Trapping your lost pet
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1. Make arrangements. If/when you catch other critters, be prepared for what you are going to do with them. This will more than likely happen, so knowing ahead of time will make the process easier. It is safe to transport and hold an animal inside the covered Havahart Live Animal Trap for a few hours, as long as you continue to feed and water it. However, you should be prepared to transport the animal immediately to a vet, animal shelter, or wildlife center upon trapping, or release the animal in a new area where the food it eats and water, are readily available. Contact your local animal control agency beforehand, if you're unsure of what to do after trapping. Ask them what will become of the animal after you trap it. (Generally, wild animals such as squirrels or raccoons can be relocated to a wildlife management area, but feral cats are often euthanized.) Make as many phone calls as you need, so that you will have a plan for where to take the animal once it is caught.
2. Obtain the Trap. Make sure you use size appropriate traps for your pet. Big enough that they can enter without any problem. Many traps exist on the market that treat animals with varying degrees of kindness. Experts generally agree that Havahart models are the most successful at catching animals, and are regarded as the most humane traps available. They are well crafted, strong, and feature blunt trapping arms so they do not harm the creature. They are also regarded as inexpensive and low maintenance. They can sometimes be rented or loaned out through your local humane shelter, or other animals rescues. In addition, you will likely find them at local hardware stores, Home Depot or Lowes, Tractor Supply companies, as well as, some feed stores. Before leaving with your trap, make sure that it is working. I have had clients bring home traps, only to get ready to set them up, and the trip switch does not work properly.
3. Place the trap You probably have a spot in mind as to where you would like to place your trap-- preferably near the last place your pet was seen. Also, you must acquire permission from neighbors if you plan to trap off of your own property. In some cases, it may be necessary to place a chain on the trap with a lock, and secure it to an object so that it will not be stolen.

   Consider the following when placing your trap:

   • Human traffic. Place the trap away from human traffic. Animals usually have certain areas in which they travel regularly, and they generally stay away from humans and locations where they have recently been, this is especially true for your fearful pet thus why, you need to trap them.
   • Pets. Place the trap away from pets. Keep your other pets inside, and tell your neighbors to keep theirs inside over the time you have the trap set out. You may acquire a few animals that  probably will be attracted to a baited trap. This trap could also be set off by nosey critters, instead of the intended target. It's also possible that trapped animals could be injured or tortured by family cats or dogs.
   • Water. Often, animals stay close to water sources like springs, streams, rivers, and lakes. If you are having a hard time catching any animals, try locating a spot close to a water source. Watch for paw prints that match that of possibly your pet in soft soil, and place traps along these routes in shaded, dark areas.
   • Surroundings. Make the trap fade into it's surroundings as much as possible and make it very inviting. Never leave the trapped animal in freezing temperatures or soaring heat.
   • Lining your trap. It is advisable to line the inside of your trap with something such as a old towel, something that may be familiar to the pet, maybe your old t-shirt, you may even line it with newspapers. This is so that the pet does not feel the wire underneath their paws. It is a very unnatural feeling, and they may not enter if this is not done.  It is preferred that you use something that has a familiar scent on it from home, your clothing, their bedding, their buddies bedding. Make sure that your liner does not interfere with the trap door or the trip plate. You may also use, if you are trapping a cat, a product called "Feliway", cat comforter and lure. This is spray that has calming effects on cats.

    

4. Select the correct bait. Tuna and Jack Mackerel are good choices for a cat. Chicken, canned dog food, as well as tuna, and dry chow for dogs. You need to change the food daily. Do not leave two day old food in the trap, always fresh, and enticing!
5. Arm the trap. Cock the arming bar, and fill the unbreakable plate with the bait. The plate should be placed all the way toward the back of the trap. Follow the instructions that came with your purchase. Keep in mind that the trap needs to be placed on level ground for it to arm properly, and for the pet to feel secure and comfortable to enter.
6. Cover the trap. You can drape a sheet or towel over the top and sides of the trap, but never cover either end. Your pet must be able to see all the way through the trap. You can also use brush, or any of the surrounding materials to disguise the trap. This covering will calm the trapped animal, by providing a sense of protection from predators, and thus prevent crying out and struggling, actions which could attract predators or cause it injury.

     7.  Checking the trap.  Once you have your trap set, preferably by dusk,
          leave the area. Let the trap do its job. Depending on the weather,
          I prefer checking the trap in the morning after daybreak, once during
          the day, and then at dusk again. 
          If you are checking the trap every hour, you are disrupting the process.
          If you have “the need to know”, we suggest you use, where applicable,
          the battery powered baby monitor, or place your trap where you can see it
          without disturbing the area.

            Other points to consider:

• Do not release cats in a new area, without first containing them for a couple of weeks. If you drop them off in an unfamiliar area, they will try to find their way back to the old place, and may get injured or killed on their journey as they cross streets and face predators. It is generally irresponsible to drop off a cat just anywhere. Other people will not want stray cats in their neighborhood, and as such, all trapped cats should be taken to an animal shelter.
• Be careful when transporting or releasing an animal. Wear thick gloves and clothing, in case the animal tries to bite you.
• Do not trap females who you know to have been pregnant, or are caring for a litter. Removing the mother will guarantee a prolonged, miserable death for the babies.
• If an animal does bite you, please contact a doctor immediately, and bring the animal. The doctor will ask to examine the animal for any diseases that it may have transmitted to you through the bite.
• It is illegal in some states to transport an animal. Massachusetts is one such state. The concern is prevention of the spread of rabies, should the animal prove infected. Some states, like Oregon, require a wildlife transport permit.
• If you are having trouble catching animals, try placing bait around the trap, in addition to inside of it. This may help "lure" animals to the area. Try different combinations of bait and locations, and with persistence, you are sure to catch your pet.
• You may notice that your bait is being eaten (or even that it is not), yet you have not caught an animal. This is normal, as sometimes animals can retrieve bait without setting off the trap. Add more bait as necessary, but leave the trap alone. Animals must adjust to their new surroundings, and may take several days for an animal to “fall" for the trap.
• If you have found a litter of abandoned kittens, but are unable to trap the mother cat, you can actually use one of the healthy kittens as "bait" by gently placing the kitten in the far end of the trap, and securing it there with a small piece of hardware cloth as a divider. You must be very careful to place the trap in a shady spot, away from the house. ONLY leave the kitten there for a maximum of one hour. Generally, the kitten will sound a distress call for its mother, and she will come running, and enter the trap for the kitten. Be extremely careful handling the mother; place her and the kittens in a secure calm place, until you can contact a local volunteer organization that can manage them for you. However, most animal rescue groups are inundated with calls for help, and may not be able to help you. Be prepared to hold onto the cats, until you can find a suitable option.
• When transporting, darken the trap by placing a towel or blanket over it to help calm the animal.

Catching fearful pets is about persistence. Depending on your location, it could take you a couple of hours,  couple of weeks, or even longer. Just remember - do not leave the trap set out without supervision.

Action Step  - Approaching your pet

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