Hey all need advice,

Newbie here, have a raccoon infestation at a few places that I need to deal with. Been live trapping them but I need more traps and live traps are pretty pricey. I think want to go with dog proofs in combo with my live traps but I’ve heard stories about cats getting in there. I’ve been baiting with marshmallows in the live trap and haven’t caught a cat yet but I just don’t have the experience to know if that’s enough to keep our cats safe. No big deal in a live trap but I’m not sure how much damage a foot trap will do to a cat.

Thoughts? Suggestions on other baits that a cat would have no interest in but a coon would?

Also I had read elsewhere when cats are a concern that you can put a tin can over the end of a DP and a coon can lift it up to get the bait but a cat would have a much harder time doing that. Is that a thing or not?

79, never say always and never say never....good motto. Cage traps around cats works well until the cats catch on. In my experience, after a cat is caught and presumably released, it becomes pretty cautious of that trap and location. You might catch other cats in the cage but it is best to move locations and clean trap off. DPs might be your salvation....everything seems to work...sugary cereals, greasy concoctions, barbecue sauce is good, as well as fruity drink dry mixes, the ants/bees will eat a lot of bait in warm weather, and of course the cat/dog foods both dry and wet. The best thing to do is experiment set some DPs and cages up and make a note what each was baited with and see what is the most attractive.
pm me for a good tip dealing with cats in cages.

Thanks for the advice!

Yes my cat’s safety is my top priority and is really my end goal of all this, if I can learn a new skill in the process that’s just a bonus. Been teaching myself some of the old ways last 5-6 years in case things go south one day.

One thing I wanted to ask your thoughts on was the primary location with my cat dilemma. It’s a two car garage, partially divided, within city limits, it’s tight quarters to the cats so I think I’ll be limited to only live traps there. The issue is due to the confines of the property I’m limited where I could move a trap if I get a cat. So my question is how far of a move would be enough? Or would cleaning the trap and experimenting with other baits work in place of moving in that event? Where I’m placing it now I’m having great success catching them and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it right?

But yes I’ll send you a PM thanks for the offer!

Cats don’t really chew from my experiences and I’ve caught them in bridger 2 4 coiled traps for coyotes and they ran away fine from it and dps rarely catch cats but if you get the push and pull trigger your cat catch will go up so stick with pull only dps and you will be mostly fine

You could search the archives, but I thought I’d read feral cats don’t mess with sweet baits.
Now you have to realize if using DP’s, there will be a catch circle of some sort. Not sure if that will have any bearing on using them for coons or not. Or you could just keep them tight to whatever anchor you use.
I’ve yet to catch a cat in a DP. Caught coons, possums, and fox, but never a cat. Good luck!

I had seen the different triggers on DPs, thank you for clarification on that. In your experience when they are snagged in a DP does it do much visual damage to them? Guessing not much if a coil trap doesn’t.


I tried the search feature and didn’t get much info on the subject before I made this post. I’ll rephrase my search and see if I can get anymore info. But I am operating on the same assumption about sweet bait and to also avoid anything with meat or fish in it and of course no dog or cat food. Where I would be setting DPs at the catch circle wouldn’t matter at all. I got a couple of shallow creeks in more remote areas I am tempted to try pans in since I have a few I ended up with. Edit: A fox? I am guessing that is a pretty rare catch in a DP

If you're gonna search, use your search engine and end your search with trapperman.com. I have better results doing this, personally.

You are on the right track with dog proofs and cages, all starts with the right tool. Then next is what attracts the target species but not the non-target.
If coon are the target,
Marshmallows, dry fruity cereal works for me, jelly, anything is interesting to coons but pick stuff not interesting to your cat. Even dry field corn is a great option here.
You can also focus on location. If coons are traveling regular trails go to those and move farther away from home or barn if cats are concern.
I do like cages because non targets if caught can always be released unharmed and generally learn after a catch or two not to go in.
Dogproofs aren’t a sure fire thing to avoid non targets but the right bait and location they can be minimal chances.
If you only have a few cages just move them around and check them more frequently.
Jim

You dont need to move the trap if you catch a cat nor do you need to wash the cage. Only time I ever consider washing a cage is if I'm trapping groundhogs and I got a coon in the cage.

You will catch a cat in a cage eventually no matter what bait you use. You know the old curiosity killed the cat thing...they just wander in. Open the door and let em back out.

I am not a fan of dogproofs for nuisance trapping as most nuisance work is done in a clients landscaped yard. Whatever you catch will make a mess of the yard, if its your own property fine, not so much in a clients yard.

Thanks everyone for the replies learned a bunch already from y’all. Think I’ll keep on using marshmallows and experiment with some other sweets or maybe vegetables. I think I’ll save any DP sets for more remote areas and focus on live traps in high risk areas. Just need to pick up a couple more used live traps and I should be in business!

I dont think anyone addressed the tin can thing on DP's. Can a cat get it off a DP? Yes. Will they? Most likely not.

That’s my logic on it, much easier for a coon to pull it off than a cat but not impossible for a cat. I seen it in a comment section of a YouTube video and didn’t know if that really was a viable option. Definitely makes sense tho

Also no there has not been visual damage on the cats I have caught and it was as caught by three toes and it was ok

When you catch a cat in a cage, pick the cage up and give it a good shake before you release the cat. Won't do any damage to the cat, but they won't go back in the cage again. If you just open the door and release the cat, it may decide to keeping going back in the cage for more snacks.

I 2nd the use of sweet or fruit based baits.

The best advice I can give you Is keep your cat or cats locked up In the house until your coon problem Is solved.

Ditto what the Beav stated. A modification of that is to close your traps during the day and open at night and keep your cats inside. If you keep catching coons it means you may have several moving in or through your area as they can shy of entering those when they see several in the traps. Night only would allow you more trap variety with the cats not likely to get caught.

Bryce

Have caught all 3 of my neighbors cats ONCE in cages, now they don't even go near them even when baited with tuna cat food

Cats and raccoons once caught in a cage trap wont go near one.