Put the fish in the trap, of course! What are your plans after trapping him? He could be very wild, might even bite or scratch you.

First, make sure the trap you're using is for cats and not a smaller animal. There are several sites online that give advice on humane trapping but here is a useful one: http://www.feralcat.com/trapinst.html

I would place the trap in the feeding area, without setting it, for a couple of days so the cat gets used to it. When he seems comfortable around it set the trap at least an hour before you think he's going to show up. Then wait out of sight to see if he enters the trap.

If the area you're feeding him in gets busy or has a lot of traffic, try feeding him a quieter, more secure area. Be prepared to spend a few hours waiting to catch him and checking the trap. Do not leave the trap for an extended period of time and if you don't catch him the first day, then close up the trap and try again the next.

If this is an active construction site, talk to a few of the guys there and find out what they know about the cat. Also let them know that you're going to attempt to catch it.......they may be of help.

I have just one thing to add to what annzgw said, and that is to bring a small blanket or large towel to cover the top and long sides of the trap after you've trapped the cat - it helps to calm the cat. Leave the short ends uncovered for air circulation.

Thank you for sharing your great advice! I did not think of bringing the unset trap with me and feeding him with it near me.

The trap we'll be using is loaned out for free by a vet clinic. Covering part of the trap with a towel is a great idea too.

Not sure if Prince is feral. There are a lot of apartments and condos near the construction site (Waikiki) so I'm thinking that he got out or was abandoned in a move. There are three organizations here that offer low cost "fixing" so will take care of that first. I can't imagine releasing him back to the construction site since he lives alone! That would make us so sad, especially since he already has our family ready to love him.

Well, first things first. Wish us luck on trapping our Prince!

You're going to do great! Prince is lucky to have you. Please let us know how it goes.

I'm sure you will do fine trapping Prince, I agree with eaga, Prince is lucky to have you, I think you found him for a reason. Best Wishes..

Thank you for caring about this little guy! Have you taken a look at missingpetpartnership.org - there's a wealth of info about lost cat behavior incl. trapping. Until you get the trap out you might leave food/water out for him in a hidden place so he stays in the area.

He's definitely lost or displaced - could have been chased by a dog, got loose during a move, who knows. If he was feral you would not see him and he would not approach. Some tame cats can even go into feral mode when they're lost, so the fact that he's letting you see him and get close is very encouraging - he's probably a big sweetie at home. If you haven't already done so you might want to see if anyone's missing a cat (craigslist, lost cat listings at your local shelter, posters etc) just in case there's someone out there heartsick over the loss of their cat.

Its true theres some heartless people who would dump a cat, but it does happen all too often through no fault of anyone's that the cat gets lost. Of course being sure to screen anyone claiming the cat to make sure it really is their cat - withhold one piece of identifying information (markings, broken fang, kink in tail etc.) Ask them to send a photo of the cat so you can compare.

Local help:

http://www.hicat.org/HCF/FeralProblem.html

http://hawaiianhumane.org/Feral-Cat-Sterilizations.html

Nationally known group with great expertise:

http://www.alleycat.org/Trap-Neuter-Return

THANK YOU for helping homeless cats.

Success!

Following the advice you all generously shared, we set the trap yesterday afternoon and when we went back in the evening, there he was.

He must still be in fright-mode because we still haven't heard him meow. I brought him to the vet this morning and he was neutered, chipped, administered a 3-way intranasal vaccination, had his teeth cleaned and treated with a dosage of Revolution. I will need to wait a couple of days to hear the results of the Feline leukemia and FIV blood test.

Here is what startled me. Vet said Prince is between 6 and 12 years old!! I didn't think strays could survive that long on the outside. I knew he looked scruffy but I thought that was because he was homeless!

So, he is resting now in his own private room with all the accouterments of a precious kitty. We are crossing our fingers on the blood test. For now, we are happy to be providing him a safe home.

Oh, such a nice story and WOW you gave him the high-end care (chipped & a dental)!

However, have to LOL, the poor guy must be thinking..."after 6-12 years they get cut off..."

Great news!
Even if he is older he might not have been a stray all of his life.

Hooray!!!!!!

Wonderful,what a great ending :>)

What a delightful story with a happy ending! Here's to you and your "Prince" and a long happy life together.

This thread is NO GOOD without a photo!!

Good for you!

Glad you are doing right by the cat.

I didn't get the enthusiasm for putting the unset trap in place to accustom the cat to its presence... I would have put the set trap there to allow him to become accustomed OR catch him. I don't see the cat figuring out whether the trap was set or not set.

Just Sayin'.

Good on you... hope the cat can become "tame."