Setting a Feral Cat Trap

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  While feral cats eat their share of rodents, they also decimate the wild songbird population, as do cats allowed to roam outside by their owners.jerry image by petar Ishmeriev from Fotolia.com
  
  At feeding time, usually near dusk, place the trap on level ground near where you've seen the cat. Make sure there is some cover, which will make the cat feel more secure and keep the cat safe until you can return to the trap.
  
  
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  Feral cats often fight over territory, dominance and mates.cat image by matko from Fotolia.com
  
  Using the newspaper, cover the wire bottom of the trap, including the trip plate. Cats prefer not to walk on wire. Make sure the paper doesn't set off the trap or prevent it from springing.
  
  
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  Some colonies are so inbred that the kittens they produce suffer from chronic health issues, including genetic abnormalities that would otherwise remain dormant.cat image by Darren Ager from Fotolia.com
  
  Using the spoon, scoop some of the bait onto the trip plate. Soak small pieces of newspaper in any liquid from the bait and place it near the rear of the trap to act as a further attractant. Make sure the bait is far enough in the trap that the cat has to change the pressure on the trip plate and spring the trap.
  
  
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  Many feral cat colonies make use of available shelter, such as barns or under porches.cat image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
  
  Set the trap by pushing in the top of the door and pulling upward on the bottom of the door. Place the hook, attached to the side of the trap top, into the metal cylinder on the side of the door. This raises the trip plate and prepares the trap for triggering.
  
  
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  Feral cats fend for themselves, although humans often add cat food to their inconsistent diet.Cat image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
  
  Cover the trap with the towel to camouflage the trap, leaving only the entrance visible. This can also help prevent the cat from snagging the bait from the outside.