tips for catching a stray kitten

I am so stressed out. I found a little stray kitten behind my apartment building and I have been leaving out some wet food for it. It eats the food but the second I get within ten feet, it bolts into the bushes. I really want to catch it because I am worried about the cars and the other cats in the neighborhood. Does anyone have tips for catching a stray kitten that is afraid of people? I have Taco at home who is sick so I can't just bring it in without a plan, but I feel like I need to do something.

Hello Kelly. It is very kind of you to be trying to help this kitten. Please note that I am not a veterinarian, but based on experience with my own cats like Whiskers and Daisy, you should not bring a stray into contact with your resident pets immediately. There is a thread on Protocol for bringing in a new stray that outlines the isolation period you need. But for the catching part, patience is key. Do not try to grab it. The kitten needs to associate you with safety, not fear.

Oh my god, this is so hard to watch. I did something similar with Kiwi when she was a kitten (well, she was a rescue but she was super skittish at first). I think the food type matters a lot. I used to read that strong-smelling food works better. I tried different wet foods and the one with the strong fish smell got her to come closer. You might want to check out Feeding a very shy kitten to see what others have tried for placement. I am not sure if that helps with actual catching though, just getting them to stay near the food longer.

I don't have time for long explanations but basically you need a trap. Just grabbing is dangerous for you and the cat. I used a humane box trap for my Luna when we first got her and it was the only way. You bait it with food. Set it up. Wait. It is not complicated. Look at the pinned thread Pinned: How to Humanely Trap a Feral Cat that the mods put up. It has links to where to rent or buy one. Do not skip the vet visit either, see Vet visit checklist for strays for what you need to get done once you have it.

I am currently feeding a shy stray cat at my apartment complex and it is similar to what you are describing. I eventually managed to get close enough to take photos but I still haven't caught it. I found a thread about my experience in Finally caught the shy stray next door that might have some specific tricks for the approach. I think sitting on the ground far away and just talking softly helped my cat a little, but it took weeks. Maybe try that before the trap?

Thank you all. The trap idea makes sense because I am afraid of getting scratched. I will look at the pinned thread to see how to get one. I also read the isolation protocol and I am glad I checked that because I was just going to put it in the bedroom with Taco. I will try the strong-smelling food suggestion too. It is just really lonely for that kitten out there so I hope it goes quickly.

You are doing the right thing, Kelly. It is good that you checked the isolation rules. If you decide to use the trap, make sure you cover the top with a towel to make it less scary inside. That is a common tip in the trapping guides. Let us know how it goes. And please keep Taco separated until the vet clears the new kitten.