How do I trap a cat for TNR?
Establish a Feeding Schedule
If you don’t need to urgently catch the cat, try to establish a feeding schedule with a stray cat so it knows when to stop by for food. It's also a good idea to acquire a trap as soon as you can and leave it out in their feeding area at least a few days before it's time to trap them so they can get used to it.
If there’s time, desensitize the cat to walking into the trap by leaving food inside the trap with the trigger mechanism disabled so the cat can walk inside it without setting it off. After a few days, the cat should be accustomed to eating from inside the trap, making it much easier to trap them.
Acquire a Trap
The easiest way to acquire a trap is by searching online for any local animal rescue groups in your area and reaching out to them. If you offer to help them with their TNR efforts, they will generally be happy to lend you traps and teach you how to use them. Some groups do monthly trappings and may even handle all the medical appointments and arrangements, so all you need to do is trap the cat(s)!
Speaking to local vets may also be helpful, but be aware that not all vets in Japan are willing to treat or fix feral cats. Those who do, however, may also be willing to lend you traps for use.
Try to look around a vet clinic to see if there are any lost pet posters or flyers advertising pets for adoption, as these clinics tend to be more sympathetic to helping feral cats and are better connected with the community. There are also spay-and-neuter clinics that are specialized in treating and fixing feral cats, and they can generally help connect you to the right people and help you as well.
If you are located close to our Kyoto or Tokyo bases, we are also happy to lend you traps, but if you prefer to purchase your own, we recommend searching for something from Heart Of The Earth Animal Equipment and Tomahawk Live Trap. Both these companies are based in the US, so please contact them directly about international shipping.
Schedule an Appointment with a Vet
You’ll need to have an appointment made at a vet clinic to bring the cat into for spaying/neutering, so do your research beforehand if you aren’t being aided by a rescue group. Some vets in Japan won’t deal with feral cats, so confirm that the vet you speak with is comfortable with handling strays.
The average cost is ¥25,000 to spay a female and ¥15,000 to neuter a male, but spay/neuter clinics, which specifically exist to fix strays and do TNR, often offer much lower rates. You can also look for city-subsidized tickets to get reimbursed for surgeries.
Discuss whether you would like additional services (such as vaccinations, parasite treatment, dental checks/extractions, etc.) given to the stray as well. Be prepared for the possibility of paying for more than just a spay/neuter in case the cat you bring in needs extra care. Spaying pregnant mother cats will also cost extra, so be aware of that too. Make sure to request that the cat is ear-tipped after it has been fixed as an indication that it has already been through TNR.
Confining a feral cat can be extremely stressful for them, so try to arrange things so trapping the cat, getting them fixed, and releasing them happens in within a 24-hour period.
Prepare to Trap
The day before your spay/neuter appointment, prepare to catch the cat. Place some smelly food as bait at the entrance of the trap, right before the trigger inside the trap, and a large portion at the very back of the trap. This will lead a cat right into it. Then, engage the trap mechanism and watch the trap from a distance. Have a towel or sheet ready to cover it after the cat has entered the trap and triggered it.
Be sure never to leave a live trap out of your line of sight, especially if you are trapping in a public location. A cat may thrash about and injure itself, and you should be nearby to deal with the situation if necessary. Trapped cats may also be harmed or taken by people if left unattended, so be careful! It generally doesn't take long to trap a cat if they're in the vicinity, so make sure to stick around.
Trap the Cat
Once the cat has entered the trap and triggered it, quickly return to it and cover it to calm the cat down. You should also do a visual check-up on it to see if it has any injuries. In the case it is hurt, be sure to inform the vet when you bring them in. If a cat appears to have swollen nipples, this is a sign that it is a nursing mother cat. Check to see if her babies are around and ensure that you catch them as well. If she looks particularly rotund, she might not have given birth yet, but you can still bring her in to be spayed. Nursing mothers can also be spayed and will continue to lactate even after surgery, so you don’t necessarily have to wait until her babies are weaned to fix her.
Hold Onto the Cat / Take Them to the Vet
Depending on when you catch the cat and when your vet appointment is, it may be necessary to house them temporarily. In this case, keep the cage closed and covered, and let the cat stay somewhere quiet as not to stress them out too much.
Generally speaking, you can pick up the cat in the evening if you drop them off in the morning or afternoon for surgery.
Return / Rehabilitate / Re-home the Cat
After the cat has been fixed, there are several options for what to do with them. Generally speaking, older feral cats should be released back into their community, but you should never release them immediately after surgery, as they may be disoriented and unable to defend themselves. Instead, keep them indoors at least overnight before returning them to their original location.
If the cat is injured, you may need to rehabilitate them. If they are young enough to be socialized (4 months or younger), then you can try to re-home them instead. You can read this guide for more detailed instructions on what to do.
Important!
Understand that if a cat escapes a trap after you catch it, it will be difficult or impossible to capture it again. Do not release a cat that has not yet been altered. You can tell if a cat has been fixed by seeing if they have been ear-tipped.
If you catch a cat that you had not planned to catch, you should try to adjust your plans so they can get fixed as well. Again, do not release a cat that has not been altered, or you’ll likely never get them again!