the ca-r-ma Drop Trap
Making and Using
ca-r-ma.org-caT rESCUE maRiTiMES
Fredericton chapter presentation
Outline
• Why use a drop trap?
• Making a drop trap
– Basic equipment
– How to build
• Using a drop trap
– Advance placement and caregiver instructions
– On the day
• Camouflage/hiding
• Trapping procedure
• Removing the cats from the trap
• Q&A
” how to enter a drop trap – for cats”
(as demonstrated by Nicki)
Why use a drop trap?
• Easy to transport and use
• Easy to catch multiple cats in single
trapping session
– less time consuming
– especially important for clinic events
• No “snap” noise; less traumatic
• Excellent for snap-trap-wary cats/sites
Making a drop trap – what you need
• Supplies:
– Collapse-able black wire dog kennel (large or extra large; single door)
– 2 Railings – plastic posts for electric fencing (metal and wood make
too much noise)
– Small 3/8”” cutting board – acrylic is best, it slides quietly (wood
swells and is noisy) and preferably black
– ½ “ softwood dowelling
– Copper wire – 20 gauge
– String and handle/stick
• Tools:
–
–
–
–
Power drill and drill bits
Wire cutters for thick wire
Rotary tool or metal file (for sanding down rough metal edges)
Needle nose and regular pliers with fine wire-cutter feature
Dog Kennel
• ensure
it is collapse-able
for easy transport
• use the clip to keep it
closed during transport
Creating trap door
• Using wire cutters, cut space for trap door on the end of
the cage opposite the manufacturer’s door
– Determine width and height of space to be cut. Dependent on the
spacing of the vertical rails on the dog kennel the best width
between the rails is 16-18 centimeters, height about 25 cm. The
cutting board (step 13)may need to be cut to size so that it will
glide easily in railings (railings are wired to the vertical bars of the
black-wire dog kennel)
• On large kennel, it is generally vertical bar #8, 9, 10 and 11 counting from left
side
• Requires some jigging as cages may be slightly different designs
• A space wider than 18 centimeters gives trapped cats too much room to push
against causing the door to pop out
• Ensure height of space to be cut allows cat to enter freely (about 25 cm.)
– File cut edges smooth to avoid injuring cat (use rotary tool or
metal file)
Railings
•Use plastic molded posts, made
for stringing electric fencing.
Purchase at farm supply store –
need two
•Cut off spiked portion. Measure
length required for railing based
on height of cage
•Very top piece becomes
“footing” for railings; dispose of
spike end
•Notice the molded sides – it is
up & down these sides that the
cutting board slides to operate as
the trap door
• Some posts have molded nubs
Aligning railings
• Railings are molded
• Cut two pieces of ½” dowel to secure rails to each other,
one for between the top of the rails and one for use at the
bottom (not in pictures)
• Drill holes in railing-back, and use brass wire to connect
railings to dog-crate so that cutting board slides smoothly
between rails and “foot” is on the bottom rung
– There are plastic hooks on one side of the railings – try to hook at
least one or two of them over the horizontal bars of the dog
kennel. You may have to break the rest of the hooks off so the
railing fits snugly to the vertical wire of the dog kennel.
•Cutting board
glides up and
down easily in
railing
•Note hooks on
railing are on the
inside (1 or two
over vertical bars of
cage where
possible)
File smooth any
cut edges
•Do not leave any rough
edges where wire cutters
have been used – may
injure cats
Attaching
railings
•“top” of electric-fence
post railing becomes
“foot” (so door won’t fall
out during transport)
•Use plastic or metal wire
to attach posts to vertical
bars of dog cage
•At foot and top of railings
the wooden dowels os cut
and attached to hold rails
parallel to one another
1.
2.
Creating trap door, con’d
• Drill small hole in top of cutting board
– Tie string to cutting board through hole; drop board
between railings and ensure smooth gliding (string at
top)
• Run end of string through and over a horizontal
rung near the top of dog cage (string facing
trapper)
• Wind extra string on handle or stick
• You now have a drop trap!
•Note:
•String in this picture is
attached to top of cage with
handle – this is not the string
position you use during
trapping
•This trap has not a dowel at
top and bottom of the rails.
The dowels add a bit more
stability to the plastic rails
Using a drop trap - outline
• Advance placement and caregiver
instructions
• On the day
– Camouflage/hiding
– Trapping procedure
– Removing the cats from the trap
Advance placement and caregiver
instructions
• One to two weeks before trapping, place drop trap and
transfer cages (towels inside) on site
• Tie door up with duct tape or twist tie to ensure it is
in open position
• Ensure trap is in a position from which you can trap
so that nothing will look different on trapping day
• Place it at or close to normal feeding spot, ensuring there
is a camouflage spot within manageable length of string
(car, nearby room, etc.)
– Ensure trap door is facing spot where trapper will hide.
When cats are eating they are facing away from the door.
– Transfer cages need to be in a manageable spot.
