A dog tearing into garbage bags at night, or cats breeding in a yard, farm or warehouse and leaving droppings, smell and noise: it is a common problem in neighbourhoods, farms and facilities. The lasting fix does not start with a trap. It starts with finding out what draws these animals to the place, and cutting that off first.
This guide explains why stray dogs and cats gather, how to keep them away, when you need a live trap, and how to choose the right size and use it safely and humanely.
Main cause: available food and water: open garbage bags, food scraps and uncovered water containers.
Common mistake: feeding stray animals and then complaining that they gather. Regular feeding anchors them to the place and increases their numbers.
First step: remove food and shelter and close entry points before any trap.
When you need to catch: a live trap of the right size for the animal, checked regularly, with the caught animal handled according to local regulations.
Warning: never use poisons or lethal baits on dogs and cats. They endanger children, pets and birds, and may break the law.
Why do stray dogs and cats gather in a place?
Animals stay where they find what they need. The cause is usually one or more of the following:
- Food: open garbage bins, food scraps, or bags left outside the bin.
- Water: leaks, basins and uncovered containers, especially in hot months.
- Shelter: under cars, storerooms, low roofs, rubble and gaps under floors.
- Deliberate feeding: it anchors the animal and attracts others.
- Rats and mice: they are food for cats, so an infestation draws cats in. See Getting Rid of Rats and Mice.
Are stray dogs and cats dangerous?
Not all of them are aggressive, but large numbers cause clear problems:
- Health: they can carry diseases such as rabies and parasites, so never touch an unknown animal.
- Scratches and bites: wash the wound immediately and see a doctor.
- Contamination: droppings, smell and scattered garbage.
- Damage: torn bags, damaged plants, irrigation lines and cables.
- Disturbance: barking and fights at night, and attacks on poultry and young livestock on farms.
What should you do first?
- Identify the animal: dog or cat, how many, calm or aggressive, and whether it has young.
- Watch the times and route: usually at night or dawn and through a particular opening.
- Cut the attractions: food, water and shelter.
- Close entry points: fence gaps, gates and the space under storerooms.
- If the problem continues: consider a live trap.
How to keep stray dogs and cats away
- Tightly closed garbage bins: raised or fixed in place, and emptied regularly.
- Do not leave pet food outside overnight.
- Fence the place and repair gaps: preferably with a solid lower part on the fence.
- Clear rubble and stacked timber: they make ideal shelter.
- Close gaps under storerooms and outbuildings with metal mesh.
- Motion-activated lighting: it makes animals less bold about approaching at night.
- Fix water leaks: and dry damp areas.
- Household repellents and smells: their effect is temporary and not guaranteed, so do not rely on them alone.
When do you need a trap?
Use a live trap when the problem continues despite removing food and shelter, when the animal is aggressive or injured, when it threatens children, livestock or poultry, or when it keeps entering a facility or farm. A live trap holds the animal without injuring it, and it is then handed to the relevant authority under local regulations.
Types of traps and how to choose the size
- Small cat trap: a metal cage suited to ordinary and small stray cats.
- Large cat trap: for big cats, large males and other medium animals.
- Medium dog trap: a cage with an automatic closing door for medium-sized dogs.
- Large dog trap: for large dogs that the medium cage cannot hold.
- Large mesh trap: wide netting for open spaces and farms, suited to cases where a dog will not enter a cage.
The rule: the animal must enter the cage completely and stand comfortably without touching the door. If the size is tight, the animal will not enter, and if it is too tight, the animal can be hurt.
How to use the trap safely
- Choose the spot: on the animal's usual route, on level, quiet ground.
- Prepare the bait: a strong smell the animal likes, such as wet food, cooked chicken or fish, placed inside the cage away from the door.
- Set the door mechanism: and check it moves before you leave.
- Reduce movement around the trap: and cover part of it with cloth so it looks calmer.
- Check it regularly: never leave the animal held for long hours, especially in heat.
- Handle with care: wear thick gloves and never put your hand in the cage.
- Hand the animal to the relevant authority: under local regulations.
Common mistakes
- Setting the trap before removing other food sources, so the animal ignores it.
- Choosing a size that is too small for the animal.
- Leaving the trap in direct sun without shade.
- Forgetting to check it for many hours.
- Using poisons or lethal baits.
- Handling the caught animal by hand without protection.
- Releasing the animal in another residential area, which only moves the problem.
What to do after catching the animal
Never leave the caught animal in the trap, and never treat it harshly. Contact the authority responsible for stray animals in your area and hand it over under local regulations. Then clean and disinfect the trap before reusing it, and keep watching the place to make sure the causes that attracted the animal have been removed.
Products from the Orkida Store
We start by cutting off food and shelter, then use a live trap when needed, in the right size for the animal.
- ProCatch Small Stray Cat Trap Black 68.5×30×25 cm: a size for small and ordinary stray cats, with a galvanized metal cage and an automatically closing door.
- ProCatch Large Stray Cat Trap 82 x 30 x 35 cm Black: for large cats and relatively larger animals that the small cage does not suit.
- ProCatch Medium Stray Dog Cage Trap 127×48×60 cm Black: a cage for medium-sized dogs, with an automatic closing door and a rust-resistant galvanized frame.
- ProCatch Large Stray Dog Trap 160 x 50 x 55 cm: for large dogs, with a wide cage that lets the animal stand comfortably until it is moved.
- ProCatch Mesh Dog Trap 165×240 cm: a wide mesh trap for open spaces and farms, portable and reusable.
Frequently asked questions
Does a live trap hurt the animal?
No, if the right size is chosen, the trap is checked regularly, and the animal is not left in it for long or in the sun.
What bait suits cats and dogs?
Wet food with a strong smell, cooked chicken or fish, placed inside the cage away from the door.
Should I release the animal far from home?
This is not advised, because it moves the problem to another neighbourhood. Hand it to the relevant authority under local regulations.
Do household repellents work on their own?
Their effect is temporary and limited, and they work better alongside removing food and closing entry points.
How do I deal with a cat that has kittens?
Do not separate the mother from her kittens at random. Wait until they grow, or contact the authority responsible for animals.
What if a stray animal bites me?
Wash the wound with soap and water for several minutes and see a doctor immediately.
If the problem is large or keeps coming back, visit your nearest Orkida branch with a photo or a description of the animal and the place, and we will point you to the right trap.