Be sure to have such cats tested for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV, aka feline AIDS) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), vaccinated, and altered. You don’t want your “limited number” to become a mob. If any of the cats test positive for FIV or FeLV, for the good of all the cats in the neighborhood, you must have a veterinarian humanely put them down, unless you are able and willing to adopt such cats and keep them inside only. [4] X Research source [5] X Research source If you own uninfected cats, this is not a viable option, since no cure exists for either disease. (Note: humans cannot catch either of these feline-specific diseases. )
One thing this means is decluttering – removing brush and debris, old cars or other machinery, or anything else that may be cluttering up your property and providing nice hiding places for stray cats. You should also seal up any outside holes in your home or that allow access into any outdoor buildings. Replace broken windows and seal any damaged surface holes.
Make sure the container doesn’t have any sharp edges that could injure the cat. You can put down a small towel or piece of cloth inside the trap to make the trap more comfortable. But remember that animals have great senses of smell, so using the same towel over and over will actually repel the cats.
Position the trap under a roof so cats do not remain in heat or rain once caged. Never leave a trap unattended. If the cat will be in the trap for longer than 12 hours provide a plastic container of water so they don’t get thirsty. Use tie wraps to secure this in place so they don’t knock it over trying to escape once trapped. This should only happen if you have to wait to take the animal to the vet clinic, or when you are caring for the cat after it has been spayed or neutered. Otherwise, try to get the cat in and out of the trap as quickly as possible.
Don’t ever leave the trap unattended. Anything could happen while you’re away. Once you set the trap up, back away, but always stay within sight of the trap. [10] X Research source Place a blanket over the cage. This helps calm cats and reduces trauma. Wear heavy gloves when handling traps to avoid serious infections if you scratch yourself on the metal cage, or if you are scratched by a cat during transport. A cat can bite through surprisingly heavy material if panicked. Place traps on plastic bags or tarps to contain cat waste, especially if transporting in a car.
The vet can check for a microchip too.
Try asking your local veterinarian if they know of any low cost spay/neuter options. Sometimes vets themselves offer clinics for this purpose. If not, they should be able to direct you to a local rescue group, shelter, humane society, or other organization that offers this type of service. Make sure the cat gets an eartip to identify it as spayed. [13] X Research source
Try asking your local veterinarian if they know of any low cost spay/neuter options. Sometimes vets themselves offer clinics for this purpose. If not, they should be able to direct you to a local rescue group, shelter, humane society, or other organization that offers this type of service. Make sure the cat gets an eartip to identify it as spayed. [13] X Research source
