I’ve never used a rub set per se but lots of walk through I could convert to rub sets. Considering constructing some rub sets to use while scouting this spring with cameras. Generally it seems like building a set ahead of time would decrease future visits because the curiosity is gone, but if rub sets act as scent posts visited every time a cat came by they might get better over time. Any downside to constructing a rub set long before the season?

following. Good question.

I am not a “cat master” but have always thought of cat rubs and scratch markers as a definite scent post. If a cat rubs his face or body on an object they leave scent for others to know about them being in the area. So is that a curiosity attraction? Maybe! In any case I don’t think building the sets early is a detriment to the sets success. This is a good question tho!

I wouldn't think it would hurt one bit. Adding lure or another attractant when trapping should provide the curiosity factor.

Thanks for the replies! I did it so we’ll see. I have marginal luck with cameras at sets ahead of the season, but it’s fun to see. If I get a cat on camera it will often be back but it may be seasonal, I’ve had cameras for 6 months at a spot and not seen a thing but then catch one in December. Who knows. Cats are cats.

My opinion is predators mark all the time as their urges dictate year round. Especially after a good rain and snow storm fronts, I have noticed increased mark scenting from Red Fox and Coyote under those conditions over the years. I don't have as much data on cats but they I am sure would fall into the same behavioral pattern or close to it.

I also feel that seasonal changes and time of the year contributes to frequency and increased marking behavior. As we enter into late fall and early winter the interest in marking and counter marking is at a much higher frequency. This I feel is primarily due to their built in chemistry / biological urges kick in for the up coming breeding season.

Frequent scent marking and fecal deposits of each animal are key components of their communication in finding and/or keeping in touch with a potential mate or litter mate. Vocalization is another means of communication that is used obviously for helping them in locating mates and litter mates.

Knowing cats like to rub, roll and spray mark key features and prone to bury excess killed prey, gives us some valuable tools to use. Cats as others have stated are relatively easy to catch. The work is finding them and their travel ways. Then setting up to intercept them when they come through.

I would think that keeping a rubbing area or a spray marking area freshened up semi frequently, that it would take on a life of its own if located in a good position and location. In other words it would become self sustaining due to other visitors.

Other cats would in time add their scent over the weeks and months and also begin marking with their own droppings to further highlight the interest in the location. I do believe and support the theory that interest in such areas are greatly increased due to the time of year, particularly late fall to early winter when the phermones and testosterone are driving these animals instinctively.

Food at this time of year seems to take second fiddle to their urges to find a mate and to breed.

Thanks for a great explanation on this Bob! The next question would be, what type of scents would be best to keep the rub ongoing? Gland, urine, catnip, fish oil, silver vine? How often to reapply?

A well built rub scent will have most if not all of the necessary ingredients to use and one with a heavy paste anti dry out base will help to hold and preserve the odor for a longer period of time.

The frequency of application will obviously depend upon weather conditions such as temps.,wind and wear on the material from being rubbed against and any urine odor spray left from visitors and droppings.

A single component gland, castor etc. will not hold up for long time durable scent retention. Such as that which would be desired in this long term rub station application.

If I were to pursue this situation I would cut multiple layers of felt 3-4 approx. 2-3 inches wide. Apply generous amount of scent to each layer then staple them all together. This would certainly increase the life of the scent due to the layering effect alone. It would also significantly reduce the evaporation therefore extending its active odor life. Just a thought.

Bob is being bashful, but the best type of rub scent would be Jamesons Sierra Mist. Best I’ve used anyways by a long shot

Longbeard12 on here (busy Beaver trapping right now) planted a limb the size of a fence post. It looks like a fence post. Its purpose was to get Bobcats rubbing.
Bottom line, it turns into a community pee post. He has dozens of videos of peeing, no rubbing.
I'll contact him to add to this thread.

I had a rub set tore up by a trapped cat at the end of the season, so I made a new one before pulling trap. Think I'll set it next season without any lure, for a week or so at least, and see what happens.

Rub lure needs to be applied elevated in order to get the desired rubbing response. If not, rolling and urination will certainly be a basic reaction. Too low and ground level applications will certainly give a variety of responses.

Sierra Mist it will be, thanks for all the responses, and a special thanks to Mr. Jameson, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Sierra Mist and now I understand the ideas and observations behind it.

