catching cats

[wilkesneil]

what is the best way to catch a cat, we have 2 and have moved property and are trying to get them to take them with us.

soon as they see the pet carrier they just run off??

[Euphemia]

Bribery

[wolf63]

Don't let them see the carrier first or take the carrier out and place it in the main room for a couple of days and then do the catching.

They are sneaky animals, fast on their feet, can hide under furniture and are not stupid. You are going to have fun trying to catch them.

[boxtops]

I get the basket ready, towel/liner inside, all ready, as quietly as I can, some hours beforehand, and leave it open. Then I sneak up on the cat (I hate waking them) and catch them from behind, under their armpits. Hold them at arm's length so they can't kick you. Ram in basket.

The other way to do it is to put down a little food, stand behind them when they have eaten a little, and repeat as above.

You have to lock them in first, though!

[Ouzel]

Do just as Boxtops says - but if they do manage to get past you, follow them slowly, closing any doors behind you. With luck, you might confine them to one room and 'nabbing' one will be a bit easier. Good luck.

[sandyRoe]

Could you throw something like a curtain over them?

[boxtops]

That panics them, sandy....

[boxtops]

...then they fight you through the curtain!

[sandyRoe]

Dogs are better. At least they're biddable.

[China Doll]

I have to take Eric for some booster injections in a week or so (I just got him), I plan on doing the same thing for him I did to all my cats, hide the carrier in one room then grab him and bag him when he's least expecting it :c)

[JonnyBoy12]

Wolf is correct. They are fast and very hard to catch. I would suggest a vet's blowpipe and some domestic feline tranquilizer. Has anyone here got any of this stuff?

[Athley]

Yay China you got him :o) !!!!!! Excellent!


.... and yep that's what we do with our cat's when they go to the V E T. Pet basket in dining room, act normal, then whamo grab 'em !!

[TOWIE]

could you not get one of those trap cages from the vets - where you put some tasty food at the entrance to the cage and as the cat moves in to eat it, a trap door comes down and the cat is safely in the cage.

[China Doll]

Picked him up saturday Athley :c) He's a little trooper and has been playing fetch like a dog for the last two days with a tesco bag rolled up ball!

[Athley]

lol ours loves that too and rolled up bits of paper - carries them around in his mouth !

[didoatwork]

Could you catch them as they come through the cat flap. You'd have to have someone on the outside, so the cat couldn't reverse.

[CheekyChops]

Good luck with that.

When i moved into this house, I had the previous owners cat living with me for a few weeks as she couldn't catch it when they moved. Despite her coming round every few days to look for the cat, it hid well!

Gradually it started coming in through the cat flap and getting further into the house, eventually sleeping in its old place at the top of the stairs. While it was up there I had to shut the cat flap quick and ring its owner to come and get it! Luckily I like cats :-)

[wilkesneil]

we dont have access to the property now as its empty and the cats are outside, all good ideas but the cats are fine till you attempt to put them in the basket.