Shelters Archives - Trap and Return

How Cat Cafes Work

How Cat Cafes Work Cat cafes have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering a unique experience for cat lovers and providing a home-like environment for adoptable cats. These establishments often partner with local rescue organizations to help find homes for their feline residents. This section will explore how cat cafes work together with rescues to benefit both the cats and the community. Key Takeaways: Understanding the Cat Cafe Concept A cat café is a combination of a coffee shop and an adoption center, where patrons can enjoy a cup of coffee or a sweet treat while spending time with resident kitties. These establishments create a calming and comfortable environment for the cats, allowing them to roam freely and interact with visitors. The primary purpose of a cat cafe or a cat lounge is to provide a stress-free space for potential adopters to meet and connect with the cats, increasing their chances of finding forever homes. This is also a great way for animal shelters to reach new potential adopters in the community. Additionally, many people aren’t able to own cats for a variety of reasons, from living in small apartments that don’t allow pets to have roommates or family that are allergic to cats. Many people who visit cat cafes would love to own cats but aren’t able to. Most cat cafes require a cover charge or entry fee, which helps fund the food, litter, and expensive veterinary care these rescue cats require. While not all cat cafes are nonprofits, most of the animal shelters are. There are a variety of cat cafe themes. Some offer a wine bar, and many offer unique cat-themed events like cat yoga, cat bingo, or cat trivia. You can sip coffee or enjoy a cocktail and treats while you meet beautiful kitty cats. What Is a Cat Cafe? A cat cafe is a unique concept that originated in Taiwan in 1998 and gained popularity worldwide, particularly in Japan. The first cat cafe combined the relaxing atmosphere of a coffee shop with the opportunity to interact with adorable feline companions. Cat lovers can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while surrounded by friendly cats who are available for adoption. “Cat cafes provide a sanctuary for both cats and cat lovers. They offer a temporary home for adoptable cats, allowing them to socialize and find loving families, while providing a serene environment for visitors to unwind and connect with these amazing creatures.” – Sarah Johnson, Cat Cafe Enthusiast Cat cafes often collaborate with local rescue organizations to source their resident cats. The cats are carefully selected and screened for temperament and sociability to ensure they are suitable for the cafe environment. Once in the cat cafe, the cats have the freedom to interact with visitors, who can pet and play with them and even adopt them if they find a special bond. Visiting a cat cafe is not only a delightful experience for cat lovers but also provides vital support to animal rescue efforts. By enjoying a cup of coffee or other food and drink in these establishments, visitors contribute to the care, feeding, and veterinary expenses of the resident cats, allowing the cat cafe to continue its mission of finding loving homes for them. The Rise of Cat Cafes Around the World Cat cafes have been on the rise worldwide, with an increasing number of these unique establishments popping up in different countries. The first cat café originated in Taiwan in 1998 and gained significant popularity and quickly spread to Japan, where the first Japanese cat cafe opened its doors in 2005. Since then, the concept of cat cafes has become a global phenomenon, expanding to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Canada. So, what has contributed to the growing popularity of cat cafes around the world? One factor is the increasing number of people who consider themselves cat lovers and desire the opportunity to spend time in the company of these furry friends. As of 2022, 30% of US households own cats. Cat cafes provide a relaxed environment for both rescue cats and the 70% of people who might not be able to own cats. Furthermore, cat cafes offer a unique setting for potential cat owners to meet adoptable cats. These establishments collaborate with local rescue organizations to provide a temporary home for cats in need of adoption. The home-style environment allows cats to showcase their personalities and charm potential adopters more naturally and comfortably, increasing the likelihood of successful adoptions. The rise of cat cafes around the world is also driven by the increasing awareness of the benefits of pet companionship and the importance of animal welfare. Cat cafes serve as platforms to raise awareness about rescue organizations and the incredible work they do to save and rehome cats. By showcasing adoptable cats and providing information on responsible pet ownership, cat cafes play a significant role in promoting cat adoption and the overall well-being of felines. There are over 200 cat cafes and lounges in the United States. Country Number of Cat Cafes United States 200+ Japan 150+ United Kingdom 70+ Australia 40+ Canada 30+ As the popularity of cat cafes continues to grow, more and more countries are embracing this innovative concept. Cat lovers and those interested in cat adoption can now find these delightful establishments in various corners of the globe, creating opportunities for meaningful interactions with cats and supporting the mission of rescue organizations. Cat Cafes and Rescues: A Symbiotic Relationship Cat cafes and rescue organizations have formed a mutually beneficial relationship. These unique establishments serve as temporary homes for adoptable cats, creating a stress-free environment where cats can interact with potential adopters. These comfortable and natural interactions significantly increase the chances of finding permanent homes for these cats, as they allow adopters to develop a personal connection with the feline residents. Adoptable Cats at Cat Cafes One of the main attractions of cat cafes is the opportunity to meet

