Hi, about a week or ten days ago I trapped a stray cat and relocated it about 4 miles to a friends barn, we thought it could help with the rodent prob. Anyway today the cat is back around my house, what do you think the odds of trapping it again with the same trap, or do you think I need to try something else. Also, we have a female that has been fixed and this stray ambushes her every time she out, would you guess the stray to be a male or female? Thanks

It's hard to tell really, if you want to trap it in a live trap, I'm guessing it will go in again if there's food, but you may want to move the trap to a different place so the cat doesn't catch on?

And it may be a male seeking to mate who doesn't know the female is spayed or a female that may try to fight your cat, which is dangerous as strays may be carrying disease. If the cat comes around, you need to take your pet and put it in a safe place where the other cat cannot get at it. It's easy to tell whether a cat is male or female though. When it's tail is up, it may be gross, but just take a peek. Males will have, excuse my language, balls, basically, and you will be able to tell whether they are neutered or not.

Usually cats are pretty smart and don't fall for a trap the second time. Use very smelly food like a little bit of tuna with oil or cooked chicken pieces. Cats who've lived in a place for a while will try to get back to that place. Is there a vet who will neuter the cat for a low fee or for free? Check with an animal shelter in your area to find such a vet. Once the cat has been neutered, it might be willing to be relocated, but don't count on it. At least it will become nicer and won't continue to populate the world with unwanted kittens.

I'll try the stinky tuna with the same trap in a different location. Best I can find out there's no animal shelter near, I might try the local vet again, wasn't to helpful the first time. Now let's go trappin'.