cat trap

What's the best humane cat trap. The haveaharts seem to have too strong a spring and no second door to help release feral cats. Thanks

I have always used Tomahawk traps, 2-door deluxe models. However, I purchased five new traps in May and was sorely disappointed in the quality. Two of the backdoor clips have already broken, the new locking device is very hard to manipulate, especially with greasy catfood hands, one trap was so bent in shipping the frontdoor wouldn't open and the frontdoor of another one was misaligned and would catch-up on the side of the trap.

Next time, I'm ordering the large Tru-Catch traps. I have two older models. They are roomier, making them good for recovery and cheaper, too. The self-locking backdoor does not inspire confidence and it is a little more cumbersome than the Tomahawks when it comes to transfering cats from dirty traps to clean, but I easily rigged up a back-up clip for security and, with a little more care during transfers, the backdoor has not been a problem...so far.

I'm a little worried about larger traps as the vets give anesthetic to the ferals before spay through the cages and it seems a larger trap would make that more difficult. Is that a reasonable fear?

: > : > What's the best humane cat trap. The : > haveaharts seem to have too strong a : > spring and no second door to help release : > feral cats. Thanks : : I have always used Tomahawk traps, 2-door deluxe models. However, I : purchased five new traps in May and was sorely disappointed in the : quality. Two of the backdoor clips have already broken, the new locking : device is very hard to manipulate, especially with greasy catfood hands, : one trap was so bent in shipping the frontdoor wouldn't open and the : frontdoor of another one was misaligned and would catch-up on the side : of the trap. : : Next time, I'm ordering the large Tru-Catch traps. I have two older : models. They are roomier, making them good for recovery and cheaper, : too. The self-locking backdoor does not inspire confidence and it is a : little more cumbersome than the Tomahawks when it comes to transfering : cats from dirty traps to clean, but I easily rigged up a back-up clip : for security and, with a little more care during transfers, the backdoor : has not been a problem...so far. :

I use Safeguard traps, which are the same basic havahart design but better engineered. The only downside is that the trip plate is too thin (a cat could step over it), but this can be fixed by taping a 6' piece of stiff cardboard to the plate, making a longer ramp.
http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/recommendtrap.htm

However, I purchased five new traps in May and was sorely disappointed in the quality. Two of the backdoor clips have already broken,

Yes, this happened quickly with my Tomahawk too. I don't really like the eyehole+latch design on the second door either: the latch gets in the way when transfering cats.

one trap was so bent in shipping the frontdoor wouldn't open

Interesting. This is exactly what happened to me too. I sent it back and they promptly shipped a good one.

Next time, I'm ordering the large Tru-Catch traps.

They are heavy! And setting the trigger is a bit of an art form. But otherwise they're very good too.

One really has to go with 36' models, so-called 'raccoon traps'. Some of the traps out there being marketed as 'cat traps' are just too small.

Our vet get simply sets the trap on end or uses the trap divider we provided their clinic. It is an inexpensive, over-sized fork that isolates the cat at the end of the trap you want it in.

Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats