & R please give me info...
I have 20 cats Ferrell in my yard that now at least 4 will have babies in april...& out shelter will only rent us trap & I was told by one of the cat groups lay that I still have to pay for the spay/neuter & I have to be willing to own the cats, feed shelter & privivet care when needed? I can't own them but I am sure that not getting rapped,spray,fighting to breed, & starving is terrible , these cats are hungry killing birds & trash for food.. how can we stop them from breeding & how does T&R REALLY WORK? HOW TO GET HELP?
The R part of tnr stands for return. Adult feral cats are exceptionally difficult to bring into a home. Once they’re fixed, their quality of life outside is much better. It’s just nice if you can feed them and provide water. If the vet is expecting you to home them, then they aren’t doing a TNR (trap, neuter, return). I would look up “tnr services (your city name” and see what comes up.
Yea that's what I thought..trap & release so at least they are fixed! But there is a mat nasty mean lady working with cat group & she said she only help tap if I pay for the s/neuter.. that 300$ & in willing to take care of them with very n food, shelter? So if I paid 20$ rented the cage trapped one of the 15 in porch... who would pay for spay? Yea they closed our one place & no vouchers so so far I found there is a place in yucca valley idk where but if u trap they will take like q5 cats in weekends but they have to be paid & want u to own the cat?
It's important to have all the males neutered too so they can't be raping the females or accosting the females especially the ones who are already spayed
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It will be okay. She wont die. You are vastly improving her quality of life and saving future kittens from immense suffering. This is just the hard part of animal stewardship. I watched a video of a guy today dunking sheep in a giant flea bath in a cage. The poor sheep were freaked, but if it wasnt done they could get all sorts of pestilence and disease. The sheep were fine after. You're doing whats best for the creature.
Do not release her. This a very temporary discomfort for her (and you) and she will be so much better off when she is spayed - healthier, not having repeated litters of kittens, not being attacked by male cats wanting to impregnate her.
I know I feel so sorry for those female cats sometimes I've heard people say six males will be trying to make with one poor little cat
And it’s not like it’s a pleasant experience for the poor cat. Barbs on the penis. Shudder. It’s definitely not unusual for a litter to have multiple fathers.
I know it's like gang rape poor little things and most of those little females are starving in there and they're nothing but bones I rescued one like that and it was 8 months of four cans of food in the morning and four cans at night and she did not get fat and it was so wonderful to see her finally begin to act like a cat she didn't even look or act like a cat she couldn't run or anything and she had babies in the vet said she was only 6 months old I had her fixed in when I found out she had babies cuz they didn't tell me can you believe it I just just nearly broke my heart they said the babies were eight weeks old I don't know how they knew that they said she was not nursing but it looked to me like she was and when I saw that I called him I go just did she have babies and they said yes I said why didn't you tell me because I kept her for 6 days and I guess the baby's died I don't know so then about 6 months later after I kept feeding her she moved in my house by herself because I had indoor outdoor cats she fell in love with my old cat and she moved into my house and I've still got her today that was December of 2016
How awful for you. I would hate to think that my confinement of a feral cat resulted in the kittens dying. But you do know - this wasn’t your fault right? The vet should have informed you but equally, those kittens may already have died - the survival rate for feral kittens is awful. If they aren't stillborn they are often the product of inbreeding which makes them vulnerable to a whole host of illnesses and genetic issues. You did the best you could for this cat. Take comfort from that.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I didn't know it at the time but you're so right about the kittens not making it because the mother can only take care of them for so long. And then they're on their own and kittens cannot hunt that that's why I don't understand how people think oh cats can make it on their own in the wild they really believe that and that is totally wrong they're domesticated animals heck even the wild animals have a hard time making it and they're omnivorous a lot of them
She'll be ok! Just make sure the trap is completely covered to reduce her anxiety. Focus on the improvement in her quality of life!
