TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
Cover the carrier with a towel to make it darker and more inviting. Then lift open the
rear door of the trap, but no higher than the top of the carrier. Otherwise, you’ll create a
gap which the cat might try to squeeze through. After the trap’s rear door is raised, guide
the cat into the carrier either by unfolding the sheet over
the trap or pushing with the divider (Figure 7). As soon
as he’s in, lower and shut the rear door of the trap.
Now comes the tricky part, which is moving the trap
away and shutting the carrier door without giving the cat
a chance to bolt in the process. You’ll need a solid, flat
object that is larger than the carrier door. Perfect is a
small cutting board with a handle. Slide the board
between the rear of the trap and the front opening of the
carrier and press it firmly down against the ground
(Figure 8). When the trap is pulled away, the board will
act as a barrier and block the cat from escaping.
Move the trap away and immediately shut the carrier
door, pressing it up against the cutting board (which
continues to block the front opening of the carrier).
Then, in one motion, slide the cutting board out to the
side as you close the carrier door, being sure not to leave
a gap between the carrier door and the cutting board
(Figure 9.) Lock the carrier door once its completely
shut.
If you have two people, one moves the trap away
while the other shuts the carrier door and slides the
cutting board away. If you’re alone, push the trap away
with your foot, keeping one hand on the carrier door and
holding the cutting board in place with the other. Then
it’s the same motion of closing the carrier door while
sliding away the cutting board in a manner that does not
create a gap.
Practice this technique beforehand, going through the
steps with the equipment. If you have a willing house
cat who will let you practice on her, that’s even better.
Keep in mind there are four ways the procedure could go
wrong: (1) you open the rear door of the trap too high
above the height of the carrier and create a gap the cat
could squeeze through; (2) the trap or the carrier shifts
during the transfer, creating a gap between the doors for
the cat to escape through; (3) you use too flimsy an
object to block off the carrier opening, like a piece of
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
cardboard, and the cat is able to burst through when the trap is pulled away; or (4) you
don’t press down hard enough on the cutting board, allowing the cat to push it aside after
the trap is moved away and before the carrier door is fully shut.
If you practice beforehand and proceed carefully, the method will work. With
practice, it can be done swiftly.
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