how can i catch a kitten?

Question

about 150 yards away from my apt. is a publix plaza that has some woods next to it.

i always see these little black kittens. they are really young and would like to catch them as pets. problem is that they are really skittish around people (or just me). everytime i get with in 3 feet of them they retreat back into the woods. i know if i can mannage to get between them and the woods i could scare them out close to the building and then i would be able to catch them. but they are always close to the woods so that plan fails.

what would be a good way for me to manage to catch these kittens? i would like to get them before a car or animal control gets to them.

they are about 1 month old, give or take a week.

Answer 1

these kittens are feral but young first thing do not try and catch them by hand you could really get hurt call your animal control and ask to rent a trap if they ask tell them why once you have the trap get a jar of 1 stage baby food with meat and broth set the trap you might only get one a time and when you get them make sure you keep them in a room where they can not hide(a room with only a litter box)feral cats are scared of us because that is what there mom has showed them once you get them make sure you keep meat and broth only baby food around and 3 to 4 times a day go in to the room with the food and a spoon and hold out the spoon w/food for them little by little they realise that your not going to hurt them they will begin to trust you but please be very very patint with them it could take up 6 months for them to trust you what you about to take on is a big job and takes time but if you plan to do this the most inportant thing is time combined with love.

Answer 2

best bet is a live trap baited w a small bit of tuna or smelly canned cat food like someone else suggested.. if the humane shelter doesn't loan them out you can find a local cat rescue group that may help you. You could try an "Elmer Fudd" sort of trap- tie a string (I use high test fishing line) onto the door of a pet carrier that is baited w food at the farthest corner from the door. Run that line back a few yards to where they are comfortable seeing you before they run. Put something behind the carrier so that it won't scoot backwards when you get a kitten inside and pull the string to close the door. Keep the tension on the string so it can't get back out.
Once you get them- if they are really feral and won't let you pick them up,,, use a big "show cage" and keep them in the room you are most in. They need to get used to the sight, sound and smell of you. I have sat on the floor and had dinner right by the cage. Pushing a few bits of roast chicken into the cage taught the kittens it was safe to trust me. Basically you need to let them come to you. If they are really young it shouldn't take too long.

Answer 3

How To Catch A Kitten

Answer 4

Your really taking on a giant task. You may want to find a no kill agency that is better equipped in catching stray cats. It will be real hard to convert one of these cats into a pet even if you do manage to catch them. If you do decide to take this on yourself I would agree with someone that suggested renting a live raccoon trap. Before putting the trap out I would start feeding them for a couple of days till they are used to the food. Then set the trap up with the food inside of it. There curiosity will get the best of them and will eventually go into the trap. Just remember you must check every hour or so with binoculars to see if they are in the trap. The longer they are in the trap the more stressed out they will become. Like I said earlier you may be better off calling in a no kill group. That is up to you. Good Luck either way.

Answer 5

the best thing to do is to bait a havahart trap with some canned tuna or cat food, or any other type of food that really smells.

The kittens will be lured by the smell and once inside the trap will close and they can not get out. If it is more than one kitten you may need to set the trap more than once.

Most likely these kittens are feral and it will take quite some time to get acquainted with people. Some ferals never really like people. It is a difficult undertaking but it can be done.

Answer 6

You are dealing with feral kittens (wild) they aren't used to humans. It may take a few days before they trust you enough to come out and stay out. Use canned cat food, put a little canned food on two or three paper plates, put the food close to where you are, coax the kittens out, remain still as they come out. When they begin to eat, try to touch them, don't try to pick them up, just let them get used to being touched and talk very softly. If you can do this twice a day. By the second or third day, they should respond to your voice as you call them to eat. Make sure they have fresh water too. And soon you'll be able to touch them especially when their bellies are full. Just take it slow and easy. I would recommend having something available to put them in to carry them home. They won't like being confined and might cause a ruckus. You may want to have a litter box, food and water waiting for them once you get them home. Once inside your house, lay the container on the floor and open the box. Chances are they will probably scurry off and hide, reassure them with the same soft voice you used to catch them. When they're ready they will come out for the food. Do the same thing you did as before.

It's gonna take a little time for them to completely trust you enough that you can hold them. Just be gentle and eventually they'll come around.
Oh and don't forget to clean up any containers you left behind near the woods.

Good luck

Answer 7

I am the ferral cat sanctuary where i live..near woods etc.U will need help like others to catch the babies..they stay hidden til drk when mom comes back around usually.placing food wet down abit to lure them takes a cpl times to make routine trustwrthy for them..then the chase to catch one at a time or w 3 friends helping will be a trick.wear gloves if u can as they will bite.when u have them,keep in bthroom for cpl days in carrier or box..then they will adapt to your monstrous size..hold each one abit ea day..they resist but love cuddling so will convert.not so much if they are over 8-10 wks.too wild to do so then.feeding at wooded edge would be nice if that turns out to be the case,as i do with about 15 :)

Answer 8

What I would say was to call animal control. Then keep up with them and see which cats they have decided are okay for people to adopt. They'll most likely give the person who gave them the tip the first choice.

Answer 9

I'd be really careful if I were you - if they have not had human contact as yet then they are feral, and feral cats are vicious, desperate creatures. No matter how hard you try, they will not just 'become' as loving and gentle as a regular house cat. Not to mention disease. My advice to you is go to your local animal shelter and adopt a kitten who has been abandoned but has no trauma from the dumping - these one do. Trust me - its more heartbreaking to see these things go nuts once you've caught one - and they will!!!!!

Answer 10

Feed them tuna for a day with you hiding, then work your way into hanging around when they get more tuna. Earn their trust, or rent a raccoon trap (catch and release type) from a local hardware store.