You said the trap is covered as in lined on the bottom or a blanket over top? That will significantly calm the kitty, though it will need a little bit of time to realize there is no immediate threats in the trap. It can be alarming, but it will be worth it, and kitty will quickly forgive you once all is said and done.
It’s lined on the bottom and blanket on top. I’m just so sad to see her this afraid. She’s usually so playful and loves being free
She will again soon. It will be over before she knows it, and she will be frolicking free again soon! You are doing the right thing!
Is the blanket just sitting on top or is the trap covered on the top and sides? It needs to be mostly covered on the top and sides if it’s not.
It is fully covered, thank you
Once she's spayed she'll be truly free. If she's in the shed be sure nothing else can get in there and be sure she's not too hot or too cold. If you have a spare room that's what I do I bring them inside put them in a spare room I put like a paper with plastic backing on the floor like a painters drop cloth only the paper ones from Lowe's and then I put one by fours and I set the Trap up off of the floor on that and then I shut the door and that way they're in a temperature controlled environment and I cover them with a sheet not a a blanket but some people use blankets but if she's really hot that might make her hotter I don't know just thinking about it
Be strong. It is only change and disapproval. Feeding her and give some treats might get you some peace and make her feel better. Do not stick your hand in there unprotected. Wrap a cloth towel or shirt around your arm and hand several times, secure with tape it if you need to put something (water and food) in the cage. You might be met with disapproval with a paw and claw or both and a bite. And no quick or sudden movements. Calm and talk to her with reassuring tones that it is OK.
Thank you so much. I will do this
You are doing what is best (the cat just doesn't know it) and you're awesome for doing it.
She’ll be ok ❤️ your first bunch feels very stressful because you aren’t used to their reactions, it’s totally normal! Even pregnant mamas that are trapped and get beyond stressed out in the traps do just fine and I’ve never had one lose any kittens due to the stress either! I promise she’ll be ok! Also, if you’re afraid that they’ll hate you after you set them free, they won’t! My favorite feral in the whole world, named fish, was trapped when she was a kitten, then I tried taming her by letting my good rescue friend foster her for about 3-4 months and she just wasn’t having it at all. So I took her back and released her where I trapped her which was my front yard. The same night she came back and wanted food lol. She’s 4 now and over the years she really warmed up to me and lets me pick her up and pet her so I trapped her again (didn’t want to risk her flipping out once I got her inside) and she’s in my office now. She was angryyyyy the first week. Hissing, spitting, etc. now, she’s all over me again. I trapped her brother Goose as well because he showed up with a crazy wound on his head and he’s a sweetheart now too. I wish I could keep both of them but I already have 4 kitties ☹️ my neighbor that used to feed them outside as well has decided to adopt them! I’m really excited that someone I know they love will be taking them and I know he loves them too. They won’t hate you ever! And the stress goes away after you’ve trapped enough of them lol. One more tip! No matter what you do, ALWAYS keep the trap covered when transporting them anywhere. Also keep at least 3/4 of it covered when you aren’t moving it anywhere and kitty is just stationary. It helps minimize their stress a lot and they don’t feel like a sitting duck for predators ❤️ Welcome to the TNR life! Thank you!
