FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - TRAPPING REPORT


FIRST TRAPPNG REPORT OF THE NEW YEAR 2023

One of our trappers was up early and headed to the Camelias zone where she had her eye on 3 young CumbreCats who were now the right age to be castrated.

TRAPPER REPORT

"I had already practised a lot with the trap in November when I tried to catch their mother, so the kittens were not afraid of the trap. It did not take long before they ran into the trap again.

At first, they played in and around the trap, but eventually 2 of the kittens were in the trap at the same time. It was an almost perfect catch!

I arrived at the vet's office at 9am sharp and by noon the CumbreCats were ready for collection.

They stayed indoors to recover from the anaesthetic and were released back where they had been caught around 7pm. Thank you to the dedicated CumbreCats feeders, dinner was waiting for them."


WHY TRAPPING?

The Problem:
There are many feral and stray cats roaming freely in the streets of Cumbre del Sol, which is nice to see but it has become an overpopulation problem.

The Solution:
Trap-Neuter-Return *TNR* is the only method proven to be HUMANE AND EFFECTIVE in controlling free-roaming cat population growth.

In a Trap-Neuter-Return program, community cats are humanely trapped (with box traps), brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, eartipped (the universal sign that a community cat has been neutered), and then returned to their outdoor home.



TRAPPING TIPS:

  1.     CALL A FRIEND. CumbreCats recommends trapping with at least one other person for your safety and peace of mind. A cell phone and flashlight are also suggested for these reasons. Never attempt to pick up or handle a community cat—even a kitten. You risk injury to yourself and the cat.
  2.     TRAPS. You should have one trap per cat.
  3.     BAIT. You need to give cats a reason to enter traps. Try using several large pop-top cans of tuna, mackerel, sardines, or other smelly fish. The canned fish should be packed in oil so it does not dry out. If you don’t bring pop-top cans, be sure to bring a can opener.
  4.     WET WIPES or paper towels for easy cleanup.
  5.     FORKS or spoons (to scoop out the bait).
  6.     NEWSPAPER to line the bottom of the traps and tape or clothespins to hold it to the trap floor if necessary (like on windy days). Magnetic vent covers also do the trick!
  7.     TRAP LABELS with room for the date, cat description, exact location where the cat was trapped, and room for any observations, such as noticeable injuries.
  8.     TRAP COVERS that are big enough (i.e. beach-size towels, blankets, or sheets—cut to size) to fully cover the top and all four sides of each trap. One cover per trap.
  9.     TWIST TIES, or pipe cleaners to secure the closed doors of the traps.
  10.     TRASH BAGS for tuna lids, used plastic ware, etc.
  11.     THICK GLOVES to wear for your safety and comfort while carrying the cats in traps.
  12.     VEHICLE LINERS such as cardboard, large plastic trash bags, a plastic shower curtain, or towels. Puppy pads also work well if the cats have “accidents.”
  13.     BUNGEE CORDS to hold traps securely in place in your vehicle during transportation.
  14.     PATIENCE. Trapping can be time-consuming and sometimes a bit stressful. If you remember to stay calm and follow the plan you created, you will be successful!

Once Cats Are Trapped, Calmly Approach the Traps

 Do not open the traps or touch the cats, even if it appears that the cats are hurting themselves. Cats may thrash around after being trapped. Do not be alarmed by this—they are just scared and it is completely normal. Covering the trap will calm them down almost immediately. Remember: the only time cats should be removed from traps is during surgery and when you return them to their outdoor homes.

RETURNING CATS

Cats can be returned to their outdoor homes 24 hours after surgery if they’re clear-eyed and alert. The clinic may ask you to make exceptions for cats who are slow to recover or need continuing post-operative care. Since anesthesia drugs can impair cats’ ability to regulate their body temperature, make sure cats are well recovered if it is exceptionally hot or cold outdoors. The general rule of thumb is that the sooner your cats are returned to their outdoor home, the better. Confinement is extremely stressful for community cats.


TIPS

  • Return the cats to the same location where you trapped them.
  • Early morning is a good time, as it is quieter.
  • Point the traps away from roads or high-traffic areas so the cats don’t run into them.
  • Open the front door of the trap and then completely remove the cover.
  • If the trap has a back door, move the cover away and pull the door up and off (if possible with your trap), then completely remove the cover and walk away.
  • Be careful to keep your distance and keep your fingers and hands as far from the cat as possible when opening the trap. Sometimes it takes the cats a moment to realize where they are, but they will run off once they get their bearings.

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