Need some ideas how to catch a stray cat.

[pcarsey]

We live in the middle of nowhere and someone has "once again" delighted us by dropping off yet "another cat! This makes us 8! Well the last one will eat food if I put it out, and the other night I noticed this huge sore on the side of it's neck! I feel REALLY bad for this poor cat! But the problem is.. I can not get it to come to me yet. It meows at me, watches me bring it food, will even rub against my leg but when I reach down to pet it or even try to, it runs off like a wild turkey! I am not sure what to do about the sore on it's neck. I'm not sure if it is just the skin rubbed off, if it is a deeper sore or what. Any ideas how I can get this poor animal to come to me so I can at least check it out to see if it needs to go to the vet?

[Jacqui805]

Ya know, I completely forgot to tell you that I would cover the trap with a blanket or something.  Cats ARE smart and if they think for even a SECOND that it's a trap, they won't go near it.  Try covering the trap, I think that might work...also, you may have to be extra patient with this.  If you ARE putting out food daily, outside of the trap, halt this, and ONLY place any food items IN the trap.  I'd see if I could, what foods make the cat come closer to the trap.  I'd experiment with a few.  It might just be that one of them will do the trick.  Good luck.

[pcarsey]

Just an update..

This is one smart cat! He noticed the trap I had and would not even come over to eat...lol so I am currently working on getting it closer to me. We have no cat shelter anymore sue to lack of funds, so that is probably why people bring them all to my house..lol It would be wonderful if I had a huge barn full of mice but I do not. I think it is a male cat because now I noticed one of our other strays who isn't fixed is marking his territory everywhere..lol We took 5 of the cats to have them fixed about a year ago and it costs us 200.00 (they gave us a deal for having all done at the same time) I can't afford to have any fixed at this time so it's just going to have to keep marking.. as long as it isn't in my house!! So far so good!

Well just wanted to update!

Thanks everyone!

[4lackofabettername]

both my 2 cats are strays and the one cat of our must have been betten by a man because he wouldnt come out anytime my dad or brother came around...that could be a possible issue so try someone of a different gender to, as well as it could just be untrusting toward people in general or sudden or slight movments that encounter its "bubble" may make it uncomfortable due it's past. my suggestion is to try and let it warm up to you...the sore...if its is swollen n looks like theres a marble under the skin chances are it had been in a fight and was bit, so it became infected. It could possibly pop and drain itself or if you can catch it you could. as for an open wound you'll have to pull the "have-a-heart traps" as someone said if it is bad enough to need vet attention right away.

[Jacqui805]

I would try one of those Have-A-Heart Traps and I'd bait it with either some canned cat food, tuna, cat nip, or chicken.  Good luck and bless your heart!

[JoyRenee]

Oh poor baby!

[crabby70]

I would call your local animal shelter to....I went out and got one of those traps....I had to catch four kittens....They were ferral....I ended up keeping to of them..But the other two were to nasty...Its a shame people just  think nothing of getting rid of an animal....

[zodiacqueen]

I see that the strays know where to go!!!  LOL  They ALL wind up showing up at my mom's house, too!  She also has 8 cats!!  :D

Have you thought about calling your local animal control and borrowing one of their traps?  Just explain the situation to them, and they will help you out!  They have helped us out before!

Let me know how it goes!  You've made my day!  I love hearing about people that are willing to help out the poor strays.  It sure beats the depressing posts we get with people writing in with life-threatening conditions looking for a cure on these forums, instead of taking the cats to the vet.  We get WAY too many of those terrible posts.