humane traps

[mm_simb]

I've been wanting to catch my somewhat feral cat to take him to get neutered. He will not go into the carrier anymore since the last time he went in there was so I could trap him and bring him to my neighborhood. He use to live at my aunt's yard and she wouldn't feed him even when I gave them a huge bag of food. Since I was going to be feeding him I thought it would be better for him to be by my place. So I trapped him in a carrier, brought him to my yard, and he ran away when my mom openned the carrier to give him more food. He came back after 2 days and since then has fattened up. He wont let me carry him or really much pet him. He wont go in the carrier anymore.
I would hate to trap him because I don't find the humane traps as humane as some people. He got stressed in the carrier. I know the trap is going to be a lot worse to him. Plus, he would have to be in there a whole night because he only comes to my house at night and the place when they fix them opens in the morning. So are they really ok? Will it stress him out a lot?
I know a technique for calming them down is to put a towel over the cage so it would be in darkness.

 

[Kiarra]

Don't worry about it too much. The humane traps can actually be VERY humane. We had to trap a number of feral cats near my mother's work to get them spayed, and to adopt the kittens that had showed up before we got them spayed. Just place some food and water in there if you can (but you don't really NEED to), and, when you get there in the morning, either transfer him to a carrier (it's hard to do, but it's better for them) or cover it completely with blankets or towels. This will help to keep him calm. It will be stressful, but he'll be all right.

 

[SirMinion]

No food, He'll need to be fasted before the operation and don't worry too much about stressing him.
Once he realises he can't get out he'll calm down and sleep while he plots his revenge.

He will need somewhere to pee though.

Once he's been 'fixed' he will wander a lot less, be healthier and much more lovable.

 

[Opcn]

You should get him declawed too, or atleast put on those soft claw things really, the birds he eats probably don't care weather hes spayed or not

 

[FishEnthusiast]

He is a feral cat. It would be inhumane to de claw him. It is inhumane to declaw any cat, but one that relies on his claws for survival? No way. Even the soft claws for him are probably not a good idea.

 

[Kiarra]

I have to agree. Declawing a feral cat is one of the worst things you can do.

Neutering is a wonderful thing to do, however, and I think it's great that you're having it done for him.

 

[mm_simb]

I wont be getting him declawed and if I can't get him in a trap, I can't put soft paws on him. He probably does more damage with his teeth than with his claws eitherway. I have actually never seen a dead bird by my aunts house or my house. He was so skinny, I doubt he ate any birds.
I think it's inhumane to declaw them eitherway but him being a feral cat, it's a lot worse. He'll be going in as soon as I can rent a trap.

 

[Bloo]

You should get him declawed too

That is just MONSTROUS and barbaric to suggest declawing! It's already been discussed in this recent thread and Haiku also posted a link to the very touching story of Nala and what happens behind the scenes.
I do not believe that any true animal loving person (who has read and understands) what that procedure entails, would actually have that operation done on their cat.
I do however think "Softpaws" is a great alternative as could "Feliway" be.

Feliway Transport is also a great product that "reproduces certain pacifying properties of natural facial pheromones & reduces signs of transport stress.

And as SirM has said, you would need to remove all food and water from him the night before his procedure.

Good luck !

 

[mm_simb]

Thanks
Declawing was never an option. I've seen him climb trees and runaway from some neighborhood cats. He would never be able to protect himself from them if he were declawed. I would think keeping the SoftClaws on would also be a challenge. If he were to kill any birds I'm certain he would do it with or without something on this nails. I hate to have an outdoor cat...but I can't do much more for him other than get his shots and get him fixed. I have two other cats and my parents will definately not have anymore. He's better off with me than he was with my aunt. I can't believe how much weight he's put just by regular feedings.
He's also better off with me than a shelter. I couldn't find any no-kill shelters and the ones that were ok said I would have to foster him as an indoor cat...and I can't do that. No other shelter would work with him because of how he is when first meeting people. The shelter I volunteer at would euthanize in a second. It's kitten season...they don't want some moody older kitten there to take space.
I'll get him trapped as soon as he gains a little more trust to go into anything enclosed and as soon as I can afford a trap. I know he's going to be so much more happy.

 

[Bloo]

Brilliant decision !
You're also right that as semi-feral outdoor cat; the softpaws won't be a good option for him. But by neutering him, he will most certainly be less inclined to wander around.
Good luck !

 

[Opcn]

wow, I was completely unmoved by nalas plight, yet I'm still an animal lover. the problem is that I love wild animals more than feral, I love animals because they keep ecological balance, not because they are soft and furry. When its out hunting birds and tears off a wing how do you think the bird feels? Not good I'll tell you. oh, and while you can and will always be able to get a new cat you can never bring a species of bird back from extinction.

 

[Bloo]

OPCN - hunting is part of life. It's the life cycle. You can't stop or prevent that. It's natural and nature.

Mmmm, so what does the bird "feel" when it gets it's wing torn off by a wild animal as opposed to a fluffy lap cat? Any different at all, or perhaps by chance exactly the same. Does the bird distinguish between a wild or house cat ? I somehow think not.
What you're arguing about does not make sense.

 

[3fsh]

All feral cats should be neutered/spayed if possible. They have some very humane traps at the A.S.P.C.A that they rent out to people for a decent price. (Much cheaper than buying one.)

  He is a feral cat. It would be inhumane to de claw him. It is inhumane to declaw any cat, but one that relies on his claws for survival? No way. Even the soft claws for him are probably not a good idea.

Lol... cats who are cared for properly do not need their claws. Claws are for catching and eating things. Pet cats should not have to do this due to the fact that they are(/should be) getting the proper amount of food from the people who own them.

If the cat is feral, I can see your point in keeping claws. He would need them to survive and keep out of trouble.

hunting is part of life. It's the life cycle. You can't stop or prevent that. It's natural and nature.

Feral cats are not "natural". They have no predators because they live in cities where the only thing threatening them is disease and perhaps racoons, dogs, or other cats. The only cats that used to exist in the U.S. were mountain lions and those sort of cats... pet cats were brought here by people. They are not part of nature, as much as everyone wishes they could be. That would be like saying that a killer whale living in a pool at a zoo is "natural". Just because we put it there doesn't mean it is "natural".

 

[mm_simb]

Whether or not my cat is out killing birds, he will not be declawed...ever. I don't declaw my indoor cats even if Simba attacks mostly everybody, I will not declaw a feral cat. He needs his claws to climb and to protect himself. If I can, I will end up making him an indoor cat in the future but other than that, he will NOT get declawed. I care more about the well being and comfort of the cats. Plus, this being Texas, I hardly see anyone with indoor cats. I think if they were all out attacking the birds there wouldn't be any birds over here anymore. I'm sure most of the birds know better than to be in reach of a cat at night.
And it is an instinct to hunt for cats, therefore making it natural. My cats hunt indoors whenever they see a bug . I think I've seen more birds and dogs kill birds around here than cats. That is just from my experience though.
But I didn't intend on making this into a pro-declawing/anti-declawing thread...or a thread about keeping cats outdoors
So thanks to everyone that informed me about the traps. I will ask where I volunteer at how much they rent them out for.

 

[Bloo]

Apologies - I did not mean to hijack your thread and I see it sufficient to leave it at that.
Good luck