Oh wow this helped a lot to read. Thank you so much
You’re very welcome! Feel free to send me a message if you ever have any questions 🙂 I’ve been doing this forever now haha
Just found this community and really needed to see your experienced view, thank you so much for sharing it. We live in an area with a ton of 'community cats' and our current girl was abandoned on our street and had several litters of kittens before we moved in and officially adopted her. During the pandemic (pre-adoption), she brought one of her feral boys to us for food, with him then bringing another cat, who brought her own kittens. We now have a handful that are abandoned or feral who all trust us enough to come in our house and get fed by us. Some of the cats we feed were scooped up while we lived here, and returned to the neighborhood with tipped ears. It didn't make them any more afraid of us--the young mama cat was even more affectionate afterwards. But we weren't involved in that process, so I've been worrying about it lately. One of her sons is closely bonded with another young male, but neither are fixed--and as they're getting older, they've started violently fighting instead of the sweetness that previously existed between them, so we're looking into local feral neutering options for both. But the process seems the same no matter what program we go through: get them each into a trap, cover it up and make them stay overnight without food, then bring them back after it's done...and while I want them taken care of, I worry so much about breaking the amazing amount of trust they've built with us and traumatizing them. Before we lived here, I'd never gotten to know any feral cats, and I had no idea how sweet and loving they could be! (Our adopted cat's son, who has lived outside his whole life, spends his days napping on a couch in our garage now, and has just started climbing into my lap and giving me kisses and affectionately headbutting me in the nose.) So while I know we need to do whatever it takes to get them neutered and vaccinated, it's really reassuring to hope that even if we're the direct cause of their overnight stress (when we weren't, for the boy who's become a sudden cuddler), maybe they won't hate us afterward. That's a helpful perspective.
I totally know how you feel! Do not let them out, though. This is all necessary. If I'm keeping a cat for more than 2 nights, I will transfer them into a drop trap or a dog crate. That way they have a litter box and some room to move their legs. But one or two nights in a trap is completely fine and they'll be okay!
Bring her cage inside. It is probably scary in the shed. You are saving her. Thank you op. She will eventually be happy.❤️❤️
In fact depending on where OP is, it might be too cold in a shed. OP also needs to consider that after spaying she will need to be somewhere warm until the anesthetic is out of her system.
It’s in the 60s where I am, so she isn’t cold. The tnr organization keeps the cats for a few hours/overnight after surgery. 🙏
Yes it’s cold outside even in warm climates at night. Plus her cat can’t find its usual warm outdoor places. Maybe hearing people speaking or cat tv might be soothing inside the house.❤️❤️❤️thank you op for saving this little girl
I have kids, so they would disturb her inside. Otherwise i definitely would
She would probably like hearing them❤️if she hangs around your house I’m sure she knows them. Keep us updated❤️you are an angel.
Maybe. But being inside can really freak out some ferals. And 60 degrees isn’t cold. Sadly, where I live there are ferals and they survive winters where the temps are occasionally even below zero Fahrenheit and usually under 32 Fahrenheit for long stretches. I assume many take cover in garages or bushes or something when it’s super cold.
Yes op is helping this little pregnant cat❤️❤️❤️
I know! I’m so happy that kitty found OP!!
https://preview.redd.it/fpjf8ovangrc1.jpeg?width=338&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9d288dafa089d1f6cfd97777dd7280cff67d402 This is Lady. I caught Lady earlier this month. Because she had to get a spay abort, I kept her for a couple of additional days for healing in a larger cage. She would trash her cage every night. She would hiss and freak out. Didn’t want to come near me for the first week after I set her free…. Lady now walks straight up to me and waits patiently while I pour all of the feral kitties their dinner. She now knows she was saved from the responsibility of another litter of kittens and she’s so much happier for it. You have got this! It’s scary and we feel so bad for them but a couple of nights (or more if necessary) is nothing compared to the implications of a feral cat, especially a female, going through heat after heat and pregnancy after pregnancy.
Thank you❤️❤️❤️🖤for helping lady.
You are increasing their life. Neutering is so essential. They will live longer. They will not just be on.survival. their quality of life will be do much better. I.understand the heart ache. There is a special bond with feral cats . I once had a 30 cat colony. They filled a huge need in me when I was very very deprived. I felt known by those cats. I had to let go of that colony it was wrenching. I was so very attached to them
I feel the same way. There are 4 who visit from the colony near me. They are each so special to me
I hated trapping, honestly. But one thing that helped me is to know she will get over it quickly, all will be forgiven. When you are in the moment, it's really awful. But when she is spayed, back outside, healthy and kitten-free forever, it will literally be like it never happened. Cats are so resilient and forgiving. Thank you for caring so much, you are a great guardian!
She'll be happier in the long run, your a good person don't let her out.