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Tomahawk Cat Trap Review

Tomahawk Cat Trap Review For years, Tomahawk has been the favorite cat trap of many experienced feral cat trappers. Its humane design prevents injury to cats, and its simple mechanism makes it easy to use. Tomahawk works closely with the nonprofit Neighborhood Cats to perfect the trap design and construction. With the cats and trappers in mind, Tomahawk is one of the most reliable and effective cat traps on the market. About Tomahawk Live Trap Tomahawk Live Trap Co. is a family-owned and operated business that has been in the live trap business for over 40 years. Founded by Bill and Sandy Mead, the Tomahawk Trap Company specializes in manufacturing the finest animal traps, cages, and animal handling equipment available. Tomahawk has a partnership with Neighborhood Cats and tests and designs based on feedback from TNR trappers in the field. TNR (trap, neuter, return) is the process of trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor home. We call them Community Cats! The company’s mission statement is: We aspire to exceed our customer’s expectations by providing them with the highest quality humane animal control products available. Our friendly, knowledgeable, professional staff will help inspire, educate, and problem-solve for our customers so they can effectively use our products. Tomahawk traps are manufactured in the USA with pride by their team in Northern Wisconsin. What types of traps does Tomahawk offer? Tomahawk offers several different types of feral cat traps, including drop traps, gravity traps, and spring-loaded traps. They also offer a full lineup of cat trap accessories, such as animal handling gloves, trap mats, and trap signs. Cat Trap Kits The cat trap kits include different kits, such as a drop trap and transfer cage, a trap and trap divider, and advanced kits that include remote control drop trap triggers. These cat trap kits range from $99 to $430. Cat Traps Tomahawk offers a full line up of cat traps. Drop traps, gravity traps, spring-loaded traps, and even a roundhouse trap. Be sure to get a trap with a rear door, and if you’re getting a drop trap, also get a transfer cage that fits the drop. Tomahawk gravity and spring-loaded traps range from $69 to $139. These Tomahawk traps are also known as the Neighborhood Cats gravity trap line. The best Tomahawk trap to get is the Neighborhood Cats 36-inch for $87.59. This trap is large enough for any size cat. Tomahawk drop traps range from $133 to $187. Cat Trap Accessories Trap accessories include trap dividers, locking clips, extra or replacement parts, food bowls, trap covers, trapping signs, and trap mats. They have pretty much everything you need if you’re running a TNR operation. Cat Transfer Cages and Dens A feral cat den can be used for transporting animals or to provide a quiet place to hide within larger holding cages. Cat dens also provide the option of letting a trapped cat enter the side port door by themselves without having to handle the cat directly. Their dens feature a locking side port door, a front sliding clear or tinted plexiglass door, and a comfortable carrying handle. Cat Handling Gloves The top-of-the-line feral cat handling glove is their ArmOR Hand Animal Handling Gloves. This glove is made of all synthetic materials and offers hand and arm coverage up to the elbow. It offers a tight fit and a lot of dexterity for fine motor skills. Its reinforced high-injury areas provide additional protection with a double-knit Kevlar. Cat handling sleeves and gloves range from $32 to $198. Trap strength and durability All Tomahawk products are backed by a one-year warranty against factory defects. Tomahawk traps are one of the strongest live traps available. Their patented construction features heavy-duty galvanized steel mesh with reinforced corners for extra strength and durability. The design also offers a secure locking mechanism to prevent cats from escaping once trapped. With quality and reliability, Tomahawk live traps offer the best and safest option for trapping animals. You won’t have to worry about broken or damaged traps often with this brand. How To Set A Tomahawk Cat Trap Setting a Tomahawk cat trap is incredibly easy. Whether you have a spring-loaded or gravity trap, all you do is lift the door and flip the latch that holds the door open. It’s always a good idea to test the trap before use. Make sure the trip plate activates correctly. Test the front door and back door mechanisms and make sure the trigger is functioning properly. Here’s a quick video showing how easy it is to set a cat trap. For additional trap options, check out our lineup of the best cat traps on the market.

