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Local TNR Resources

For traps and trapping assistance call:

Martha 610.737.7490 greater Lehigh Valley area

Phil 610.393.0223 greater Lehigh Valley area/Monroe

Rebecca 484.221.3411 Lehigh County

Diane 570.778.6886 Carbon, Schuylkill

Trap-Neuter-Return Instructions

Trappers should have 1 trap per cat and to be effective, plan on trapping an entire colony at once. Cats will get trap savvy when they have been exposed to trapping several times. NEVER let a cat out of a trap as they are very hesitant to go back into one again!

Make sure that you understand how to open and set the trap before you leave.

Have a date of surgery scheduled and plan to trap the evening before surgery.

Cats can be held overnight and fed in the traps the evening before surgery. Transport them covered to the clinic the next day.

Place the trap in the area where you typically feed the cats. Do not place a trap out in the open; place under shrubs, small trees, corners of buildings, etc.

Pre- Trapping instructions:

Secure the trap door open with wire, string or a stick. Place a thin layer of newspaper in the bottom. If it gets wet or blows, you can leave the bottom bare. Plan to use the trap as a feeding station 3-4 days in advance of your surgery date. This helps the cats get accustomed to entering the trap and not to be afraid. It is NOT recommended to use plastic bowls or plates as they can block the door when trapping. You can use a paper plate.

• Start with placing food at the front of the trap on the first day and move the food toward the back of the trap each day afterward. We are training the cat not to be afraid to go all the way into the trap the day/evening of trapping.
   
• 24 hours BEFORE the day/evening of trapping, DO NOT feed the cats. If they are used to being fed and now are hungry, it will increase the success of catching them. Kittens that weigh 2-3 lbs will trip the plate and can be trapped, fixed, eartipped and returned to colony.

Trapping Instructions:

• Place a tablespoon of tuna in oil at the very BACK of the trap through the top of the trap .If you place the food too closely to the trip plate, the cat can lean over it rather than step on it. You do NOT have to use a lot of tuna. You will be feeding them later after trapping them. If your cats are used to a certain favorite food, you can use that too, but it should be wet food not dry.
   
• Release the trap door and set the hook which activates the trip plate .Cover cat when trapped with old sheets or towels. This helps decrease the stress and they settle down. Remove trapped cats from the trapping area so they don’t scare others away. The cats can be fed food thru the top of the trap. Wet food is preferable because there is enough moisture and eliminates the need to put a container of water in the trap.
   
• The sound of trap doors can scare some cats away. Keep in mind that they are hungry and will come back for food. Sometimes, they will wait until it gets dark which makes them feel safer, so be patient!
   
• Do NOT leave traps open overnite or unattended or you will be trapping wildlife such as skunks, opossums or raccoons. If you did not get all of the cats, close the traps down for the evening and start again in the morning in daylight. The longer the cat goes without food, the greater your chance of success. BE PATIENT!
   
• Cats will be returned for post- op to you in traps and keep them in a quiet, warm place. They can be fed thru the top of the trap, again with wet food. In most cases, the cat can be released out of the trap 24 hours after surgery. The clinic will inform you if there are additional needs.