Since August I have been trying to nab my neighbor's pesky, mean cat. The Animal Rescue people dropped off a live trap after the neighbor refused to keep his cat at home. Granted we are in the mountains and animals typically roam free; however, if a neighbor's animal becomes a nuisance and refuses to cooperate, we can trap the thing. So the trap has been set for 2.5 months and this is the hysterical timeline:
First attempt to trap white cat = trapped black cat and had to let it go. I reset the trap with fresh food.
2nd attempt = food in trap was eaten but the trap door did not release. I reset it with fresh food and changed locations.
3rd attempt = trap, food and items in my garage around the trap were in total disarray. A bear could have caused that. I reset the trap and tried again. Sigh ...
4th attempt = Food was eaten. Trap did not release. Sprayed WD40 on trap hinges, reloaded with food and placed trap just outside the garage by the woodpile. That was this morning.
Question along with a high suspicion: Could a rat be eating the food? It is probably not heavy enough to press the trap door trigger. As a result, it is being fed well! Either that, or we have a very smart cat who refuses to be caught. At this point, I am embarrassed to call Animal Control because an animal of some kind is outsmarting us. And if I do not catch this cat, he will continue to terrorize my females and give me the pleasure of continued howlings beneath my office window.
Any suggestions?