How many fellow small trap fans target cats? When I say small traps, I mean #1.75- #2 size traps (MB450's included). I see size 3 & 4 are pretty popular for folks that target cats but I'm curious on the smaller traps.

The larger traps are favored in more adverse weather conditions,bigger kill area less misses.With the expose walk thru's you can block in tighter and have a good kill area.Dealing with snow/wind etc.your blocking guides get covered so a bigger jaw spread helps you out.Cat are not real hard to hang on to,if you get by the first second jump lunge,back foot catches are harder to hold because of the taper of the foot and both front legs can be used to fight the trap early in the catch.MB 450's and 1 3/4's and 2's are excellent cat traps.I live in snow country so I use mostly Sterling's MJ 600's,3N's or Jake's,Jake's are over kill for cats,but I like the greater jaw spread.Hope this helps and you see lots of SPOTS in your future....Forgot to mention we have large cats,most females are 23 to 26lbs and Toms are 30 to 36lbs,out of #101 cats 14 have been 40lbs and better,largest was 48lbs,last year we had a 41 and a 44lbs cat.

Thanks Rick, that's the kinda info Im looking for.

The reason for this thread is because as someone who targets coyotes with #2 size traps, I'd like to go after cats this year. I only have a handful of #3 size traps and I don't like them for coyotes. Not the coyotes I am targeting. I was about the pull the trigger on some #3 Victors but wanted input on if I could successfully and effectively target cats with my little #2's.

I'd bet most of the big number cat guys in the west use #2's or smaller.

Big traps will get good grabs on, and hold more lions.

Lions are getting to be extremely common (read, overpopulated) across much of the west.

Well I hope 450s are good for cats because I bought 2 dz for this years cat targets.

I agree with Rick. The smallest trap I have used and caught cats is a #2. If you have a big cat in the trap that paw will fill up a #2.

I use duke #2 for cats. No problems or issues here with the #2. Eric

Held off on the #3 Vics and went with the Bridger #2 dogless. Kinda feel relieved. Will always be a small trap guy.

If I’m specifically setting for a cat on cat sign I’ll use a MB450 because I can guide a cat exactly where I want him to step. We deal with no freeze/thaw here so easier to do.

You'll be happy with #2's and like Boone stated if you have lions around,good chances they'll be pulled out by the time you get there.I've caught a few cats in MB 550's one was a 41lbs.As stated earlier we have some really big cats a few have very large tracks,we call them snoose can tracks.Good luck on your line this winter.

#2s here.
Held a lot of them in #2 coils in recent years. Prior to that held a lot of them just fine in #2 longs.

Jab, what was your #2 long spring trap of choice?

#2 here with a few modified 165's. The 165 have the same jaw spread as Victor #3 LS, only narrower. Small traps work just fine on exposed sets but they MUST lock up on the tapered, small pad feet. Miss more lions and easy on a bobcats foot.
Actually, all traps should lock up. Many don't.

I use everything from #1.5's to #3's. If the dirt is "heavy" I use the bigger traps because they can move quickly with the weight. If the dirt is really nice dry and light, I use the small traps. For chat tigre its hard to beat a #2 anything.

Before anyone ask, I consider wet dirt, clay, or compacted dirt heavy. I want a bigger and more powerful trap.

Andrew N,
Years ago I mostly ran #2 longs. Most of my traps were northwoods they had a thicker base than the victors and the northwoods had adjustable pans.



Now I run mostly Bridger #2 coils for cats and coyotes.

I Used to use 3 and 4 victor double long springs but like the smaller footprint of coilsprings. Went to Bridger 2 and 3 coils (unmoded) but didn't like the foot damage and sold them. I use MB 550's for bobcat most all the time now. I have held multiple cougars in the 550's. They lock up solid. So when I'm targeting bobcats where I see a lot of lion sign I'll set MB450's to avoid catching lions. They'll work fine for bobcats with real close guiding. But I prefer the MB 550s the majority of the time.

We use mainly #3 and MB 550s.

I love, LOVE my #3 double longs for exposed set bobcats.

Unfortunately, they hook up with way to many lions.

… one of the biggest cats I ever caught was held in 1 3/4 bridger…. Not my first choice but was down to the bottom of the barrel at the time