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.