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18 Donations Cat Rescues Need Most

18 Donations Cat Rescues Need Most Cat rescues and animal shelters are vital organizations that provide care and protection for stray, abandoned, and neglected animals. Many shelters and rescues rely heavily on generous donations from the community to provide for the needs of the animals in their care and in the community. It’s important to note that while rescues and shelters need supplies, they oftentimes can’t use broken or extremely dirty items or expired and dented cans of food. If you’re doing some house cleaning, consider donating the animal supplies that are in good condition that you no longer use. Most cat rescues and animal shelters will always need these items. Here are the 18 most common items that cat rescues request. Animal shelters constantly need donations to provide for the needs of the animals in their care. These supplies ensure the pets have the nutrition, comfort, stimulation, and medical care to stay healthy and happy while waiting for their forever homes. Different Types of Cat Rescue Organizations Cat rescues come in many forms, each with a dedicated purpose and mission. Some of the most common types of rescues are TNR programs, cat rescue groups, foster networks, animal shelters, and sanctuaries. Different rescues might need different supplies, but you can usually find an organization that can benefit from your donation. If you are a pet lover but can’t donate pet supplies or make a monetary donation, you can always volunteer at local animal shelters, participate in adoption events, or adopt a pet to your forever family!

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ShelterLuv Setup Guide

ShelterLuv Setup Guide Congratulations on signing up for the ShelterLuv animal shelter manager! Sometimes, setting up new software for the first time can be daunting. This article outlines how I set up my ShelterLuv account as a first-time user, and I let you know all the mistakes I made so you can avoid them! This ShelterLuv setup guide also acts as a checklist, and by the end of this guide, your account will be completely set up for your shelter or rescue! Logging In And Tutorials After weeks of animal shelter software comparisons, it’s finally time to log in! It took me 10 minutes to click my way through the tutorials and stumble my way to familiarity with the interface. After a few annoying techy issues, such as clicking buttons that didn’t work, I finally got to the browser configuration screen on the computer to get started. I didn’t find the tutorials to be particularly helpful unless I got stuck and needed to find a how-to. This guide will walk you through the setup process for your accounts and help you quickly and easily learn how to use your new ShelterLuv software. Step One: Configurations, Locations, and People Before you try to add any animals, just head to Settings and Configuration from the start. You’ll need to add Locations and People before assigning any Animals. I quickly filled out the My Organization details with a short description I grabbed from our website and added our shelter’s logo. I then added our shelter and foster locations to the Location Management section. Tip: Search for the name to add a Person Adding a Person is not obvious. You have to search for the name, and when there are no matches, you can add a new Person. Next, I added myself as a Person so I could assign cats to myself 🙂 I decided that I would finish other configurations later, such as creating adoption applications, setting up ShelterPay, and adding Partner organizations. Step Two: Adding your Cats Once I labeled a few things and created a few People, it was time to add an Animal! There is a lot of information you can add to the pet profile, but you can also skip many sections if you don’t have the information requested. I plan to have another team member add more to each cat’s profile since they have more specifics. To add an Animal, select a Person, then Add an Animal. I opened our Petfinder account and started copying cats over to ShelterLuv to get their profiles started. My shelter currently has 25 cats available for adoption, which means I’ll be creating a few profiles. At this point, it was worth a quick review of the FAQs to see if there was a bulk upload or import option. I did not see a bulk create Animal option. So, 24 more cat profiles to go! So far, it’s taken me about 2 minutes to enter each pet with basic information manually. Tip: Don’t DOA! After making about eight profiles, I noticed one of them was labeled as Deceased status. It’s taken me 15 minutes to figure out what I need to do to change the status. It appears I need to delete the animal profile, which also requires a few steps. Once I deleted the Outcome associated with the profile, I was able to delete it. It was a bit frustrating, but I learned how to do it. Ok, 17 more profiles to go! I’ll be sure to look out for the Live/Dead status from now on.. I just found out that in the first section, Intake Sub-type, I had selected Found by Public (DOA). Tip: Clone! After making another five or so, I noticed the Clone option, which saves another minute per profile creation. You can Close the previous record or a Super Clone, which allows you to create a number of identical records. I don’t know why this didn’t show up in my FAQ search. Hopefully, this tip saves you some time! Now that all your animals are added, the next steps will be to review more settings, configure adoption forms, and integrate ShelterLuv with Petfinder, AdoptAPet, and our website. Step Three: Back To ShelterLuv Account Configurations I decided to start at the top and work my way down through every tab, which is something I usually do with similar technologies. Under Age Groups, I added a Young Cat category for six months to two years. Two+ years old is an Adult Cat. I think kitties stay young until they are four or five, but for these records, two years old will suffice. Under Marketing, I added Petfinder to How did you hear about us? We receive a lot of inquiries through Petfinder, and I’m hoping ShelterLuv can help us get more out of AdoptAPet as well. I also changed TV and Radio to Google Search and Email or Newsletter, which are more applicable marketing channels for us. You can spend some time here to improve content as needed. Other features like payment services, meta products, Facebook, and optional cookies provide features you can build out, such as adoption ads and more cookies choices for a safer experience. You can improve meta products and the ad experience through ShelterLuv. Here are our resources for improving your adoption profiles and how to take great adoption pictures. Step Four: Uploads and Integrations Under My Organization’s Website, you can generate a widget for your website to display adoptable cats. Send this to your webmaster contact, or copy and paste it into a page on your website. You’ll need to request FTP information for AdoptAPet and Petfinder. They provide directions, which may include emailing support. There’s a GTM connection section. I’ll explore this further to see what data we can access. Under the Contract Manager, the Adoption Contract collects information about the organization and animals. There are also four basic policies the adopter agrees to. Digital Adoption Packets look pretty cool! These are resources you

