How to Rescue Stray Cats in Your Neighborhood

It's one of the sadder things to people like me and millions of other cat lovers out there. A stray cat, next to the road, shivering in the cold or rain, or worse one who has no need to shiver because their short sad life has come to an end. For those of us who would like to make a differance to strays, the task seems daunting. A stray cat is almost impossible to catch, and if caught is not exactly something that you would want to hold onto (it makes one wonder why the term fraidy cat is considered an insult, seems it might more accurately mean someone who when afraid will tear your apart an inch at a time). So what can be done. I can share what I have done, cheaply and to great personal satisfaction, with great results.

First I got into contact with several No Kill animal shelters, private cat charities, and even individual people who had the same love for feline's as I. I visited each one to make sure they were what they said they were, and then I designed my "cat trap". The first part of my trap was a standard no kill animal trap large enough to hold a full grown cat, several different manufacturers make live animal traps, but mine is a have-a-heart. The brand isn't important though, and if you find another that works as well or better great! (and let me know).

Second, as any cat owner knows, no cat will ever ever ever voluntarily go into something that looks like a travel box. How the manufacturers of travel boxes managed to pick the absolute wrong design to transport cats is beyond me, but I secretly believe it was a practical joke that got taken to far. So in order to make the trap look better to a cat I used an old towel to wrap around the trap, using duct tape, setting the loose ends to cover the metal parts from the outside, and cutting a slit at the top for the handle to go through. Tthis has the added benefit of making a trap with a frightened cat in it easier to manage, by not allowing him to get at you through the bars. It is also very important if you should happen to catch a small kitten, as even in temperate climates a small kitten can freeze in the night if exposed to the elements.

Cats however hate to be exposed and are not likely to go into a small thing, no matter how inviting, if they feel that they might be left exposed by doing so. To this end I went to a local moving supply company and bought a fair sized cardboard box, and next to the hardware store to buy two of the smallest ground tarps they had, and some eye clamps. Returning home I opened the box up and cut a cat sized whole in it leaving the top open. I then placed the first tarp on the ground and placed the box in the center. Setting my trap inside freshly baited with a no name cat food. Closing the box I placed the second tarp over the first clamping them together with the eye clamps and leaving space at each end for the strays to come through. Last I set out a dish of the same cat food and waited.

Within a few days I had some strays, whom I call my vagabonds or "vaggies" for short, feeding at my food dishes. Within the first week I had caught my first cat. To date I have rescued eight cats, two of which were kittens, and two of which were females (which are the most important to catch to stop new litters of homeless cats), and that just around my apartment complex. I still have vaggies at my door and I'm waiting for my next rescue. All told I spent about fifty dollars to save eight lives so far, not counting the six dollars or so a bag of generic cat food I have bought. It's been the best money I have ever spent.

I should note that, you should never bring a stray cat through your house to take it to the shelter, as fleas are a constant problem amongst strays. If you should happen to get fleas, there is another of my articles published here on how to get rid of them, but the process is not easy, so every effort should be made to avoid them. Also always pick up your rescued cat with gloves and long sleeves, as a frightened cat can be quite unpredictable and scratches from outdoor cats often carry bacteria. Lastly if you have indoor cats (as I do, four of them), never let your indoor cats come into contact with your strays. FIV and feline leukemia are both terminal cat diseases easily spread, and losing one of your own, because you were rescuing another, would be a very sad twist of fate. Lastly I would love to hear of your success stories, feel free to let me know.