The calico that has eluded me for so long is finally trapped. I changed tactics, setting up a cage behind the coop, with a camera monitoring, and taking out treats once a day. Then on trapping day I set out the good tuna in the cage and … nada. No interest in tuna. So I retrieved the tuna, as she stared at me an meowed, and gave her what she wanted: Meow Mix. Really? Ok. It worked. She went into the cage as I watched the camera footage on my phone, I pulled the string holding the stick, and … snap. The line broke. The stick didn’t move. She didn’t even notice. What a charmed cat.

I thought I had missed my window. I went around the coop, she saw me and ran off, and I retied the line to the stick holding up the cage door. Dejected, I went back to my hiding place, but not a minute later, she was in the cage again snacking on Meow Mix (this must be kitty crack for calicos, my inside cat loves it too, but I only use it as a treat, not the main meal.) This time the line held, the stick moved, and the door fell. She was not happy to be trapped, but I don’t blame her. Now she gets a trip to be spayed, then returned to her hunting ground. She probably won’t speak to me again, but I’ll still try to give her treats of Meow Mix.