Advance placement and caregiver
instructions, con’d
• Instruct caregiver to feed daily only in the
trap, just inside manufacturer’s back door
– Leave water outside trap
• Determine what time of morning (or
evening) caregiver normally feeds (so you
can arrange to trap at that time)
– Encourage mornings
– Beg caregiver for consistent feeding time in the
period leading up to trapping
Instruct caregiver to feed in back of cage –
multiple dishes across back if multiple cats
Advance placement and caregiver
instructions, con’d
• Instruct caregiver that last feeding occurs 24 hours before
trapping event
– Call day before to emphasize and reaffirm trapping
time
• Warn neighbours to keep pets in on trapping day, and to
not leave food out for strays during the 2 week
acclimatization period (this is so target cats will be forced
to go in drop trap to eat
• Other
– Check in with caregiver in interim - preferably in person
- to ensure instructions are understood and being
followed
– Place one or two snap-traps (open) on site with
feeding instructions (optional)
On the day - camouflage
– Seeing trappers and their movements will alarm the cats
– -minimize movement: move quietly: wear “quiet clothes”
• If there is a natural hiding spot, plan to use it
•
- examples: saddle room: behind patio door and curtains
• Any out-of ordinary movement or sound will keep cats
away – no talking, no whispering!
• If two trappers, pre-agree on hand-signals and
movements
• If no natural hiding spot, use car with blacked-out
windows (ask caregiver to park a car in the designated
trapping spot during acclimatization period, so cats will be
used to it being there). Staying still and slumped low in
the car will often work without black out windows.
Camouflage for car ... if necessary
•Trap out of passenger side if
possible (avoid steering wheel)
•Cover any windows where
movement can be seen –front
window and trapper-seat window(s)
at minimum
•Material
•Black poster board
•Landscape cloth
•Use black screening for sight-line
•Check:
• Door
still opens.Don’t close it tight
so you can leave car quietly when
cats are in the trap
•String can move unencumbered
Landscape cloth with screen over sight-line
– front of car
Landscape cloth with screen over sight-line
– passenger side
•Note string under cloth (window is open)
Trap through screen
On the day - camouflage
• Ensure care giver is quiet and acting
naturally (from cats’ perspective)
– No guests
– No kids
– No talking/peeking/exclaiming
On the day – trapping
procedure
• Bait and set any snap-traps on the site
• Ensure covers are sitting on top of drop
trap (in-place to drape quietly when cats are
trapped)
• Ensure drop trap is properly closed and
secure
• Have caregiver put choice food in back of
drop trap (cat is used to seeing caregiver
do this)
• Ensure care-giver moves out of site
Erecting cat trap on
site:
Sometimes loops on
drop trap cage will
come loose; secure
with twist tie or wire
when trapping
On the day – trapping
procedure
• When cats enter trap
– They will be facing away from the trappers; let
cats feed and let other cats enter
– Only begin to drop door when one or more cats
raise head(s)
– Drop door SLOWLY and imperceptibly – cats
should still be feeding
– Do not leave hiding spot until cats are aware
door is shut
– One person
On the day – trapping
procedure
• When door is shut, move slowly and quietly
to drop trap
• Drape covers over drop trap to quiet cat
Ensure drop trap is completely covered while cats calm down. If
they are not quiet the covers are too thin or there are still holes
they can see through. Someone should have a hand on the top
of the door while preparing transfer cages. (Wily cats can lift the
door)
Remove cats from trap one at a time
•Place transfer cage door aligned
with closed trap door of kennel
(note - towel on floor of transfer cage
and cover are missing in this picture)
•Drape transfer cage with cover
to create dark space
•Lift cover from back part of drop
trap to create light – cat will
generally want to go from light to
dark, and will be attracted to
transfer cage
•Have foot or block behind
transfer cage to avoid transfer
cage movement (cats may move
quickly and forcefully)
Removing cat from cage, con’d
• lift transfer cage door, aligned and ready to
close quickly
• Lift drop trap door by string, keep fingers hidden
• When cat moves in, close drop trap door
and transfer cage door
• Lock transfer cage
• Move transfer cage, covered, to vehicle
• Resume transferring next cat, or resume
trapping
Removing cat from cage,
con’d
• Tips and techniques:
• Second person recommended for transferring from
drop trap to transfer cage (trapping companion or
caregiver)
– Some cats have trouble finding trap door for escape to
transfer cage and need guidance
– Sometimes just the feet of someone at the big door
end will make the cat move
– Use blunt-end poking sticks (preferably 2) to guide cat
to door (broom handle, etc.)
• Some cats are looking for escape (ie light),not dark
– Create light at end of transfer cage (tunnel effect)
– Remove cover from drop trap
Other tips and techniques
• Lifting covers slowly to peek, have caregiver examine cats
in transfer cages for gender, pregnancy, illness etc. Label
cage with this info, and/or make note
• Release any cats not needing trapping
– Already ear-tipped
– Neighbourhood pets
• Don’t forget to tend snap-traps if in use; move quietly
• Always close car doors quietly
The end