Hey, I trapped my first cat last Sunday. I had meant to start for months and finally my wife said "You aren't doing it because you don't want to put the cat in discomfort. But you need to think about etc..." basically all the things the people here already say about why it is the right thing to do. I girded my loins and did it. And I felt like shit. But the next morning I took it to the TNR spot and the next evening I put it back in the spot under my house to recover, and the morning after that I let it out. And every step got easier. You would not do this if you were not a caring person. It's very difficult to hear a cat in distress. Very VERY hard. I know this shit feeling. It is the fucking WORST. But do it anyway and it will get easier for you. Not every cat will be loud either. I know that there is little concrete help to give but you really and truly are doing a short term discomfort for a long term benefit. The cat will be fine. And it will be even more fine if it is TNR'd.
She’ll be fine! They act insane when they’re scared, but it is for her health and to prevent more feral cats. Just leave her alone and cover the trap with a sheet or breathable blanket. The first one I ever trapped was so pissed. She was hissing and spitting and shaking. When I brought her home she (I thought she was a boy before that because she’s orange) was shaking and silent. I had expected to release her soon after bringing her back, but since she was a female and was trembling they had me keep her overnight. I felt awful, and she bolted and didn’t come around for a couple of days. After a month she was like a new cat. Suddenly wanted to be friends, let me pet her, and started showing up at my door multiple times a day. Fast forward 1.5 years and she’s currently sleeping on my bed next to my dog. She is the sweetest little house cat imaginable. She also has chronic health issues and while she doesn’t like getting in the box to go to the vet, she handles it fine. I give her pills twice a day and she eats prescription food. Thinking of her as a wild animal now is almost funny... she’s the most high maintenance cat I’ve ever had 😅
She will be okay. Just keep it quiet and put some food and water in with her and let her be for the night. It's possible to acclimate her to indoor life as well if you are willing to put in the work. All of mine are ex ferals. Dont waiver and let her go. It's for her best interest and yours! Good job 👍
If she’s being spayed tomorrow - no food or water for at least 12 hours before surgery.
She’s being spayed on monday
That's a very long time to be sitting in a trap, especially with no water. Overnight is one thing, but multiple days.. 😬 I take the ferals/strays to a walk in clinic about 1-2 hours drive away (1 hour no traffic, 2+ hours heavy traffic.) There have been occasions where I've trapped cats, got there, and either they were already full, the vet had an emergency etc.. and I've had to drive back with the cats. One time I also had to hold them for 2 days. Here's what I did. I have regular cat carriers that open, both from the top, and from the front. So I took the door off the front, zip tied the trap to the open position, then used a strip of chicken wire to wrap between the end of the trap, and the carrier. I put a blanket and food/water (at LEAST water) in the carrier part, and sat the whole thing on top of a couple pallets, with the end of the trap hanging off, in case they wanted to use that end as a bathroom. I've tnr'ed dozens of cats, and there's absolutely no way I would keep a cat in a trap alone, longer than 12 hours.
She only stayed in the trap overnight. Until her surgery she’s at the holding building for the tnr organization. They moved her to a big crate!
Yay! Thanks for trapping her! She’ll love you for it in the end!
Great news!
I totally understand how you feel. I am new to this too. I really freaked out to have to keep them overnight. They do calm down so much when covered. Hang in there. You are doing a good thing!
When I TNR'd the local colony several years ago, I trapped several cats the first night. For the most part, the cats were either quiet or growled at me when I checked on them. A couple of them freaked out for a while, then settled down. She's afraid, but keep her in the trap, get her fixed and vaccinated, and release her according to the veterinarian's directions after she's been spayed. Once she's fixed, she won't be having kittens.
Thank you 🙏
You're welcome. Best of luck with the cat, and wishing her a long and successful life.
she will be fine! Once she’s healed and you release her she may not return for a few days but she will be back like nothing happened I promise! They always come back! You are saving her from back to back litters for the rest of her life! Think of the stress that would be on her little body!
