How to Trap a Mama Cat and Kittens

When we started TNR on the Charlie Chaplin Colony, Melanie told us about a mama cat and kittens.

We trapped the mama cat, Katler, right away but let her go because we could see she was lactating and we weren’t sure if the kittens were completely weaned, or where they even were.

Melanie searched with neighbors the next day and found the litter in a garage, feasting on a pigeon. Yup, they were weaned. It took some chasing, trapping and maneuvering but she managed to get all four kittens into a trap.

Then we all waited for their mama Katler to go into a trap again. The kittens are in a carrier, with a trap set against the carrier door, like in a “train.” That way the mama cat is supposed to go into the trap to get to her kittens. Katler wasn’t having it at first, she just sat on top of the trap or circled around the entire time. The carrier and trap are covered underneath the towel.

Eventually Katler went into the trap and we were able to TNR her at PAWS Chicago the next day, along with ten other adult cats from this colony.

In the meantime, my friend Jennifer offered to foster the four kittens. Jennifer lives in my neighborhood and also does TNR for the Thompson Twins Colony.

She set them up on this cute pillow in her bathroom.

They did have some URI issues so they were taken to our friends again at Elmhurst Animal Care Center. They got Clavamox and dewormer. The total bill was $54.50

If you’d like to make a donation towards their care you can do so with the donation button at the top of this page or through Paypal at [email protected]

In the meantime, all four kittens pretty much got over their URI’s and are now being fostered by Kim. They have their first appointment for continuing vet care next week at PAWS Chicago and will eventually be admitted into their adoption program.