Ready to Help a Community Cat?
What Is the Community Cat Trap Depot?
The Community Cat Trap Depot is a trap-lending program operated by Black Magic Animal Rescue to make humane trapping equipment more accessible to our community.
You do not need to purchase your own trap to help an outdoor cat. Community members can reserve humane traps through our online form, pick them up from the depot, use them for approved TNR purposes, and return them when finished.
The goal is simple: remove one of the barriers that prevents people from getting community cats spayed and neutered.
What Is TNR?
TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return.
Community cats are humanely trapped, transported to a veterinary clinic, spayed or neutered, vaccinated or provided other appropriate medical care, and then returned to the outdoor home where they were found.
TNR helps:
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Prevent future litters
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Reduce mating-related behaviors such as fighting, spraying, and roaming
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Improve the health of community cat colonies
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Stabilize outdoor cat populations
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Reduce the number of kittens entering shelters and rescues
TNR Training Course coming soon!
Who Can Use the Trap Depot?
The Trap Depot is available for people helping community cats, including:
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Neighborhood residents
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Colony caretakers
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TNR volunteers
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Property owners
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Businesses with outdoor cats
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HOA or community representatives
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People assisting a stray or unsocialized cat
Not sure whether a cat needs TNR?
Contact our team before trapping and we can help you determine the best next step.
What Does It Cost?
$20 Refundable Deposit
The deposit helps us keep traps available and ensures borrowed equipment is returned.
Your deposit is refunded when the trap is returned:
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On time
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Clean
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Empty
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Undamaged
The $20 is not a rental fee. It is a refundable equipment deposit.
Before You Trap
Please Prepare Before Setting a Trap
Before trapping a community cat:
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Know where the cat will receive veterinary care.
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Make sure you have an appropriate recovery location.
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Check the weather.
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Learn how the trap operates before placing it outside.
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Plan to actively monitor the trap.
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Confirm where the cat will be returned after recovery.
Never set a trap and leave the area.
Trapped cats are vulnerable to weather, animals, people, and injury and should be moved to a safe location as soon as possible after capture.
Important Trap Rules
For the safety of the cats and our equipment:
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Humane trapping only
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Traps may not be used to harm animals
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Do not leave an active trap unattended
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Cover the trap after a cat is captured
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Never open a trap containing an unsocialized cat
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Do not relocate community cats without an appropriate reason and plan
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Traps must be returned clean and by the agreed return date
Link:
Read the Full Trapping Instructions →
What Is Included?
Every trap rental can include:
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Humane live cat trap
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Basic trapping instructions
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Trap safety information
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Pickup and return instructions
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Educational resources for first-time trappers
Borrow. Trap. Neuter. Return.
The Community Cat Trap Depot provides humane live traps to local residents, colony caretakers, and volunteers working to spay and neuter outdoor cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
Traps are available with a $20 refundable deposit and must be reserved in advance.
Need Help With the Actual Trapping?
Borrowing a Trap vs. Requesting TNR Assistance
The Trap Depot is designed for people who are able to participate in trapping themselves.
If you have a colony, multiple cats, a difficult trapping situation, or cannot safely trap on your own, Black Magic Animal Rescue may be able to assist through our TNR program.
