Cat in the attic !!

19 years ago

Oh, woe is me.

Two days ago, I discovered a cat in my attic.

I have seen this cat before. It comes into my yard from time to time to "see" my four cats. I never run it off, but it takes off when it sees me.

My Sassy was outside when a storm came, so I left the back door opened slightly. She always returns when the storm lets up a bit.

This has to be how 'it' got inside my attic.

Today is day four.

Every time I go into the attic, it runs from me and hides where some of the old floorboards are open.

I know I cannot coax it out.

Are there any ideas for getting it out?? Sounds, smells, etc.

I am about at my wits' end over this.

karen

Featured Answer

laurief_gw

19 years ago

Easy fix. Call around to find a live trap you can borrow or rent (animal control, humane societies, shelters, wildlife services). Once you get the live trap, bait it with no more than 1/2 small can of fish flavored canned cat food, warmed up to make it really smelly. Place the trap in a corner of your attic, if possible, so that two of the trap's sides are against walls (that'll make it more difficult for the cat to simply circle around the trap instead of going inside). Cover the top and remaining side with a light blanket, making sure to push the blanket away from the door end so that it won't interfere with the action of the trap door.

Then leave the attic and don't go back for at least 6 hrs unless you hear the trap shut. If you keep going in to check on it frequently, the cat will go into deeper hiding and may not enter the trap at all.

Assuming you have put food and water in the attic for the cat, remove the food and place the water bowl right in front of the trap door so that he will have to enter the trap to eat.

If the cat has never been caught in a trap before, he'll probably go into it pretty quickly. If he has been caught before, he may not go into the trap at all. It's important that you set the trap up correctly the first time, because you may not get a second chance if the trap doesn't close properly. Make sure you understand exactly how to set the trap up downstairs before you take it up to the attic.

Good luck!

Laurie

BTW, if you borrow the trap from wildlife services, make sure to hose it off thoroughly before bringing it up to the attic. The cat may not want to enter a trap with wild animal smells all over it.

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Comments (6)

sally2_gw
19 years ago
Set up a humane trap with tuna in it. If you've been giving it food and water, withhold the food for a day, so it's good and hungry, then set the trap. It won't take long to catch it. I don't know what to tell you to do with the cat once you've caught it, though. Oh, take it to be fixed, that's what to do. ;-)

Sally
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Rudebekia
19 years ago
Karen--I had a similar situation once. A neighbor's big fat tom cat used to roam the neighborhood and come to "visit" my two inside cats. One day I had the back door open to move a few items into the garage. Evidently the cat snuck in and went into the basement. I didn't know this had happened. About three days later I was working in the basement and reached into a shelf covered by a cloth. You can imagine how I jumped when I heard a hiss and felt fur!! Poor guy, he was down there three days with no food and water--and never went went to the bathroom the whole time. I got him out by managing to throw a bath towel over him and grab him, hissing and spitting, run up the stairs and toss him out the back door. I've never seen a cat move so fast toward home.

I have two suggestions. You should do something very soon as the guy has been without water and food for awhile and, of course, you want him out of the attic. First, have you tried to gently coax it out by putting down some stinky food like tuna and waiting until he comes to you? If this doesn't work--and it probably won't because the cat is terrified--can you first put something over the hole in the loose boards (which is what I think you stated) so that he can't hide in it? Or cover any other hiding place? Close the attic door behind you, and then try to corner the cat by holding a big towel or blanket to wrap him in. Having another person (or two) help you with this would be best. Another option is to borrow a live trap--you can sometimes borrow these from the humane society. Bait it with a can of tuna, go away for a few hours, and the cat will be caught. If these options don't work or you don't want to try them, call Animal Control.
Rudebekia
19 years ago
Hi Karen--any progress in getting poor kitty out of the attic? Keep us updated.
Unknown Gamer
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Karen, the first question I have to ask is. Is it small or does it look light? If so try to go in the attic and grab the cat under his or her belly,(obiosly try to pet the cat first to get him or her used to you) then after you have the cat what you need to do is give him or her some food to make it comfertable. Then either get a collar for him so you can have him, or if he already has a collar then call the number that is on it and give it back. If that doesnt work then try something else creative. Mg is stuck in the attic and he won't let me help him down. Good luck Karen

Unknown Gamer
woodnative
10 years ago
Unkown Gamer the last post on this thread was from 2007. If she hasn't gotten the cat out by now she has probably given up. It may have very well died of old age by now......