1. Put the trap in a protected, secure area like a shed, screened porch, etc. Do not leave the trap outdoors. If the weather is hot, flies will be attracted by the food and may lay fly eggs in any small wounds on the cat's body. If the weather is cold, windchill can kill the cat. Passing predators and humans (neighbor's dog) can terrorize the animal. The cat should be inside, or secured in the back of a covered vehicle.
   
   This should be obvious, but do not keep a cat inside an unventilated vehicle in hot weather. A feral cat that is used to outdoor weather will be fine in the back of a pickup truck with a cap on in the winter, if the trap is covered to keep body warmth in, and the trap is on a towel to absorb moisture. Be careful about transporting cats in trunks or covered truck beds if the vehicle is in poor condition and carbon monoxide poisoning is a possibility

2. The cat will need water. The cat should not be fed if it is facing surgery the next day, but if not, the cat should be fed as well as watered.
   
   If you do NOT have an isolator, you can gently open the back door, slide it up a few inches, and push a small crock of water inside. Do not use cat food cans with sharp edges. Put a small handful of dry cat food right on the wire floor. Uneaten food will then fall through the wire when you need to move the trap the next day.
   
   If you do NOT have a trap with a back door, gently lift the front trap door to push the water in, but keep in mind if the cat rushes the door, it can push it open. If you keep a cover on the rear of the trap so the cat hides in the back, and are calm and quiet, this should not be a problem. Always move quietly and calmly.
   
   If you have an isolator, insert it as shown to block the cat from exiting, and open the back door to place food and water inside. NOTE: The isolator shown here is TOO LARGE. Purchase and use the isolator sized for small cage traps. I used this one so you could see it in the photo. Cats can squeeze through the bars of this large size isolator. The small one is about the same width as a cage trap, and the prongs are closer together.
   
   When you take the cat to the veterinarian, be sure to lend them your isolator. As you can see, the cat can be squeezed against the end of the trap with this device, and can be given its anesthesia shot right inside the trap. No forcing the cat into a squeeze cage. The cat can stay in the trap while falling asleep, and then, after surgery, a clean towel can be placed inside the trap and the cat put inside to recover.
   
   With the right inexpensive tools, and training, there is never any need to restrain a feral cat. Hands-off is the best policy. The cat will be far less traumatized.

Fed, Watered, Covered, On Absorbent Towel, for the Night.

• Click here for Trapping In Winter

• Another Great Instruction Page From the Feral Cat Coalition (FCC)

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