Rub sets are great. They become focal points for cats on their routes. One of the things that help to improve them is to keep female cats in the area. Which works out to releasing the females on your line. as long as you have females around you will have multiple males. I know alot of trappers will say ( that's a two hundred dollar bill) but females are worth more alive than they are dead. Some will say someone else will catch it and kill it, Maybe but the more females out there the better success you will have. Males will know where the females are. Keep them all coming around. Release the females, they become trap shy also like anything else. They will make toilets in the same area, they will have kittens. With these high prices everyone is killing every cat out there. Farm your cats.

Sorry so late to the conversation.

Hern is correct, I placed several locust cut limbs in known bobcat travel ways. I applied various lures at each, one at each location and after several months of running cameras. These post turned into community (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) post.

Lure roughly 15-18" high towards the camera. Almost......every single time at cat would walk by he would always stop at the post and mark.Breading season it was 50/50 they would stop and mark.
I really wish I could post my videos. The footage is amazing. I did try to take some snap shots off the video to show whats going on.

These few pictures are from 3 different locations. Hundreds of pictures and videos from these locations. I just grabbed a few so you get a idea of what I was trying to do.

The last picture is a bulldozer mounded up dirt on a powerline. Bobcats would cross this mound of dirt, from one end to the other. I placed a flat rock in the trail, with some lure one it. Its much lower but the cats still stop to (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) on it. I have caught several cats from this location.

Thanks LB12.
So, your Rub Sets turned into community pee post sets. Right?
Did you capture any rubbing at all on your videos?

Hern, yes they have all turned into pee post.

I have never experienced any cats chin rubbing. Not sure why? Maybe I am putting it out at the wrong time of the year? Thats probably a question for Mr Jameson. Not sure if cats are more acceptable to rubbing during one time of the year over a different time.

In my opinion the higher concentration of urine in a rub lure will cause a higher amount of urination marking. A heavy paste rub material with a well balanced amount of active ingredients will elicit a higher percentage of rubbing of the cheek and shoulders initially.

Also the more visitations that are documented the more urine will be left. Now it becomes a urination object and the rub has lost out to another scenario. Urination is a far more inviting and basic instinct reaction then most realize. Scratch backs, urination spraying and fecal markers are what rules the day with animal reactions.

As the material is rubbed and worn down, urination will be the primary marking focus in my observations.

As a variety of cats and canines begin to mark this area the urination and droppings will become the primary focus. Adding another marking object close by and reapplied with fresh rubbing scent will really cause much interest. I began to mark and scent apply to two different points of interest. One about 8 inches higher than the lowest application. A dab of skunk LDC is placed upon the higher scent mark.

This is great information Bob and makes total sense. Now you got my wheels spinning.

This was one of my more enjoyable & surprising coyote gland testing videos. The coyote gland lure is Dirt Road btw.
https://youtu.be/mGWgEOBgl1k

Great video Seldom. Those cats did go nuts over that gland lure. Did you try that particular gland at other locations and have the same results? Is it straight coyote gland, or someone other things mixed in?

The lure was by Dakota Line and called Dirt Road Coyote Gland Lure..

Yes, I used it at several other test plots with only so-so success, nothing special compared to other coyote gland lures I tested. I also never videoed a cat at the other test plots.

I did not nor do I now know what the formulation was as I was just purchasing coyote gland lures from suppliers for testing so if it was suppose to be a coyote gland lure, I bought it to test. I don't know if it’s being made anymore. I did find it on Ebay though.

Thanks seldom, appreciate the response

Here’s another little video clip taken during a coyote gland test. The gland lure is from O’Gorman. Notice the cat’s body language as it encounters the lure and even after it moves on down the trail. Quite a bit different reaction then Dirt Road Coyote Gland Lure eh?
https://youtu.be/iJEJIpO61w8?si=mm_8DiA6fFXnUIFZ

LB12, did any Coyote or Fox mark your rub posts?

Neat video Mike.

Coyotes would come and take a wiff and leave. Fox didn't want anything do with it.

I have found both fox and coyote droppings within several feet of a cat rub set up over the years. I can't confirm the urine marking. I however have caught many coon and coyote in rub sets placed along a well positioned fringe area cow path / trail.

These types of locations will yield multiple species catches due to the topographical terrain. In this case multiple sets are warranted for high yield results. All native wildlife, particularly predators will eventually be drawn and funneled thru these areas.

Thanks Bob, this is something I will keep a eye out for. I will say i often find coyote scat nearby. Usually within 20-30 yards of these post.