Cats may appear charming and cuddly, but don’t be fooled. With their sharp claws and teeth, they may be fast, agile, and aggressive if they feel threatened. Catching a squirming or scratching cat can be demanding, and addressing the issue incorrectly can result in injury. Whether you’re catching your own cat or a feral or stray cat, the proper strategy will vary. Take a look at this article to learn how to catch a cat.
Taking Care of Your Own Cat
Take a straightforward approach if you want to be more explicit. By beckoning or calling to your cat, you might be able to trap it. If it gets close enough, pick it up. Never touch an animal that appears terrified or disturbed since a scared cat can quickly become aggressive. 1st, If you try to take it up and react unfavorably, let it alone and try again later.
The following are signs that a cat is worried or upset:
- Keep your tail straight and stiff.
- Folded earlobes
- With or without visible claws, elevate a paw.
- Using its paw to “strike.”
- Growling or low meowing
- Spitting or hissing
- Ends of hair lifted
- Back with an arched shape
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Allow the cat to approach you
You might be able to catch your feline companion when it’s not looking. When you first see the cat, avoid looking it down or reaching for it, as these actions may be seen as dangerous. Instead, find a quiet, tranquil place to sit and wait for your cat to leap into your lap. Then take it in your hands and gently grasp it.
Take care of your skin
When you pick up a cat that doesn’t want to be taken up or is terrified, it may scratch or bite you. If you need to trap a cat quickly (such as one that has bolted outside), take any towel or blanket and wrap it around the cat after you’ve located it. This will assist in relaxing the cat while also shielding you from harm. If you have the time, put on gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself.
Gently take the cat in your arms
Once you’ve located your cat, take a firm grip on it (without squeezing it) and lift it. Throw a clean blanket or towel over the cat to slow it down, then grab the cat within the blanket and clasp it tightly to your chest.
- Grasping a cat too firmly or holding it awkwardly will exacerbate the situation when attempting to catch it. Place one hand under its front legs and the other beneath its hindquarters, lifting gently if possible.
- Never pick up your cat solely by its neck or legs.
How to Put Your Kitty in a Carrier?
Get a container in which to confine your cat. A standard pet carrier (found at pet supply stores) will suffice. Choose one large enough for your cat to spin around in but tiny sufficient to feel comfortable in.
- To make the carrier more comfortable for your cat, line the bottom with a towel, blanket, or even an old t-shirt.
Make plans to capture your cat
If you’re trying to capture your cat inside, corralling it into a room can help you get it into its carrier faster. Ensure that all house windows and doors are closed and that there are no accessible spots for the cat to hide or run to.
- If you’re trying to catch a cat outside, try to get the cat into a mostly enclosed space first, blocking any exits. For example, if a hole in a fence exists, cover it with a board to prevent the cat from escaping.
Encourage your cat to put his or her head inside the carrier
Place the carrier near your cat, with the door ajar. Examine whether the cat will enter the carrier on its own or whether you must first call its name. Close the carrier door swiftly but gently once the cat is fully inside.
Use bait
If the kitty refuses to enter the carrier on its own, you may need to use food to persuade it. Try a smelly, wet food like tuna, sardines, canned cat food, moist bits of chicken, or your cat’s favorite treats. If your cat is attracted to these plants, you can also try catnip or valerian.
Use bait to entice the cat. Try the following strategy after you have the carrier and bait ready:
- Leave the carrier’s door open and place it near some snacks.
- Wait for your cat to consume some of the food.
- If the cat will move closer to the carrier, place food closer and closer to it.
- Put food in the carrier and wait for the cat to enter and start eating.
- When the cat is entirely inside, close the door softly yet swiftly.
- Don’t try to push the cat into the carrier; it may flee, and you’ll have to begin the catching process all over again.
- When your cat is in its carrier, cover it with a blanket or towel to help it relax.
If food does not entice the cat, try other distractions. You can also use a laser pointer or another toy to entice the cat into the carrier. Chase the laser pointer into the opening carrier, then close it rapidly.
How to capture a stray cat?
- Place food for the cat on the table.
Leave a bowl of food in the location where you’ve observed the cat for many days before attempting to trap it. Dry food will suffice, but odorous wet food, such as tuna and canned cat food, maybe more appealing to the cat. Continue to replace the food source, and the cat will become more trusting of the place and more inclined to visit.
- To catch a feral or stray cat, use a humane trap.
Animal supply stores and online vendors sell humane live traps that will contain the cat without injuring it. A nearby animal sanctuary may also be able to lend you one. This allows you to leave one door open to entice the cat in and another open to release it out safely.
- A live trap should come with complete instructions for setting it up and releasing the animal. Before attempting to catch a cat with the trap, make sure you fully grasp how to operate it.
- To make the trap more comfortable for the cat, line the bottom with a towel or an old t-shirt.
- Use bait
A cat will be attracted to food and will fall into the trap. Wet food with a strong odour, such as tuna, sardines, canned cat food, and moist bits of chicken, will appeal to cats the most. Many cats find catnip and valerian to be irresistible.
- Prepare your trap
Place your trap in the “set” position and in a location where you’ve spotted the cat. Place the bait in the trap and keep an eye out for the cat.
- If you’re attempting to catch a cat in a public area, post a sign on or near the trap so that people are aware of the situation.
- Never leave a trap alone for longer than 20-30 minutes to avoid trapping another animal.
- If the cat is not caught the next day, try again with fresh bait.
If the bait does not work, try distracting the cat into the trap. Please wait for the cat to approach the web and lure it in by chasing the laser pointer.
- Take the cat to a secure location
Move the imprisoned cat to an indoor environment as soon as possible. The animal might be soothed by covering the trap with a blanket or towel. Gloves and long sleeves can protect you from the claws of the cat.
- As quickly as possible, take the cat to the veterinarian.
Most animal advocacy groups promote TNR (catch, neuter, and release). This is thought to be a humane method of reducing homeless cat populations. You can have your cat spayed or neutered at a veterinarian’s office or an animal shelter and then let it back outside once it has recovered. You can even keep feeding the stray.
