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10. The Neighborhood Cats Drop TrapA drop trap can be an essential tool for anyone doingTNR on a regular basis. Cats too afraid to enter the narrow,confined space of a box trap often show no fear of walkingunder a drop trap. It can be used to catch the holdoutsduring or after a mass trapping and to pick out kittens or anyinjured, ill or pregnant cats from the rest of the colony. Forsome trappers, drop trapping is the preferred approach forcapturing all the cats they’re after, not only special cases.Until recently, there was no mass-produced drop trap and most caretakers had to buildtheir own. At Neighborhood Cats, we recognized how important this piece of equipmentis for TNR, so we teamed up with Tomahawk Live Trap to design the Neighborhood CatsDrop Trap, a model which is affordable, durable and easy to set up and transport. Thetrap folds up like a suitcase and can be set up in a few minutesor less. Being all metal, it’s easy to clean and sanitize, unlikemost home-made drop traps. For more specifics andinformation on how to order, see “Drop traps” in Chapter 8.A drop trap is a more complicated tool to use than a regularbox trap – there’s much more involved than setting the trigger,standing back and waiting for a cat to step on the trip plate.The purpose of this chapter is to describe how to use the Neighborhood Cats Drop Trap.Most of what is said will apply equally to home-made drop traps as well. Before goinginto much more detail, here is a quick overview of the process: First, the trap is placedon a level surface near the cats’ usual eating spot. The front of the trap is then raised upon its prop bar and a bowl of bait is placed in the back. Thetrapper stands a distance away, holding a string or cord attachedto the prop bar. When the desired cat is under the trap and eatingout of the bowl, the string is yanked, pulling back the prop barand dropping the trap down over the cat. The cat is thentransferred into a box trap through the guillotine door on theside.Never try to use a drop trap for the first time on that elusive catyou’ve been after for the last five years! It takes a little practice to getused to the process, so first time out, use it on a cat or two who arealready fixed. You can either let them go after transferring them intobox traps (it’s important to practice that part, too) or getting their rabiesvaccinations updated. After you’ve given yourself a chance to makemistakes and learn, you’ll be ready for Grandma!97