How can one catch a feral kitten?

[dugaresa]

there is a cute little grey kitten that i have seen skipping about my yard. i think it may be hiding out in a drainage ditch pipe. but how can I capture it? it is getting very cold very fast and it is so small and cute and i doubt it can survive a winter outside.

any recommendations?

[Chan790]

1. Havahart no-kill racoon trap.

it's a basic sort of cage trap, put the bait inside, it enters, gate slaps shut. Viola!

[dugaresa]

2. i may have to try that but I hope I don't catch a groundhog or a raccoon

that will freak me out entirely.

it approached me just yesterday and I was sure it might just get close enough for me to pick up but no deal. i asked around and it doesn't belong to anyone and one of the neighbors confirmed that there have been many feral births in our neighborhood.

[elocs]

3. The problem with feral kittens is that there is a point where they will stay feral,

or never really become domesticated. You could lure it with food and use a live trap. If the kitten is on its own it is probably around 3 months or older. If you absolutely cannot catch it you can provide it with a place near your home which is sheltered in the cold, that lets the cat get out of the wind. Also provide it with some good food for the winter. Ultimately you want to eventually catch it to get it spayed or altered because feral cats can become a big problem for birds and wildlife.

But if this kitten is still young enough and has not become too feral then food will be a huge draw for it. Just be patient and gain its trust.

Many years ago I worked at my city's zoo which is right on a marsh in the center of town. We had feral cats that lived in the marsh. I had finished caring for the animals in the summer and the overhead door were open in the zoo building where the food was located. When I went in I saw a small cat run into the kitchen. I closed the doors to catch it and succeeded, but the kitten bit me in the process. I put it in a cage in the building but the next morning I found that it had escaped. I thought, great, the cat bit me and now it's free again.

Later that day it came back into the kitchen. This time I use leather gauntlets and caught it and put it in a cage and took it home with me that night. I took the cage in my bedroom and left the door open when I went to bed. In the night I could feel the kitten near my feet. By the end of the night it was sleeping and purring near my head.

Its entire life this cat which truly was a feral kitten was very skitzey and frightened easily. She bonded well with my female cat (whom I found when only 3 days old) who was just a couple of years older. This cat was always small and was always afraid of my dog who loved everyone. My oldest cat died at nearly 20 and she lost her lifelong buddy. Oddly enough then she cozyied up with the dog and they would sleep together. The dog lived to be 16 and the feral cat died at age 18. So catching and keeping a feral kitten can be done.

[Skittles]

4. I caught mine with a feral trap

put a bit of tuna in there and PRESTO! trapped kitten; he's been with me going on four years now :D

I ordered the trap over the internet

[flvegan]

5. You might be able to borrow a Havahart trap from a local humane society, SPCA or rescue.

See if you have a feline trap/neuter/release organization or program in your area. They can be a great resource. Call around and see who might help.

[Demoiselle]

6. I have a houseful of formerly ferals...

All caught as kittens in Havahart traps, all "domesticated" now. The traps work very well. You just need to visit the trap very frequently so the kitty doesn't spend too much time in it. And, of course, if you catch a raccoon accidentally, you can open the trap from the outside (wear thick gloves) and just open the trap.

I've found that a newly captured kitten can be calmed down more quickly if you shut it in a quiet, relatively small room with dirtbox and regular meals and quiet visits from you and other family members one at a time. Be in the room but let the cat come to you, don't pressure it or chase it. Sit in the room, read a book, watch tv, work on a computer, and let the cat figure out you're harmless.

[BlueIris]

7. Message from BlueIris's Mom (Feral Cat Queen):

Humane trap is a good way to go, but it is worthwhile to try to make friends with the kitten via feeding it for a while first. If you trap a feral before establishing a bond, you may alienate it forever. Ferals are suitable for socialization, but you must be patient. They are more comfortable in the dark than the light in the beginning--placing the food in a secure location that is not brightly lit may help the kitten feel secure enough to eat and get to know you.

Again, please don't abandon it simply because it seems skittish right now. Even if you think it is past the point of no return, you may be able to tame it over time. We have seven "inside" feral cats at home; they are all friendly, housebroken and healthy.