What can I do about a feral cat that will not go into a trap?
Some feral cats are very trap savvy. Some even eat in the trap without triggering the trip plate. All you can do is be persistent. If you have been trying to trap for a while without success, you might want to take a week off and then start over by getting the cat used to eating in the trap again during a trap-rehearsal feeding. You may want to stop feeding for a day or two to ensure success but be sure not to go for more than three days without feeding them, and always provide water. You can make a trail of cat food or fish juice from the entrance to the back of the trap. It also helps to camouflage the trap by covering it or putting it in a box or another enclosure. If this still does not work keep trying, and contact Tree House for more trapping tips at tnr@treehouseanimals.org, or 773.784.5488, ext. 234.
Sometimes a drop trap works best for cats that are completely resistant to the standard box trap. Tree House has a limited number of drop traps to lend out using a waiting list and refundable deposit.