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How To Take Great Cat Photos

How To Take Great Cat Photos Whether you are a cat lover looking to take better cat pictures of your indoor cuties or improve your cat photography skills for your animal shelter to help adoptions, this guide will give you tips on how to take great cat photos. Photographing cats is not easy. They move, cats don’t follow instructions very well, and they are furry, making lens tracking difficult. There are a few basic outcomes with great pet photography that will help your feline friend shine. Capture your cat’s face sharply and the cat’s eyes crisply. Great shots have bright sunlight or natural lighting and capture the cat’s behavior or showcase their personality. Cat Photography for Adoptions When it comes to finding a new home for a cat or kitten, having great photos and videos is crucial. With so many animals in need of adoption, it’s important to make your cat stand out and catch the eye of potential adopters. High-quality and intriguing photos and videos can help to showcase your cat’s unique personality and features, making them more appealing to potential adopters. Having great photos and videos can help potential adopters emotionally connect with your cat and help them understand what it would be like to live with them. Additionally, good photos and videos can help to increase the visibility of your cat’s profile, making it more likely to be seen by potential adopters. According to the shelter reports, the average length of stay for cats and kittens in shelters before being adopted is around two months. Improving your cat adoption profiles and photography can help speed up their time in the shelter and help them find the right forever home quickly. 21 Cat Photography Tips It’s important to know how to take good cat photos, which is essential in helping them find a loving home on adoption websites. Capturing the perfect shot of our feline friends can be a challenging feat. Good photography showcases their unique personality and physical traits and creates an emotional bond with potential adopters. Here are 21 cat photography ideas to enhance your cat photography skills. Photographing Difficult Cats Cats that are shy, skittish, or have a hard time staying still can be difficult to photograph. To get great photos of these types of cats, it’s important to be patient and take pictures often. Always have your camera ready and take more photos. Try to photograph cats when they are relaxed, sleeping, lounging, or loafing. You can also try using treats or toys to get the attention of a curious cat. Some cats, like black cats, are simply hard to see due to the lack of contrast from the cat’s fur. Bright lighting will really help to shine their coat and allow their facial features to stand out. You can also stage props and backgrounds to add effect and emotion to the pictures. If you’re really having trouble getting still photos of a black cat, try a video that will allow you to showcase other aspects of your kitty’s personality. Here Are Some Examples Of Great Cat Adoption Photos! Cat lovers take lots of photos of cats. Here are some better photos of cats that will hopefully inspire you to improve your cat photography and take the purrfect cat photo.

