When Should You Use a Humane Cat Trap?
Trapping is recommended for most escaped indoor-only cats, especially if you are unable to leave a door or window open for your cat to return home on their own. However, in certain situations, it makes more sense to start with surveillance and a feeding station and/or a pre-baited trap before actually setting the trap. This can make trapping easier and more successful.
Pre-baiting is when you verify that your cat is present using a surveillance camera and condition them to eat out of the trap BEFORE ever setting the trap. This usually involves locking or tying the trap door open so that it will not close when an animal goes inside. Bait is then placed outside the trap entrance and/or in a trail leading inside the trap. The trap is not set until there is evidence (usually from a surveillance camera) of your cat entering the trap and eating the food. Once your cat has entered a trap and eaten food once, they are very likely to do so again.
The main reason you don’t want to just set a trap and leave it all night, is that you are very likely to catch wildlife such as skunks, opossums and raccoons. If this happens, then your cat obviously cannot be caught during that time. They may even be scared away from the trap by the trapped animal trying to escape. There is also the danger of injury (or even death in extreme heat or cold) if your cat or another animal is stuck in the trap for many hours.
When You Should Set a Trap Immediately
- Your cat has been missing less than 10 days
- You are able to monitor the trap using remote surveillance
- Your cat is missing from home or a location where you can check the trap frequently if unable to monitor
- You are unable to leave a door or window open to allow your cat to return home on their own
- There are not a lot of other cats and/or wildlife around that are likely to enter the trap
If your cat went missing from home or another location where the trap can be easily monitored, then get a trap and set it up as soon as possible. This is especially important if you are unable to leave a way for your cat to return home such as an open door or window.
If you are only able to leave a way open into a garage or porch, then a trap is still needed. If your cat cannot get directly into the house, they are likely to visit, eat and then leave to find a safer hiding place.
Around 30% of indoor cats are ultimately caught using a humane cat trap. A lost cat is most likely to return home during the end of the first week missing (i.e. nights 4-7). Some will return sooner, so getting the trap out as soon as possible is important. Other cats don’t return until as late as 10 days. Occasionally cats still return up to several weeks or even months later. If your cat has been missing for more than 10 days, I would recommend starting with a surveillance camera and possibly a pre-baited trap.
When You Should Start with Surveillance or Pre-Baiting the Trap
- Your cat has been missing for more than 10 days with no verified sightings
- Your cat is lost away from home and/or you are unable to remotely monitor the trap and/or check it every 2-4 hours
- There are many other cats or wildlife, especially raccoons, opossums or skunks, that are likely to enter the trap
- You have a possible sighting, but don't know if it is your cat
If your cat is missing somewhere away from home, then I do not recommend setting a trap unless you can monitor it continuously (see Surveillance) or check it at least every 2 to 4 hours (in good weather). Another option is to just set it during the day. This way you are less likely to catch wildlife.
Why You Should Get a Trap Before You Need One
Even if you are not going to set a trap right away, I still recommend having one on hand. Indoor cats missing more than one week are much more likely to be located using posters or flyers. However, once located, many still need to be caught using a humane trap.
Don’t wait until you have a sighting or catch your cat on surveillance camera to go looking for a trap. You can always keep in it the box and return it if you never use it.
At the very least, make sure that you know where you can quickly get a trap. Traps purchased online sometimes take a week or longer to arrive.
Learn where to find a cat trap or return to the Indoor Cat Trapping Menu