trapping feral cats behind a barn

I'm helping a neighbor with their barn colony. There are about six cats and they are very wary. I need to trap them for TNR. The barn is dark and dusty, and the floor is dirt. I'm worried about the traps tipping over or the cats digging under them. What is the best way to secure a trap in that kind of environment?

Oh no, that sounds stressful. My Koda is still shaking when I open the carrier door. I feel for you dealing with six of them at once. Are you using the standard box traps? I read somewhere that you can put a heavy brick on top of them to keep them from tipping if a cat jumps in hard. I hope it goes smoothly for you.

I would be too scared to even go near a barn. My Pepper hides under the bed when the vacuum is on. How do you even get close to them? I think you need to be very quiet. Maybe put food outside first? I saw a thread about baiting for the shy ones that suggested using strong smells like tuna. I am not sure if that works for cats that are used to being fed.

You can also use a bungee cord to tie the trap to a sturdy post or the barn wall. That stops the whole thing from moving around if a cat drags it. I did this when I was helping a shelter friend move cats. It took some work to get the anchor point right, but it kept the trap level. Good luck with the dusty floor! Loki and Freya are hiding in the closets right now, so I am in a sympathetic mood.

That is a very practical idea, amy_parker. I have a similar setup in my garage for when I need to move my cats for cleaning. It really helps with stability. Also, if you are worried about them digging under, you might want to look at digging under the trap. Some people use a piece of plywood under the trap to block the dirt. It makes a bit of a mess to move, but it keeps the cats from getting stuck. Hope the neighbor is understanding.