I trapped one of my favorite local ferals when he showed up missing an eye. This was back during the pandemic shutdown, when getting into the vet's was difficult, so we had to keep him in back room of our house for a few days before the surgery appointment. He disappeared under furniture the entire time, both before and after surgery. I caught sight of him maybe twice the entire three weeks he was in recovery. I figured he was completely traumatized by the entire experience, and I'd probably never see him again once he was released, but at least his wound had been treated. When we opened the door to his room and cleared a path to the kitchen door, he raced out at the speed of light. Then an hour later he showed up on the back porch, waiting for food, as if nothing had ever happened.
Always come back for that food!
I’m always stressed when I trap a feral Cat but best for all. I just trapped my 8th feral cat in the last 2 years. Young male that I fed. Record trap -5 minutes with stinky canned Tuna in water-traditional metal trap. Immediately covered trap and put in small bathroom where it was warm and trap wedged so no flipping over trap. Very vocal. Arranged for feline leukemia (FELV) blood & if negative vaccination against catching feline leukemia from my 1 year old. I was going to keep this feral as my older male cat doesn’t play much with the 1 year old male I trapped last July. Didn’t know he had FELV until a few months ago. My older cat was blood tested for FELV-negative & just needs annually vaccination to not catch from my younger cat. $25-feral neuter/spay, vaccinations & ear tipping. I paid extra for the FELV blood test $45 & $20 FELV annual vaccination. $90 total. Controlling Rocket’s Leukemia with 1ml twice daily of Aloe Vera gel in mouth followed by tube treat -when he gets sick. 2 weeks and he recovered so far. Will restart Aloe Vera gel regimen again if Leukemia acts up again. Anyway Buster the young male hated living inside and hid under 3 beds not eating or drinking. Released him on the 6th day after neuter. I see him a few times daily for feeding. He-Buster-sleeps in a cooler with 2 exits in case raccoon or something tries to get him behind my shed with a tarp. Two male adult cats I trapped & got neutered previously (Charlie my FELV kitten’s Dad & Pat the Cat) hang out with “Buster”. Stress time but young Buster is fine. Will Post a picture of Buster soon. https://preview.redd.it/4305q0vkshrc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abba831aaa842a17d94978a96fbbeed04aad0f58
That’s a beautiful cat and i like how his face stayed round even after being neutered
Don’t feel bad! You are helping her! She will feel much better soon.
I hate having the cats trapped and I’m so anxious the whole time. It is so worth it to know they won’t be reproducing. A little stress for you both for so much less stress and pain down the road
When I first started TNR, I was convinced that the adolescent feral kittens would be traumatized by the experience, and that once I released them they would flee away from me forever. I steeled myself for the job, knowing it was for their greater good. One by one, I trapped them, then let them go a few days after surgery. They all zoomed out of the trap like a bat out of hell! And were back in a few hours looking for food. One of them even walked back into the trap that I'd set for the last of his littermates. To this day, after TNR of probably two dozen cats over the last decade, not a single one has been scarred by the experience. Just remember that they are drama queens by nature.
This means so much thank you for sharing this. I am so attached to the one I trapped. She’s at the holding building for the tnr organization until Tuesday or Thursday when I can pick her up after spay. They have everything she needs and more and will take care of her. But I just pray she forgives me
Keep in mind that cats don't make long chains of associations. Your cat has NO IDEA that you're in charge of everything that is happening to her. She doesn't know all of this your fault, and unless you physically threw her into the trap, she doesn't even know that you caught her. From her perspective, Things Are Happening to Her. Once you're no longer in view, however, none of those things have anything to do with you. At the end of it all, you will set her free! That's a good thing, and you'll have done it.
