Does anyone know how long a cat can stay in a trap? I was under the impression that traps should never be left unattended, and at the very least should be checked every few hours. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

Cat trapping??? That sounds horrible.

Sorry, I guess I should have made it clearer. I meant humane trapping of stray cats for trap, neuter, and release (or adoption) programs.

hmm, well i would think that they should not be left unattended too. i think stray cats, given that they normally roam freely wouldn't take too kindly to being confined all of a sudden.

France,
the program in Pittsburgh usually tries to trap the day of spay/neutering.

I had invited some volunteers to catch some strays in my neighborhood, since I ended up fostering some many kittens. They usually set them two days before, and the cats were kept in a shelter untill operation before being release.

I would check with you local neuter/spay stray program.

best of luck! good call

Thanks guys. I'm actually asking because the property manager of my apartment complex hired someone to come in and trap the cats. I've talked with the property manager about this a few years ago, and I suggested working with a cat organization that is used to doing this. Unfortunately she went with someone who is in the "pest control" business. I was told that this guy has a daughter who works in cat rescue, but I don't know that I believe it.

Anyway this guy has been leaving the cats in the traps for literally 16 hours at a time. So my fiance and I have been going out there to release the cats if the guy doesn't come within a few hours (the cats are way too vulnerable in there). I left a nice note on one of the traps about how to properly trap them, but the note is still sitting there and he just resets the traps. I'm going to have to talk to the property manager about it because this just isn't being handled correctly.

Actually I'm sure the manager is going to be looking for us today because there is a camera in the parking lot which definitely recorded us releasing the cats (I don't really care though). Yesterday there was a cat in a trap with a young cat sitting next to the trap. It was extremely sad, and after about 2.5 hours, we released the trapped cat. It turns out that the trapper didn't come until 4 hours after that, so the cat would have been in there for quite some time anyway.

How sad! :no:

France, for your efforts, you :rocker:

but seriously your prop mananger should stop being an idiot and listen to you.

Thanks!!! I just got a message from the manager saying to call her when I get a chance. I'm sure it's not to discuss lowering my rent .......

you think?

My fiance and I were reprimanded today by one of the office staff at the apartment complex. We have yet to speak with the property manager, but this other lady definitely let us know that they are not happy with us. In the meantime there's a humane officer who is ready to come out here and check things out which is great for the poor cats that are being left out in the cold, but I'm not sure what sort of ramification that is going to create for us.

Also, I noticed that the pest control guy came this afternoon and after talking with the office staff in the main building, he tried to enter my building but found that the door was locked (there was no reason for him to come up here). I decided against talking with him b/c he did not appear to be approachable, and I wanted to avoid a confrontation. I did get the number off his truck though, so I will put in a call in to see what is going on.

Kinda weird that the office staff wouldn't give me this guy's contact info but they told him which apartment I live in. :no:

I think you are doing just the right thing throughout this whole bizarre and sad situation. I hope the humane officer gets things in order, and the pest controller does not bother you. He does seem quite unapproachable from what I've heard, and I don't blame you at all for fighting against him.

I hope this ends in favor of you, and, of course, the cats.