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How To Create A Great Cat Adoption Profile

How To Create A Great Cat Adoption Profile Creating a great cat adoption profile is crucial in helping your furry friend find a forever home. A well-crafted adoption profile can make all the difference in getting your cats and kittens noticed by potential adopters and increasing the chances of a quick and successful adoption. Having a great listing that is up-to-date, accurate, and has great photography will help your listing rise to the top of the searches, helping your cats get more views on their profile. A good listing will also help potential adopters connect with your cat emotionally and help them understand what it would be like to live with them. With so many cats and kittens in need of homes, it’s important to do everything you can to make your cat’s profile stand out and increase the chances of a successful adoption. Here are some tips for cat fosters or shelters on how to create an effective cat adoption profile that will stand out on websites like Petfinder or Adopt-A-Pet. Cat Adoption Profile Examples Here are a few examples of great cat adoption profiles. These follow the adoption profile template we outline below, with creative and personality-fitting Petfinder names, detailed and story-driven descriptions, and cute photography and videos. Name: Tatum Description: Meet Tatum! Little Tatum Tot is the full package. He’s a talkative and opinionated cat who loves to engage with humans. He’s absolutely gorgeous! He’s a strong young male cat who enjoys being active and exploring. Tatum is incredibly loving and a total companion cat. He is a lap cat, a shoulder cat, and a cuddler, and you can even dress him up in outfits for the holidays! He’ll follow you around the house and then sit next to you on the couch. He loves feather toys, scratchers, and laser points. He says he prefers to have his own space to do his activities without other pets bugging him all the time. He might be an introvert.. Tater is FIV positive, which means he is immunocompromised and should have a healthy diet and safe indoor life. If you’ve made it this far, then you can tell that there’s something special about Tatum. There is! This kitty is ready to thrive and make someone very, very happy. He will make a great friend and active companion. He’s totally a cool dude! Name: Dusty Description: Dusty is a gorgeous kitten who is extremely cuddly and melts in your arms. She is great with other cats and kittens and will be perfect as a companion to a lonely cat. Dusty has medium-length hair but keeps herself perfectly groomed! Name: Tokka Description: Meet Tokka! Tokka was born in an outdoor cat colony, but she’s incredibly friendly and ready to be indoor-only. She’s playful, talkative, feisty, and cuddly. She has it all! Tokka may cause cuteness overload! Her cuteness is overwhelming and may cause you to fall down due to excessive cute kitten behavior. Tokka has an adorable wide face and is very expressive. She will tell you about everything you did wrong with a single glare! Contact us today and ask about Tokka. This cute monster won’t last long! Name: Bebop Description: Meet Bebop! This incredibly friendly kitty is transitioning to become an indoor-only cat and looking for a new home. He’s a member of an outdoor cat colony and was, unfortunately, probably an abandoned kitty. He’s very friendly, a lap cat, and a shoulder cat! This kitty is one of a kind! Be sure to check out all his videos online because he’s a bit of a social influencer already. You’ll probably need to make him his own instacats profile or website to showcase all his crazy antics 🙂 He should go to an active family. Check out our other videos of Bebop on Instagram and YouTube @trapandreturn. Name: Skeletor Description: Outta my way, can’t you see I’m playin’ here! Ok, let’s do a quick cuddle break, but then I want to play some more. I’m very social, I have a lot of other cat friends, and I like to live my own life. I also have a lot of nicknames because I’m such a cool-looking cat! I like to play ball and catch, which is my favorite thing. I would come play for you if you would be my forever home! Cat Adoption Profile Template Here is an effective pet adoption template and tips for a Petfinder profile or animal bio that will help showcase all your pet’s best features. From a cute profile picture to a compelling description that leaves the reader feeling like they already have a new best friend, these profile tips and ideas will help your little guy find the perfect match and new family. Take Great Photos And Videos First impressions are everything, and a great photo is the first thing that potential adopters will see when they come across your pet’s profile. Make sure to take multiple photos, including close-ups of their face and full-body shots. It’s also a good idea to take photos of your cats doing something they love, such as playing with a toy or cuddling with you, as this can help potential adopters see their personality and what it would be like to live with them. Petfinder allows you to load six photos, or five photos and one video. Load as many high-resolution photos as you can. If you have a few good ones, avoid loading poor-quality photos and only use the good ones. Here are 21 more ways to take great cat adoption photos! Write A Compelling Description The next step is to write a compelling and heartfelt description of your pet. Start by introducing your pet and giving its name, age, breed, and sex. You don’t need to have great writing skills to make a nice pet profile. You can even use Chat GPT or other AI writing tools to help you! Writing the description in 1st person tone is another way to make the profile

