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10. Caring for <strong>Cats</strong> in Traps<br />
The <strong>Neighborhood</strong> <strong>Cats</strong> <strong>TNR</strong> <strong>Handbook</strong><br />
During the trapping period and after the<br />
spay/neuter surgery, the cats need to be<br />
kept confined. Except in special cases<br />
(discussed in Chapter 11), we recommend<br />
the cats never be let out of their traps<br />
except during the surgery, after they’ve<br />
been sedated. The method of using traps to<br />
hold the cats is economical because it<br />
means not having to purchase a large cage<br />
plus assorted other equipment for each cat.<br />
The method also saves space and may<br />
make the difference between whether<br />
twenty cats can be held in a garage or not. Most importantly, in terms of avoiding<br />
escapes by the cats and injuries to caretakers, using the traps to house the cats is much<br />
safer than using normal cages.<br />
Often people who have the cats’ best interests at heart hear of this method for the first<br />
time and jump to the conclusion it’s cruel to keep a cat in that small of a space for any<br />
lengthy period of time. This belief reflects a basic misunderstanding of the feral<br />
temperament. No matter how large a cage you put a feral cat in, if there’s a small carrier<br />
in the corner, inside of that is where he’s going to stay for pretty much the entire time. In<br />
the stressful situation of confinement, ferals greatly prefer spaces that are tight, dark and<br />
covered over large, wide-open enclosures. It makes them feel more hidden and protected.<br />
(This is why a feral cat kept in a normal cage should always be provided with a small<br />
carrier or cardboard box or something similar that they can hide in.)<br />
As long as the traps are 36 inches long, covered and kept clean using the techniques<br />
described below, the cats are absolutely fine. They quickly get used to the feeding and<br />
cleaning routine and some even learn when and where to move as you go through the<br />
process. Towards the end of their confinement, they may start to get a little bored and<br />
restless, but this is the exception. Most often, during the entire time, they crouch or lie<br />
down in their traps and rest quietly.<br />
• Materials needed<br />
Traps (36” long and with rear doors)<br />
Trap dividers (at least one pair)<br />
Cotton sheets for covers (one per trap)<br />
Newspaper (lots of it!)<br />
Water dishes (with flat bottoms)<br />
Food dishes (paper or plastic)<br />
Plastic drop cloth (at least 3 millimeters thick)<br />
Latex gloves<br />
Garbage bags<br />
(optional) Tables<br />
(optional) Small towels<br />
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