Beyond the Box Trap: A Better Way to Catch Elusive Felines Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats

"It's better to miss than to mistime the drop—because once they learn it's a trap, they won't come back." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this first installment of our Drop Trap Workshop, we're diving deep into the fundamentals of drop trapping—a powerful and underutilized tool in the TNR world. Join Community Cats Podcast Tech Tabby Kristen Petrie and expert guest Bryan Kortis, National Program Director of Neighborhood Cats, as he walks you through the mechanics, mindset, and must-have equipment for mastering the drop trap. With insight from co-founder and seasoned trapper Susan Richmond, this session breaks down the "why" and "how" of drop trapping, emphasizing how this method can help trap those elusive last colony cats, outsmart picky feeders, and improve overall trapping success. You'll learn why cats perceive drop traps differently than standard box traps, how to set up the equipment for maximum effectiveness, and what to do once you've got your feline in the trap. From practical gear lists to step-by-step demos—including videos of actual drop trapping scenarios—you'll get a front-row seat to best practices for selective trapping. Bryan also covers safety tips, troubleshooting misfires, and how to ensure a smooth transfer once you've successfully made the catch. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your TNR skills, this episode lays the groundwork for humane, strategic trapping that gets results. Press Play Now For: The psychology behind why drop traps work better for wary cats Gear breakdown: what you need to trap successfully How to pick the perfect drop trap location Real-world video demonstrations of drop trapping Common mistakes and how to avoid them When (and why) to use a drop trap instead of a box trap Mentioned Resources: Tomahawk Drop Trap Model DT1 (https://www.livetrap.com/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies636) Follow & Review We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.