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TNR Certification Program

TNR Certification Program Are you considering a TNR certification? On August 7, 2022, I attended the Community Cats Podcast and Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Program, and here are a few things you’ll learn. First, it was a great presentation and training program! It was 2.5 hours on a Caturday with one scheduled break. It was easy to follow, the pace moved along nicely, and it was loaded with actionable tips and pointers for helping feral and stray cats. I also felt that by the end of the program and TNR training, I was well-equipped to start rescuing cats. Who Should Take A TNR Certification Program? Trap, neuter, return (TNR) certification is for anyone interested in learning about or getting better at rescuing cats, caring for community cats, and colony management. A TNR certification workshop can be beneficial for beginners and experienced trappers. There were a few initial survey questions and an interactive format that helped us understand who else was in the audience. 57% of the participants had never trapped a cat before, while the other half of the participants were active trappers and TNR activists. What Do You Learn In A TNR Certification Program? The program began by defining what Colony Cats are, What TNR is, What the benefits of TNR are, and what the alternatives to TNR are for managing feral cats. Colony cats definition: Colony cats share the same food supply and territory. There are all levels of socialization in entire colonies, but these cats are not traditional pets. What Is TNR? The goal is to TNR the entire colony of cats. In this section, you’ll get an overview and see video footage of actual projects for the following topics. Benefits Of TNR You might need to explain what you’re doing to the neighbors, so it’s important to know about some of the benefits of TNR. Failed Alternatives To TNR We’ve tried a lot of failed alternatives to TNR as a way to manage and care for community cats. Here are a few things that don’t work. How To TNR The TNR certification program went into great detail about how to conduct TNR, from trapping a single cat to catching an entire colony. Workshop attendees received extensive handouts about local and national animal care from the workshop’s executive director. Step 1: Community Relations How To Communicate With The Community How To Deter Cats From Certain Areas Over time, the cats will learn and be trained not to come into the yard. Step 2: Establish A Feeding Pattern Step 3: Make Preparations For Trap Day Step 4: Trapping Feral and Stray Cats Here are some steps and tips the TNR certification program covers. Step 5: Recovery Period The recovery period for post-operation spaying and neutering. Step 6: Return The Cats Release and return the cats back to their outdoor home. Step 7: Monitoring Colony Cats Managing and colony care is crucial in maintaining healthy and happy cats. Here are four affordable wet foods for feeding feral cats: Thanks for considering the Community Cats Podcast and Neighborhood Cats TNR Project and Workshop. We hope you join our ongoing Facebook group with our national programs director and follow other TNR activists to gain access to an incredible network of information and support.