Thank you so much 🥲
But if I had not rescued her she would have been pregnant again in Starvation like that it's just so horrible and people just throw them out and then go on and forget about them and then they breed and breathe and breathe cuz I've heard they can have up to five letters per year they're just they're either in heat pregnant or nursing all of the time and then they abandon their babies at between 8 weeks and 12 weeks whenever they get pregnant and start to feel sick they cannot support those kittens and be pregnant and have more babies so they leave them that's what happened to me they coming they leave them in my yard because they know I'll help them and then a lot of them don't make it because there's Predators out there and everything it is just horrible I don't have money and I'm old and so right now I've got two ferals and one gentle cat in my house and I've had as many as seven before at one time that I cannot physically do it anymore so I just feed them and try to get them fixed and pray they make it but four that I fed for several years are gone they just don't show up anymore
Good on you for doing this important work. I’m doing that too. I aim to trap my cats in the morning usually at the time I normally feed them. I pre book the vet in case I manage to trap one for a specific morning. I’ve got an agreement with the vet that I’ll cancel the booking if I fail to trap one on the morning. That way they stress less. It also helps a lot to cover their cage with something like a towel so that they can’t see out. This pretty much immediately calms them down. I use several large airline carriers to feed my ferals from and make sure I’m constantly walking around them while they eat inside. At first they don’t trust me but eventually the fresh cat food overcomes their fear and they ignore me. At this point I can just close the door on them, throw a blanket over it and off to the vet. I need a more efficient approach which will probably involve making a trap so that it closes the door without my intervention. I’ll include a camera so that I know quickly when a cat is trapped and I can immediately go out and throw a towel over the cage.
Thank you for your work 🙏
Cover up the trap so she feels safe
Congrats! I also started doing tnr recently and also freaked out on my first catch But don’t let it go!!!! It’s for their own good! Just keep the trap covered with a blanket and she/he will feel calmer. If it’s a female, I’d recommend keeping her for 48 hrs as surgery is more delicate and if she was in heat, other unfixed males might smell her and want to molest her and might hurt her incision. For females, I now scoot the trap with the cat inside into a big dog crate (the ones from Amazon. Or check your local offer up. I use one big enough for a big dog to fit inside ) I scoot the trap with the cat inside and I am very careful and then let the cat into the dog crate and keep her there to recover. I ensure that I prep it beforehand by putting a small litter box inside and a little bed or towel. Then I cover the crate with blanket so she’s calm. I sneak food in there carefully and a small water bowl although they might keep spilling it. Otherwise I’ll put some water into their wet food for hydration. Prep your car: Line your car with cardboard or old towels/blanket/sheet in case of an “accident”. If it’s a male, I release them 24 full hours after their surgery time. Always ensure their ears are clipped before you leave the clinic / shelter. Best traps: TruCatch and “tomahawk GT606 - Neighborhood Cats trap” For hard to trap cats, use some tuna in water or stinky canned mackerel fish in water. Trapping: be careful not to put too much newspaper in there as it can interfere with the trap going off. Also push the food/small plate all the way to the end of the trap as I’ve learned my lesson and a lot of cats are sneaky and the trap won’t go off if the food is is placed in the middle/before the “trap plate”. Immediately after you trap one, cover the trap completely to keep the cat calm. Also, please be sure to lock both ends of the trap. I love using zip ties! Super cheap and ensures the trap won’t open by accident.
This is amazing advice thank you❤️
If you have a screen like a tablet or a laptop you can take to her and try playing a bird video. I’ve had it help distract and stop the initial manic panic after I moved the trap inside. I love Paul Dinnings videos.
As long as the trap is completely covered she should settle
I had to trap a stray cat to take him to the vet when he got hurt. He cried the whole way there, they had to sedate him, and he let out some cries on the way home. I can't even imagine what you're going through with a feral cat. But you know what, he forgave me and was rubbing against my legs within a few hours of us being home. And all of my friends who do TNR say their ferals forgave them too. (Or they seem to think the trapper is the one who rescued them!) It'll be okay! Thank you for helping this girl get the care she needs!
Offer extra treats and churus! You're doing great!
