We Built Our Own!

Several people have built their own drop traps.

You folks are awesome - nice hustle! May your
trapping efforts be fruitful!

Nov 19, 2014

Hi, Laura. I spoke with you on the phone a couple of months ago asking some 

questions about constructing a folding drop trap. My brother built me a folding 
drop trap based on one The Hundred Cat Foundation bought from you back in 2008 

trapped with it just this past weekend.
or 2009. I said I'd send a photo and here it is, with the very first cat I 

This was a female that has had two litters this year and wouldn't go into a 

trap her. She got spayed this past Monday and there will no more kittens from 
regular box trap due to some mess ups by the caregivers who tried repeatedly to 
her!

My brother used heavier wood and accidentally made it 18 inches tall instead of 

Feel free to use this photo if you'd like for any purpose that is helpful to the 
14 inches, so it's a heavy trap, around 32 pounds. It's awesome though, worked 
well, and I can't thank you enough for making some of your measurements and 
supplies available. 

TNR cause!

Best,
Leslie Jackson (State College, PA)

www.HundredCats.org
The Hundred Cat Foundation, Inc.

Sarah http://picasaweb.google.com/SKPollock/DropTrap#

Albuqeurque, NM (more photo's...)

This Far Side cartoon illustrates (in part)

that drop traps are not new.





This is the simplest non-folding droptrap - made of plastic deer netting and PVC pipe.  Cable ties fasten the netting at the corners and to the frame.  Can't see how the door is fastened (I think it's bolted to the frame, at the bottom) but you could possibly staple the netting to the door frame - staples would be okay in that location.  I like the way the stiffness of the netting holds it upright - the cats get MORE upset if the netting lands on them.  (the netting may droop over time - see the smaller picture).  There's no anchor flap, and not much framing to add weight, so if you had a very energetic tomcat, or several cats inside, be prepared for the trap to move quite a bit!  Up and down, and potentially, taking off down the street. 
Critique:  I'd suggest a shorter propstick - no need to prop it higher than the cats' eye level - it just takes longer to drop.  Also, these folks don't appear to cover the droptrap once there's a cat inside - it really helps speed up the transfer if you do.  You're standing over the trap with a very panicked cat in it.  He might eventually figure out that he can "hide" in the covered box trap - but if he'll be less panicked if the trap is covered, and he'll instinctively go for the light at the end of the "tunnel" (the box trap with a towel placed only over top and sides).
thanks to Peninsula Cat Works!!

7/18/2018, a non-folding trap from Bob B, in California: 
"Everything went like clockwork, and I caught a cat that I'd been trying to catch with regular traps for 5 years!"