I just got the live trap out, and will be setting it today.......last years "take "was a skunk, 18 squirrels, two rabbits, three raccoons, a blue jay, and the neighbor's cat...twice! And I didn't start trapping this early, so, I expect an even larger "haul" this year.

That must be a really dumb cat.....................

I agree.

Well, I don't know about "dumb"....but he sure the heck ain't "gifted" ! I could never even get close to him, until I let him out, the first time, and, after the SECOND time....he follows me around, purring, everyplace I go. I'll bet if he knew I was the one who SET the trap, he wouldn't think so highly of me

Arlyn -- you have such a way with words....................

I got a live trap to try to catch the darn raccoon that eats my cat food in the barn and tears up the feed bags. Set it with marsh mellows and what did I catch? My barn cat Tiger. He was not happy when I let him out, but he never went back in. Neither did the raccoon!

Tom -- I never had any luck using marshmallows as bait (although others have). I use cat food in mine, and don't leave any cat food out anywhere else. Eventually the racoon will decide that the cat food is worth going into the trap to get -- and you'll have him.

I used a handful of peanuts (in the shell), and either an apple, or, apple peelings, for 'bait"...but, I was 'trying" for squirrels......all the other 'critters" were either ALSO wanting apples, or peanuts, were just :curious"....or dumb ! I know when the county animal control gal traps for skunks...or coons...she uses cat food.

I know that cat food works, and I was trying to avoid catching my cats, as I know one of them would go in every night to get some good canned cat food. They tell me to put a small can of cat food in the trap and just crack the lid so they have to go in to get it. They did get the marshmallows out of the cage some how and never went in. I have to take my cat food away from my cats every night so that the raccoon don't come and eat it. I did slow one down pretty much with my 22 though!

Tom, I have the same problem - if I bait the trap with cat food I catch the cat. But raccoons also love fruit. Banana works like a charm and doesn't interest the cat at all. I let one ripen to spotty stage, cut it up into appetizing pieces and put it in a bowl so he can't fish the pieces out through the cage holes.

Ah -- my cats don't get the luxury of canned cat food -- they get kibble. And I do have to take up all the food at night, especially if I am baiting a 'coon. At the moment I am also discouraging a semi-feral cat who wants to partake of the smorgasbord, but who wants to fight all of my cats for the right to have ALL of the smorgasbordto himself. So I monitor feeding time, then take up the feed bowls twice a day. Royal pain in the butt. And yes -- I have *caught* my cats in the trap -- but only once. Each. And some of them are smart enough to know better to begin with............

And yes -- I have had coons smart enough to reach in from the outside to eat the cat food without actually entering the trap -- so now my trap is backed up to a wall, with a tall garbage can on one side, and a heavy oak board on the other side, held in place with a concrete block. Sigh. I hate racoons.............why don't they just stay out in the hinterworld where they belong?????

Hey -- Elaine's plan sounds like sheer genius!!!

crowrita1 said:Well, I don't know about "dumb"....but he sure the heck ain't "gifted" ! I could never even get close to him, until I let him out, the first time, and, after the SECOND time....he follows me around, purring, everyplace I go. I'll bet if he knew I was the one who SET the trap, he wouldn't think so highly of me

Is the owner of this cat the one who sprays the roundup and was the one who had the flying tarp? If it is I bet you the owner doesn't feed his cat much, poor thing was probably hungry.
If so the cat maybe smarter than anyone thinks, he knows who feeds him... Or maybe you were right and he's just dumb.

Yup ! Same folks !! They have "several" cats (as do a couple of the other neighbors), and, while I DON'T enjoy them using the beds, and gardens for 'litter boxes' ...or the occasional digging up of a rhizome while they are USING the litter box. ..and REALLY don't like picking up a small "rhizome" that ISN'T a rhizome .....they do really keep the ground squirrel population in check!

Silver lining and all..................