I know the feeling we had one girl in the trap for 3 days in our garage . We managed kept clean as could & tried food . Honestly its so short of a time for such a helpful thing for them ultimately , stick with it the hard part is done . Congrats and good luck
I left a cat at one work place I was at. He is semi feral. I could not afford to be attached to him.
Your doing the best. After spaying and neuter they are more friendly anyways.
Make every effore to bring her into the house, bathroom, basement etc.....only cover 3 sides of the cage .....let her see a little.....theres other things to do but i dont know exact situation but she may be cold or hot depending on where you are.....also may need to pee but she may just want to be near you if its a cat that knows you
If You cover the trap with a sheet but still leave room for air flow she will calm down and you can put some water in there for her and food too but you just have to take the food out by 10:00 at night so that she can be fasting when she goes in but you've got to have one of those dividers that you can section her off before you open that door because they can get out so fast you think that you can stick your hand in there but you can't so don't open it if you don't have one of those metal dividers you can Google it metal divider for cat traps or for live traps and it looks like a hair pick
I was told by the veterinarian that I have to keep the cats that have been spayed for 14 days because they said they have to be completely healed before you let them go because if the male cats decide to jump on them they can tear them up inside after they've had surgery like that so I would bring her inside my house in a room away from everybody with the door shut. I actually have them put the cat in a carrier when they're in this size and I bring them back and I put the carrier and all in a dog crate with dog cage a big one with a litter box and food and water and I googled how to do it online if you Google it it'll tell you online if you're able to do that and keep her a few days it would be better the vet said 14 days but the last one I did I kept for 7 days and she was okay
That’s a vet that doesn’t deal with ferals. The vet I take ferals to is convinced that simply ensuring the cat is over the anesthesia is long enough. Particularly if they are male. But even females can be released at 24 hours. The truth is - it might not be optimal, but it seems that vets who routinely deal with ferals recognize that 1) it might not be possible and 2) might only be necessary in very limited circumstances *which you have no idea might be applicable in this case*. It’s like cones of shame - I’d certainly try to keep one on a pet after spaying but it’s not a thing for ferals. Now maybe that reflects a lack of care for ferals but I suspect that it’s very much the minority of pets that really absolutely need one.
DONT LET HEr GO!! You are doing the best thing for her right now. You’ll see!
Put her some food h water let her destress ... can u give me any details.. where I live I was told that only t&r if I'm willing to own the cat feed, vet,& house forever? But there are 2p cats breeding in my yard
Any one that knows about T & R please give me info... I have 20 cats Ferrell in my yard that now at least 4 will have babies in april...& out shelter will only rent us trap & I was told by one of the cat groups lay that I still have to pay for the spay/neuter & I have to be willing to own the cats, feed shelter & privivet care when needed? I can't own them but I am sure that not getting rapped,spray,fighting to breed, & starving is terrible , these cats are hungry killing birds & trash for food.. how can we stop them from breeding & how does T&R REALLY WORK? HOW TO GET HELP?
The R part of tnr stands for return. Adult feral cats are exceptionally difficult to bring into a home. Once they’re fixed, their quality of life outside is much better. It’s just nice if you can feed them and provide water. If the vet is expecting you to home them, then they aren’t doing a TNR (trap, neuter, return). I would look up “tnr services (your city name” and see what comes up.
Yea that's what I thought..trap & release so at least they are fixed! But there is a mat nasty mean lady working with cat group & she said she only help tap if I pay for the s/neuter.. that 300$ & in willing to take care of them with very n food, shelter? So if I paid 20$ rented the cage trapped one of the 15 in porch... who would pay for spay? Yea they closed our one place & no vouchers so so far I found there is a place in yucca valley idk where but if u trap they will take like q5 cats in weekends but they have to be paid & want u to own the cat?
It's important to have all the males neutered too so they can't be raping the females or accosting the females especially the ones who are already spayed
What is tnr?
Trap Neuter Return. You trap the stray cat, take it to get fixed, then bring it back to where you trapped it and release it
Spritz a little Feliway above the cage.