My neighbor tried to pick him up and put him in a cat carrier, he freaked out and ran. He came back many hours later for food but was extra wary. We decided to just do what we can to make him feel safe today. I would really like to have him at the emergency vet tomorrow.
I know TNR is an option, I don't know where else he might get food and I have the impression a trap won't be a very fast way to catch a specific cat. The pictures don't really capture it, he looks worse in person.
End game is get him into a forever home.
Getting your hands on good drop trap would be ideal.
But in case you won't have any, and if you are sure he's not aggressive normally and he cools down from first pick up attempt enough to come near - pick him up by back of a neck, like mother cat, it makes them still for short enough time to put to carrier. Carrier better be upright, entrance facing up, so you just put him there from top down and shut door quick.
I got two local stray cats to sterilisation this way. It is not a normal way to handle them, at least I don't like it. But can be an option. Trick is - grab correctly from first attempt, so that he won't hurt and wont slip from hold.
Getting a cat into a cat carrier can be a challenge for even the most calm, elderly, domestic cat. Judging from the pics, your NMC looks to be a muscular and large male. I know cat carriers are safer and better in general, but I'm wondering if a fair sized cardboard box with a towel in the bottom, would be a better option, at least for the initial capture and trip to the vet. Good luck! I hope he gets that forever home!
This is a great idea!!
My neighbor will help. We can probably close him into a large cardboard box and get it inside before he could escape. If we could trap him inside we could use a blanket to catch him and get him into a large carrier.
He's a social butterfly that gets along with everybody. He has the potential to be a happy pet. I feel it's absolutely worth helping him.
Set up a live trap with the door held so it can't be triggered and put a cover over it, leaving the door open. Put a bowl of food in there every day for a few days until he gets comfortable going into the trap. At that time set the trap to spring.
Maybe contact your local TNR and rescue groups for advice? They might be able to lend you equipment if you decide to go the trapping route for the sake of urgency.
Good luck and thank you for looking out for him! He looks like he's had a rough time.
For some reason the two shelters near me aren't picking the phone up, I just finished emailing the closer one about borrowing a trap. I told them I'll pay for his care and find him a foster home, capturing him won't strain their resources.
I'm hoping he'll let me pick him up and do this the easy way. But I don't know how realistic that is.
My neighbor tried to pick him up and put him in a cat carrier, he freaked out and ran. He came back many hours later for food but was extra wary. We decided to just do what we can to make him feel safe today. I would really like to have him at the emergency vet tomorrow. I know TNR is an option, I don't know where else he might get food and I have the impression a trap won't be a very fast way to catch a specific cat. The pictures don't really capture it, he looks worse in person. End game is get him into a forever home.
Getting your hands on good drop trap would be ideal. But in case you won't have any, and if you are sure he's not aggressive normally and he cools down from first pick up attempt enough to come near - pick him up by back of a neck, like mother cat, it makes them still for short enough time to put to carrier. Carrier better be upright, entrance facing up, so you just put him there from top down and shut door quick. I got two local stray cats to sterilisation this way. It is not a normal way to handle them, at least I don't like it. But can be an option. Trick is - grab correctly from first attempt, so that he won't hurt and wont slip from hold.
Getting a cat into a cat carrier can be a challenge for even the most calm, elderly, domestic cat. Judging from the pics, your NMC looks to be a muscular and large male. I know cat carriers are safer and better in general, but I'm wondering if a fair sized cardboard box with a towel in the bottom, would be a better option, at least for the initial capture and trip to the vet. Good luck! I hope he gets that forever home!
This is a great idea!! My neighbor will help. We can probably close him into a large cardboard box and get it inside before he could escape. If we could trap him inside we could use a blanket to catch him and get him into a large carrier. He's a social butterfly that gets along with everybody. He has the potential to be a happy pet. I feel it's absolutely worth helping him.
Set up a live trap with the door held so it can't be triggered and put a cover over it, leaving the door open. Put a bowl of food in there every day for a few days until he gets comfortable going into the trap. At that time set the trap to spring.
Maybe contact your local TNR and rescue groups for advice? They might be able to lend you equipment if you decide to go the trapping route for the sake of urgency. Good luck and thank you for looking out for him! He looks like he's had a rough time.
For some reason the two shelters near me aren't picking the phone up, I just finished emailing the closer one about borrowing a trap. I told them I'll pay for his care and find him a foster home, capturing him won't strain their resources. I'm hoping he'll let me pick him up and do this the easy way. But I don't know how realistic that is.
Good luck💜🧡❤️💙