Recommended Traps and Equipment

TRAPS & TRAP DIVIDERS

• The Neighborhood Cats Trap (and Trap Divider) by Tomahawk

Manufactured by Tomahawk, a family-owned business renowned for their high quality work, and designed by Neighborhood Cats, this is the first trap on the market made especially for Trap-Neuter-Return and feral cats.  It comes in two lengths - 30" and 36" - and at affordable prices.   Also available from Tomahawk is a trap divider designed by us.

The Neighborhood Cats Trap cures the problems we've faced over the years when adapting traps made for other animals or purposes.  We want our traps to be large enough to double as cages, so we've had to use raccoon traps (cat traps were too small).  But that meant always having to tape cardboard onto the trip plate to make the plate longer - otherwise cats would often step right over it.   The trip plate on Tomahawk's new trap is long enough so this will no longer be necessary.

We also need our traps to have a rear door.  This makes it possible to feed and clean while a cat is confined in the trap before and after surgery (see Caring for Cats Held in Traps).  But the traps we used either had no locking mechanism for the rear door or had one that was too often left undone when the cats were returned to us from the vet or spay/neuter clinic.  On the Neighborhood Cats trap, locking the back door is a simple one-step process - just snap the clip through the loop and you're good!

Then there were the handles - too small, or only one, so when you had a trapped cat shifting around, the trap would tip back and forth and be difficult to carry.  The new trap has two extra long and thick handles to solve this problem.  The top plate is extra large as well, offering more protection to the person carrying the trap from an irate lodger, plus there's more space for placing labels and instructions for your clinic or fellow trappers.

The trap comes with Tomahawk's usual features, including excellent construction, extra reinforced steel rods to secure the front door automatic locking mechanism, smaller wire mesh openings near the rear door to protect your bait from feline paws reaching in, adjustable trigger mechanism with brass roller, and durability for long-lasting use.

What can we say?  This is our favorite trap - after all, we designed it!  Also check out Tomahawk's new trap divider.  It's strong enough that it can be safely used for feeding and cleaning while a cat is confined in the trap.  The divider also comes with its own safety clip which can be attached to the side or top of the trap.   It will work with any standard trap.

To order: 
Call Tomahawk at 800-272-8727 or email: trapem@livetrap.com
(Neighborhood Cats traps and dividers are not yet for sale online, so call or email to place your order)

Model             Product name                          L-W-H               Wgt            1 to 5            6+
606NC           Neighborhood Cat Trap              30 x 10 x 12          10 lbs.        $55.00        $52.00
608NC           Neighborhood XL Cat Trap          36 x 10 x 12          11 lbs.       $58.00         $55.00
TD12NC         Neighborhood Trap Divider          18 x 11.5              3.5 lbs.       $18.00        $16.00
Kit 1              1-606NC & 1-TD12NC                                                              $69.00        $66.00
Kit 2              1-608NC & 1-TD12NC                                                              $72.00        $69.00

• Tru-Catch Traps with Rear Doors
  

Heart of the Earth Animal Equipment
1-800-526-1644
Model 36D (36x12x14) - $83.00 for 1; $74.70 for 2 to 8; $70.55 for 9+
Model 30D (30x9x11) - $71.00 for 1; $63.90 for 2 to 8; $60.35 for 9+

Tru-Catch traps are well made and durable with powder-coated steel. Both the 36" and 30" models have a large trip plate and an easy to use rear door.  Some trappers prefer Tru-Catch traps because they don't use springs and so the front door closes quietly instead of slamming shut.

Disadvantages include their cost, weight (the 36D model weighs 15 lbs.) and it can be tricky to set the trigger mechanism properly, making the traps problematic for inexperienced trappers.

• Tru-Catch Trap Divider (for 30" & 36" models)
  

Heart of the Earth Animal Equipment
1-800-526-1644
Model TD2 - $18.75 for 1 to 5; $16.90 for 6 to 19; $15.90 for 20+

As mentioned, you'll need trap dividers (also known as trap isolators) to separate the cat on one end of the trap while you open the other end to feed and clean . Dividers are also useful out in the field for separating two cats caught in the same trap, limiting the space inside a trap that a frantic cat can run back and forth in, transferring a cat into another trap, and more.

Besides the Neighborhood Cats trap divider by Tomahawk, the only other trap divider we recommend is the Tru-Catch Model TD-2.  Dividers made by other manufacturers are not strong or well designed enough to use safely for our purposes.  The TD-2 will work with any standard trap.


CAGES & CARRIERS

JEFFERS
www.jefferspet.com
1-800-533-3377

JEFFERS has the best prices we know of on cages, carriers and other equipment.

We don't have a particular brand to recommend for cages, but do suggest when you buy cages or playpens, don't spend the extra money on ones with thick steel bars. The cheaper thin bars work perfectly fine with cats. We do recommend you pay a little more and buy the foldup ("suitcase") models and not the put-it-together yourself kinds. The latter are prone to mistakes when you put them together, thereby allowing your feral friend a way out (you'd be surprised at how small a space they can manage to squeeze through).