My indoor cat got ouside. Does anybody have any ideas on how to get him back. Any trap suggestions.?

Question

I have seen him around in the yard but when I approach him, he runs and hides. He won't come when I call him. I would like any ideas for traps I can make or anyway to get him to come to me.

Answer 1

Wait until you think he is sure to be hungry. Then go out with a can of strong-smelling cat food or his favorite bag of treats. Open the can with a can opener outside and tap the sides with a fork or spoon while calling cat's name. The food will tempt him to turn himself in (hee hee hee). The tactic never fails to bring my escape-artist cat back indoors. The worst you can do is chase the cat around the yard - that will scare the cat and make him hide for hours. Be COOL! Be in command! Don't let the cat feel your panic.

Answer 2

There is a company called "have a heart" that can trap animals humanely. If you have a "rental tool" store in your area give them a call and ask if they have one of the Have A Heart traps for rent. Be sure to ask for the right size. We have a pro trapper here the humane kind. Check your yellow pages, or the Net. You can usually buy these traps in small rural towns that have hardware stores. Sounds like you might have to buy one. You may need it again for the same cat. Get the trap and put it's favorite food in the back end of the trap. Night time is best. Of course we used a poor man's trap. Consisting of a box and a stick to prop up the box. Tie string to the stick, a long one! And wait for said cat to enter under the box. As soon as it enters pull the string and the box comes down trapping the cat. Or like i tried on a feral cat once. I put out out some fresh meat on the ground, the got on top of my house and waited with my "CAST NET" which i use for fishing. Well the cat was right on time, began to eat, never saw me. I tossed the net over it and he was caught. We had tried everything on this cat except the have a heart trap. We couldn't find a trap so we had to jury rig one. The net worked!

Answer 3

You can try sitting on the ground for a little bit with some food as everyone suggested. Throw a little bit of food close to your cat. Once he comes out of where he is hiding keep throwing food to bring him closer to you. It will probably take some time to get him close enough to catch. Don't throw pieces that are too big because he may fill up and not be interested enough to keep coming closer.

Keep calling your kitty and give him time to come in to eat. Don't make sudden moves, don't try to force him and don't stand up. Slowly try to just stroke him a little bit and as you see his attitude soften then try to pick him up and bring him in.

You can try leaving the back door open with the can of sardines and give him time to find his way in.

You can see if you can borrow a humane trap from the Humane Society, Cat Rescue or Animal Services.

I've seen traps at Home Depot or a Pet Supply Store if you want to buy one.

If neither of these are interesting there is a trap that can be made at home. Here is a link to show you more about it: http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/droptrap.htm

Btw, you can make the frame out of PVC pipes and elbow joints.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

Firstly...Relax. Cats, like dogs have a great homing instinct. More then likely she is just wanting some adventure. If she doesn't return by morning, then set out some food, after all she will soon be hungry and will most likely return to where she knows there will be food. If you cant lure her into the house after a few days, then I suggest buying a humane trap, and trying to catch her. Since she was at one time feral, there is not really any reason to worry about her being able to defend herself. So about the only thing you can do is to wait. Not the easiest thing, but cats have been known to be gone for a day or two.

Answer 5

what i would probebly do is go to a hunting and sports store and buy a live trap and place some around the yard where you see him most. Put his favorite treat inside, probebly try the one with the most scent first, so he can pick up the scent better, check the traps every morning and night, and good luck with finding him!

Answer 6

This is going to sound really simple, but it works on my cat every time. Lay on your back on the ground (so you don't look threatening), with some strong smelling treats that he loves sitting next to you (I either use tuna, or I shake a bag of kitty greenies). Then you wait. Eventually he will come close enough to you to check out the treats, and you roll over and grab him and carry him into the house.

Answer 7

'If you really cant tempt him with food etc. then it may be worth asking your Vet to put you in touch with a local Cat sanctuary, they may be able to loan you a custom made trap. They can be a bit difficult to set so you will need to try to set it at the sanctuary when you collect it, to be sure you know how to do it.they are very successful, I have used them on many occasions Catching domestic Cats and ferals when I worked for an animal rescue society.

Answer 8

I have outdoor cats turned indoor cats, who i let out ocassionally late at night when traffic is non existent. But they love outside so much cuz they were used to it, that its hard to entice them back in. Then i remembered my cats favorite toy. The laser pointer. They cant resist chasing it. So i just drag the pointer from them to the door (with waiting food of course) and they chase it right inside. Its perfect. Goodluck hun.

-Calli <3

Answer 9

Hello, Does he have a favorite toy that makes noise? Get down to his level- sit on ground or squat down, so that you do not seem threatening. Can tuna is a good food of enticement. But also use the same technique with it. Anything that he loves to do, use this to attract him. Don't run after him. He is in open ground and alot faster GOD BLESS YOU! [e-mail]

Answer 10

You could get a live trap and put a dish of cat food in it. You might get other animals though.