Document Type

Restricted Campus Only

Publication Date

4-2012

Abstract

One method of controlling the population of a feral cat colony is known as the trap-neuter-return (TNR) method, which consists of trapping cats within the colony, neutering them, and returning them to their habitat. Since feral cats are territorial, this prevents outside cats from 􀀋verpopulating the land and also prevents the cats already inhabiting the land from procreating. When beginning the TNR process for a new colony, it is easy to capture 80-90% of the cats with standard traps, such as the Havahart model. However, the remaining cats grow wary of such traps from observing the capture of their brethren and will avoid them. The goal of this project was to design a new form of trap that will be able to safely capture these remaining cats. This product was required to possess the capacity to be triggered remotely and make use of a flexible, durable, safe, and transparent material for the enclosure. An ideal product would be collapsible and lightweight, costing no more than $125. All development costs were constrained by a $1200 budget from the Trinity University Engineering Science Department.

The solution that has been developed is the Venus Cat Trap, named for its conceptual similarity to the Venus fly trap. It is unlike other products currently available in that it does not close from the top. When closed, the trap takes the form of a hemispherical enclosure. Before triggering, however, it consists of one stationary lip that forms approximately one quarter of the hemisphere while a moving lip is held down by a latch attached to the base. When the trap is triggered, this latch is released and the moving lip traces an arced pathway to meet the stationary lip. A spring provides the force causing the trap to close while the closing is triggered by an RF receiver/transmitter system which activates a solenoid to release the latch.

Review by members of the Cat Alliance Trinity has confirmed that the trap not at risk of harming the animals or the users. Tests have indicated that the trap closes in approximately 0.5 seconds, and applies a force of no more than 20 N to any object that might obstruct its path. The trap was found to be able to be triggered over 100 times without showing signs of wear. Field testing yielded the result that the trap did not close quickly enough to capture feral cats.

The final product was unable to perform its desired task and had an estimated cost of $450. To improve these results, recommended changes involve using different materials. A stronger spring will decrease the closing time, while an alternate material for the frame will reduce both cost and weight. Even considering these failures, this project has been deemed a success in that it has yielded a new concept for the design of cat traps which lacks the problematic sense of enclosure associated with most traps.

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