How can I catch a running cat?

Question

I am watching a cat for someone else, and we let it outside on its first week here. It is wandering the neighborhood and I tried to catch it but it runs from me, like it's scared. Any tips on how I can get a hold of it??

Answer 1

You can contact your local animal control to assist with a safe capture of this animal - you should really be more responsible with someone else loved one. You have to treat a pet like a child.

Answer 2

If yo don't want to go through the trouble of buying a cat trap you can use the following:
Take an empty box and put it upside down with one corner lifted by a stake. Put a stone on top and attach a line to the stake. Some tuna underneith.
The cat will go for the tuna and as soon as it is under the box you pull the line. The stone should be heavy enough to keep the cat under,although in the dark they calm down quickly.
Tip: Do wear gloves when you take the cat out! A cat in panic is a dangerous animal.

Answer 3

It's not supposed to wander around the neighborhood without the owner's supervision. You should keep it on a leash (I know it's kind of wierd, but it works) or fenced it in with a type of length and material so that it doesn't escape. Be welcome towards the cat and always leave food or toys in places you wnat it to be. And always give it the right amount of affection.

Are you a fast runner? Cause I can catch up to a cat easily, LOL!

Answer 4

Ok, so now you know you should probably not let a cat out when you're watching it for someone. Unless you're staying at their house and the cat normally goes out and has a routine you can adapt your schedule to.

First off, flier your neighborhood so people know to call you if they see him or if they get him into their house. Also, let local animal control know about the issue. It sure would s*ck for the cat to be caught and turned over to the local shelter.

If there's a particular call his owner uses to get him to come (a whistle or way to say his name) find out what it is and try using it. Refer to the towel and scoop method below once cat is close enough and not freaking out.

A friend of mine who's rescued several strays swears by this method and I've used it with my own cat who is (reluctantly) a house cat but who has escaped to the great outdoors on more than one occasion.

Bring two bath sized towels and something like a cat carrier with you and prepare to be patient. One towel is for wrapping kitty, the other is to drape over the carrier so kitty won't see it. Sit someplace where you know the cat is likely to be near. Your yard is good since it's proximal to where you need to bring the cat once caught, although you may have to lure kitty there with regular food outside.

If the cat is completely avoiding your yard, you can get tips from neighbors about where kitty is and when he's there. Offering a small reward for information leading to capture of the cat might be good if you get desperate. ;)

Once you know or have established an area where the cat is likely to be, sit down outside quietly with a book and possibly some food nearby. Place one towel in your lap, the other completely over the carrier (which should be a little ways away from you). If he sees or hears the carrier before you have him bundled up, he'll be off like a shot.

Most house cats or otherwise people socialized kitties will come to you if you sit quietly near them and wait. When he does come up, please resist the urge to make a sudden and explosive grab for him. Pat him a little. Get him comfy being around you there. Your goal is to give this cat a (false) sense of security here.

Once he's close enough and seems calm or at least less freaked out, wrap him as securely as you can in the towel - head free is good but keep him sort of swaddled up. Cat bites suck!

If you're near your house, you can probably make the dash in with him toweled up in your arms. If not, this is what the carrier is for. Be firm but don't hurt him. If he escapes and you've hurt or traumatized him, it will be extremely hard to get him by the quietly sitting method again.

If this fails, find out where he's frequenting and get a have a heart trap.

Answer 5

Home Depot has animal trap for about $20.00 dollars ..Set on your porch or what ever put TUNA in it . You may catch some others too! Just hang in there & hopefully you will get him. It will not harm the cats at all....Thanks

Answer 6

A have-a-heart trap from home depot with its favorite food inside. You will need to set up the trap and leave it for a little so that the cat doesn't see you. Then it will take the bait and get trapped.

Answer 7

Use a net or a coat or something that will weigh the cat down f you throw it on the cat. Not too heavy though, you don't wanna hurt the kitty...

Answer 8

leave food out on the front porch or step for it. all cats know how to find their way home, my cat escapes all the time and this is just what i do. also, if you do find it have cat treats with you and approach it slowy, talk to it, like "here kitty kitty" just so that you don't spook it and it knows that you are freindly

Answer 9

Why don't you find a pet carrier and put some cans of cat food in their and close the door when he comes in...

Answer 10

Offer some food like smelly sardines or bonita fish flakes. Does the trick every time for me.