Before you begin to trap feral cats, PAWS encourages you to consider becoming a caretaker for the cat or cat colony. You will need to trap the cats to have them spayed or neutered, and commit to monitoring the colony. Please contact one of the local feral cat resource groups for more assistance, or to discuss relocation of ferals.

Humane cat traps are available from the PAWS Shelter for either a rental fee of $7/day or $35/week, plus a refundable $75 deposit.

We will train you how to use the cat trap.

Given that trapping carries with it the risk of capturing a non-feral cat already belonging to someone, and since the trapping process will always cause some stress to the animal, we require that certain actions be undertaken on your part in order mitigate these factors.

The Live Trap Agreement stipulates that:

You agree to post at least five prominent notices in and around your neighborhood stating that trapping is occuring if there is any reasonable chance that animals belonging to someone may be trapped and removed. You agree to post these notices at least 24 hours prior to setting traps.

You agree to monitor the trap(s) frequently once set (at least once every hour) and to cover the trap with a blanket, towel, etc. once the animal is trapped. You further agree to transport the trapped animal immediately to PAWS or to the nearest appropriate animal shelter or wildlife rehabilitation center. If the animal is to be transferred to PAWS, call ahead to arrange receiving. (425) 787-2500, ext.850 [Note: If you will be getting the cat spayed or neutered and returning the, to their colony, you do not have to take them to pAWS or your local shelter.]

You agree to post at least five prominent notices in and around the neighborhood giving a description and location of any animal trapped that may belong to someone. You further agree to post these notices immediately after the animal has been delivered to PAWS or to any other facility. (Notices are available from PAWS).

You agree to return all traps to PAWS in working order within ten days of the date received. You further agree to call PAWS at (425) 787-2500 ext. 850 if unable to abide by any of the above conditions. If a Trap Deposit is made in cash, you will be refunded by check through the PAWS Accounting Department.