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Best Cat Trap

Best Cat Trap If you’ve come across some stray cats or a community cat colony, then you might need a good cat trap. Our team of TNR and cat rescue experts have used all types of traps in a variety of real-life settings. In this review, we’ll outline what you need in a humane trap and what the best cat traps might be for your situation. TNR, or trap, neuter, return, is the process of caring for feral and stray cats by ensuring they are fixed, vaccinated, and evaluated for friendliness. The process of catching feral cats involves using a humane cat trap. TNR programs are usually run by local volunteers and animal advocates and may be able to let you borrow a cat trap and show you how to set it. Contact your local cat rescue for details. We reviewed the most popular traps for catching cats and TNR. Here’s a list of the top cat traps: Tru Catch, Tomahawk, Havahart, drop traps, and DIY traps. Two Requirements For Cat Traps There are two things each traditional trap should have. First, the trap should be big enough for the cat you’re trying to catch, which is usually at least 30 inches in length. Keep in mind that the cat will stay in the trap for a few days, so it should be tall and spacious enough for them. Second, it should have a rear door which makes managing a feral cat in a cage much easier. Three Types Of Humane Cat Traps Depending on the situation and your availability of traps, there are three different types of humane traps you can use to catch cats. Spring-loaded traps, gravity traps, or drop traps. In addition, many traps also come in small animal or kitten sizes. Spring Loaded Traps Spring-loaded traps are the original type of trap. A wire is stretched across the opening, and when the cat steps on the trigger, the door slams shut. The downside to these traps is that the spring-loaded door slams fast and loud and can scare the cat and other cats. There is also a risk of injuring smaller cats or kittens as the door slams shut. Spring-loaded cat traps are a bit easier to set than gravity traps and off a bit more all-around versatility. Gravity Traps Gravity traps are newer on the market and use a trigger plate to drop the door. You can tell a gravity trap by the rings that slide the door rather than a spring door that snaps shut. These traps are generally considered to be safer since there is less risk of the door slamming shut too hard. They are also quieter than spring-loaded traps. Gravity traps can be a bit harder to set and not as easy to use for beginner trappers. However, after a few practices, you’ll get the hang of it quickly. The doors also don’t have locks, so extra locks or carabiners are usually needed. Check out our Gravity Cat Trap video here! Drop Traps Drop traps work really well for catching many cats at once or sick, injured, or shy cats. Whereas a box trap must be manually triggered as the cat enters, drop traps are manually operated, and you determine when to spring the trap. Drop traps allow trappers to capture multiple cats at once, making them a highly efficient tool for colony trapping. One downside of the drop trap is that they often require more space to operate, and you must have flat ground otherwise, the cat can escape underneath. You’ll also need to separate the cats with a transfer cage so you can transport them. Tomahawk Live Traps Our favorite Tomahawk cat trap is the Tomahawk GT606. It’s a quiet and reliable gravity trap that fits any size cat. Tomahawk traps are also simple to set and have two locking doors for easy access to your cat. The best cat trap is one of the Neighborhood Cats line of Tomahawk traps. Many experienced trappers will say the Tomahawk trap is the best cat trap, especially for those new to trapping. It’s easy to set and has a large front door opening, making it ideal for catching larger cats. It also has a rear-release door, so you can let the cat out once it’s been spayed or neutered. Tomahawk works closely with advocates at Neighborhood Cats and is constantly working to perfect the trap. This is also known as the Neighborhood Cats gravity trap and is one of the best humane cat traps. Tru Catch Cat Traps The Tru Catch Feral Cat Trap is a favorite among trappers for its durability and ease of use. The trigger plate (or trip plate) is sensitive enough to catch even the smallest kitten yet large enough to hold an adult cat. It also has a built-in safety feature to prevent animals from being caught by the trap door. Tru Catch traps are gravity lock traps and are relatively quiet. Tru Catch traps also have a sliding rear door. The Tru Catch Fat Cat 30FCD is one of the largest feral cat traps on the market. The large size and powder coating make it a very versatile and durable trap. The Tru Catch Fat Cat trap is also large enough for a small litter box which makes it convenient for post-op recovery for a trapped cat. Our favorite Tru Catch cat trap is the 30LTD, which is the most versatile and covers all the bases. However, some trappers say the large size is too bulky for frequent trapping as it takes up a lot of space and might be harder to place. Havahart Live Traps The Havahart (pronounced Have-A-Heart) is a standard animal trap with a spring-loaded door. We recommend the Large 2-Door trap for TNR or cat rescue purposes. The Havahart traps on Amazon are the cheapest of the three top brands. If you only plan to catch a few cats, this would be your least expensive but effective option. Drop Traps Drop traps are often preferred if you are trapping in

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Best Animal Shelter Software – 2025 Review

