Feral Cats Dominating the Deployment

 

We have had significant feral cat activity which is now dominating the first deployment site.   This particular feral animal is showing significant activity and interaction with the sound lure, which is the trial version with the feather operating with a small motor.  This animal is being seen frequently in the area but is returning to the trap/lure and spending particular time focussing on the lure.

The photograph shown left is from a sequence featuring the feral cat.   There are two traps next to each other, the first is a DOC 200 which is baited with rabbit meat.   This is what the cat is sitting on in the photograph.   

The rat box next to the trap is fitted with a black T-Rex trap, with a regular sound lure and the feather motor.   

In the instances of the interactions from this series of photos taken in a single evening the feral cat approaches the location and spends time trying to enter or interact with the sound lure, while not attempting to do so with the DOC 200.   The time frame of the feral cat being involved with the sound lure was in excess of twenty minutes from its arrival at the location of the traps and remaining in the area while the lure repeatedly activated.    

It needs to be noted as well that the noise that is being activated from the sound lure in this case is a possum.   We have experienced in the past significant cat interest in the sound lure when the noise has a cat slant (such as featuring a chick noise).