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- Jun 20, 2022
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I need advice on how to make a feral cat more "comfortable" in a trap overnight and into the morning hours. (Unfortunately, I can't transport the Mama Cat or her kittens into a larger cage after trapping. They are all just too feral. I can't handle them in any way whatsoever).
I understand keeping the trap covered and using a water bottle on the cage. (I hope they would figure that out, although with the regular Tractor Supply trap and the large dog kennel I would also place a water bowl against the cage. They might be able to drink a bit that way).
My main concern is keeping them as clean as possible when it comes to them going to the bathroom. Right now I have hay inside the two pet crates and the trap. (Yes, I'm trying several different ways since they're so hard to catch. I'm using the trap from Tractor Supply, a smaller dog crate, a larger dog crate, and eventually my new pup's large kennel. The kennel I'm going to have to make some adjustments to).
The trap of course has holes on the bottom, but the two pet crates do not. (With those two crates I can't do anything for the cats, hygiene-wise). The large dog kennel on the other hand has a removable tray on the bottom. (I haven't set the large dog kennel out yet, as our new pup was just introduced to it and I have to find some strong rope to make a handle on the top of the cage. Of course, I would rather have the trap work - since it would do all the trapping work for me - but only if they won't be inside there for too long).
Did I mention how much I absolutely hate all of this? It's just so sad, frustrating and unfair. I just want all this over with so I can move past it all, and for good. This cycle must end!
I've been trying to avoid having the kittens and Mom be trapped inside a cage for hours on end from dusk to well after dawn, but I'm at my wits end now. I'm desperate for this to end. I wanted to make this as easy as possible for them, but through no fault of their own that's been impossible. I hate it, but it feels like it's come to the point of Tough Love. They HAVE to be spayed, and I want to cry at the thought of the Mom having yet another litter of kittens and me having to go through all of this yet again. (It's hard on me, but it really hurts to think of what those poor kittens go through). Also, we won't be going through this for just one night but for one cat at a time! (That's if they use the regular trap, although I think we are going to break down and purchase a second trap). There's a Mama Cat, and 4 kittens.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice about hygiene while in the trap. I'm sorry for rambling. I'm just so stressed over all this happening yet again. (Last summer I had to capture 5 of her kittens. It was so extremely difficult, and for several reasons). Words cannot express how AWFUL I feel at the thought of even considering having these cats trapped inside a dirty cage for so many hours. I honestly don't know if I can even do it. My family is fine with trapping them early on the night before, but they aren't the ones doing the actual work and worrying over their physical and mental health! They, like myself, just want to move on and put all this behind us.
At least it isn't summertime right now. That's one really huge thing in our favor.
I understand keeping the trap covered and using a water bottle on the cage. (I hope they would figure that out, although with the regular Tractor Supply trap and the large dog kennel I would also place a water bowl against the cage. They might be able to drink a bit that way).
My main concern is keeping them as clean as possible when it comes to them going to the bathroom. Right now I have hay inside the two pet crates and the trap. (Yes, I'm trying several different ways since they're so hard to catch. I'm using the trap from Tractor Supply, a smaller dog crate, a larger dog crate, and eventually my new pup's large kennel. The kennel I'm going to have to make some adjustments to).
The trap of course has holes on the bottom, but the two pet crates do not. (With those two crates I can't do anything for the cats, hygiene-wise). The large dog kennel on the other hand has a removable tray on the bottom. (I haven't set the large dog kennel out yet, as our new pup was just introduced to it and I have to find some strong rope to make a handle on the top of the cage. Of course, I would rather have the trap work - since it would do all the trapping work for me - but only if they won't be inside there for too long).
Did I mention how much I absolutely hate all of this? It's just so sad, frustrating and unfair. I just want all this over with so I can move past it all, and for good. This cycle must end!
I've been trying to avoid having the kittens and Mom be trapped inside a cage for hours on end from dusk to well after dawn, but I'm at my wits end now. I'm desperate for this to end. I wanted to make this as easy as possible for them, but through no fault of their own that's been impossible. I hate it, but it feels like it's come to the point of Tough Love. They HAVE to be spayed, and I want to cry at the thought of the Mom having yet another litter of kittens and me having to go through all of this yet again. (It's hard on me, but it really hurts to think of what those poor kittens go through). Also, we won't be going through this for just one night but for one cat at a time! (That's if they use the regular trap, although I think we are going to break down and purchase a second trap). There's a Mama Cat, and 4 kittens.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice about hygiene while in the trap. I'm sorry for rambling. I'm just so stressed over all this happening yet again. (Last summer I had to capture 5 of her kittens. It was so extremely difficult, and for several reasons). Words cannot express how AWFUL I feel at the thought of even considering having these cats trapped inside a dirty cage for so many hours. I honestly don't know if I can even do it. My family is fine with trapping them early on the night before, but they aren't the ones doing the actual work and worrying over their physical and mental health! They, like myself, just want to move on and put all this behind us.
At least it isn't summertime right now. That's one really huge thing in our favor.