We had a trapping rehearsal night April 2, 2007 where the trap is all set with smelly tuna inside but wired so that it will not close. Essentially it's a tuna buffet night, training cats that going in the funny box is worth it. That worked well because even the tuna in the back of the trap was eaten. The tuna in the back is what leads them back far enough to trip the trap and catch them inside on a real trapping night. The tuna in the front and middle is just enough to wet their appetite so they go in further.

April 3, 2007 was the first trapping night for our Tiny TNR group. We set the trap up with brown fleece fastened to the bottom inside for comfort, put in the tuna and even catnip, tested that the trap would indeed close when triggered, and put out the trap. Unfortunately we learned that 30 mile an hour winds is NOT a good thing for trapping, because it kept the cats in their hiding places and away from the trap. We were unable to trap that night, as were many in the Chicago area I found out from the many Tree House spay/neuter clinic cancellations the next day. It was good practice for trapper Jenny Volpe in setting up and checking a trap, and we had great Thai food and conversation so it was a social success if not a trapping success. Being stubborn and determined, we scheduled another spay/neuter appointment in two weeks at Tree House Animal Foundation and got ready to try again.