Best Animal Shelter Software – 2025 Review If your animal rescue is evaluating shelter, kennel, or volunteer software, we have you covered with our analysis of the top programs your team should consider. In this review, we’ll cover what a top animal shelter software program does, outline the features, and compare pricing to help you find the right management software solution for your shelter. What Types Of Animal Shelter Software Are There? Nonprofits, humane societies, SPCAs, animal control agencies, animal services organizations, and rescue groups use a variety of shelter and animal management software. Organizations may use digital programs to manage volunteers, fundraising, donors, accounting, and animals. In this animal management software review, we’re focusing on animals and volunteers, primarily for cat rescue and cat shelter facilities. For other situations and needs, there may be other animal management software that will work better. The top animal shelter management software programs for cat rescues are: ShelterLuv Review ShelterLuv is an animal shelter management software that manages animals, people, and programs. It’s sponsored by Maddie’s Fund, Best Friends, and a few local animal welfare organizations. The ShelterLuv shelter software supports physical shelters, foster-based programs, and field and community services. ShelterLuv also offers a donation boost program that helps you maximize donations with every interaction. ShelterLuv charges $2.00 per pet adoption and offers a 14-day free trial of the service. ShelterLuv Features: Homepage Video – Mobile Checkout and Donation Boost How-To Video – Self-Guided Tour + Donation Boost ShelterLuv is so easy to use, this is the only video you should need. The home base page has four tabs: Animals, People, Partners, and Transactions. Videos – Take-A-Tour ShelterLuv Review Conclusion ShelterLuv is a pretty comprehensive animal and people shelter manager. There is a $2 per adoption fee, but they offer a way to accept donations, which should cover the fee and generate additional revenue for your rescue. Overall, this is an intuitive animal management software that is a great choice for most animal shelters and animal rescue groups. Here is our setup guide for ShelterLuv, which covers the initial configurations you’ll do after you sign up. RescueGroups Review RescueGroups is a free rescue management software that any rescue could consider. They offer the ability to display adoptable animals on your website and push them automatically to all your pet adoption sites like Petfinder and Adopt a Pet. You can’t easily do that without software, and this is free, looks easy to use, and is designed to empower animal welfare organizations. The RescueGroups website is helpful with several videos to help you understand their services. They are a 501c3, which is always nice, and they offer free and low-cost services that are all rescue-focused. RescueGroups is a 501c3 nonprofit, and they created this service specifically to support other rescue groups and animal control facilities. They currently work with 6,000+ partners. RescueGroups offers a free animal rescue software and low-cost marketing services. RescueGroups Features Video of The Top 4 Services: A nonprofit animal welfare organization working for nonprofits and keeping costs low. Web-based services and cloud-based software allow you to access data anywhere. Main service – Pet Adoption Portal, which is free! For better adoption photos, check out our resources for how to take great photos and videos for your adoptables. RescueGroups Review Conclusion The services are limited in scope to the pet adoption portal and website and marketing support services. This software also seems limited just to animal management and doesn’t offer much for foster or volunteer management. The pet adoption portal is free, so this software would be great for nonprofit startups and new shelter rescue groups. The animal shelter software cost is free with additional paid marketing features. The website is helpful and informative about their services. Their support uses a ticketing system, which looks inconvenient. They have an easy signup feature that will automatically create an account for your rescue. Pawlitics Review Pawlytics is an cloud based animal shelter management software for animals and people. It offers you a centralized animal database, and management of your animal and organization’s records, and it provides forms and applications to make intake and adoptions easier. Pawltics charges $1 per adoption and offers a free 14-day trial. The website has a live chat feature, but I don’t see a dedicated support page so it’s likely a virtual it department. Pawlytics is a startup with a fun entrepreneurial story and punny brand personality. Pawlytics Features There are also several other services and features listed as Coming Soon. Pawlytics has a Blog with monthly posts that also feature their recent press. The pricing page has a video featuring the Founder and CEO Lizz Whitacre. They strive to be an extension of your team! Pawlytics Review Conclusion Pawlytics is a newer cloud-based software that seems to do a good job of the basics for managing animal records, health records, and medical history. They have new features coming soon, like the ability to create custom forms and digital application forms, which will likely make this a more robust shelter management software for advanced shelters. If you are looking for an alternative to ShelterLuv, Pawlytics would be a great choice. Doobert Review It was a bit difficult to figure out what they offer since they do a few things. I spent quite a bit of time on their website, and Doobert is software designed specifically for transportation coordination, foster communication, and volunteers for smaller rescue groups. It also allows you to develop a network or coalition of supporters or other rescues. The Doobert Fact Sheet was the best summary of the services I found. There are two ways to sign up for Doobert; you can make a Volunteer account or an Organization account. Doobert has over 5,300 registered organizations and 35,000+ volunteers. They also work with animal care organizations like Dallas Pets Alive! and Spay Neuter Network. Doobert Features Doobert’s program features three main areas. The Doobert Community (Volunteers), the Store, and their shelter software. I found this video, How Doobert

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