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doing so. Don’t check too frequently because eachtime you approach the traps, you might scare a cataway.If you see a cat trapped or hear a trap doorshut, don’t immediately go running into theterritory to cover the cat up. Observe how the catreacts. Most will become frantic and start dashingback and forth. If that’s happening, go over andcover the trap with its sheet, then stand back for aminute and give the cat a chance to calm down.But if the cat is eating or sitting quietly, then stayback and wait. Remember, you want to keepentries into the territory to a minimum.When a cat does panic, never release the catout of fear she’ll hurt herself if you don’t. Firstcover her with the sheet. Usually she’ll be fine ina moment. In the rare case a cat does not calmdown and continues to thrash about, insert a trapdivider through the top of the trap and reduce theamount of space the cat can move around in. Thencover the trap again. Bloody noses or torn clawswill sometimes occur, but are not cause for seriousconcern. Don’t give in to your fear and let the catgo! If she is acting that frightened, you may neverget her into a trap again, which means she’ll neverhave the benefit of being spayed, you’ll have tokeep finding homes for her kittens, etc.Eventually, she will calm down and everyone willbe better off in the end.After the cat has been covered and has quieteddown, pick up the trap, move it a few feet awayand place another trap in the same exact spot wherethe cat was just caught. You’ll often find there are“hot spots” where, for whatever reason, one catafter another keeps going in. Carry trapped catsout of the territory to a secure spot where someonecan keep a constant eye on them or transport themto the holding space. If the cat starts moving backand forth while you’re carrying her, tilt the trapforward at about a 45 degree angle, forcing the catto expend her energy hanging on to the floor orsides instead of moving around.If you’re trapping at multiple sites, place alabel on the top plate of the trap and write on thelabel the location, the trap number (you cannumber the traps sequentially as cats are caught)photos: Emma Cobb76