To catch a kitten.

[corey]

His name is now Checkers. I made it up. He's black and white and cool-all-over. A racing-flag-shaped name tag is in his future.
He's not mine. He isn't anybody's even. He sleeps on my front porch, and eats the cat food and milk i put out. He's about 12 inches from nose to tail.
I must have him. Whether it be permanent or not.

I managed to get a cat-carrier OVER him last night. But when i went to shut the door, he managed to slip out in the 1/4 of a second it took me to do so.
Still came back for more food and sleepz though.

Any ideas on how to safely cage the beast? He won't let anyone touch him, or really be within 10 feet if he can see you.
He's not too sharp about people sneaking up behind him though...

Seems perfectly healthy too.

Any thoughts or experiences are appreciated.
My dog will hate him.

[lethe]

http://www.pneudart.com/

[Speedbag]

I have a jet-black little guy living under my deck. Judging by the lack of rabbits/rodents in the yard lately, he's working. He doesn't like people, and hisses at you if you get closer than 3' away. I've been making sure he has a full dish of water, otherwise he's on his own. Kind of hope he sticks around to be my outdoor pest control kitteh.

I've named him Maynard.

[Ddan]

Throwing a cat carrier over him is unlikely to give him the warm/fuzzies about you.  Food is a great motivator, use it to get him to come to you

[Mother]

I'd just make sure it has water and a comfortable place to crash and call it yours

Don't cage the little fella, you might make it hate you

[hbliam]

A comfy chair for you, food and water (or milk) for him. Patience. Spend about 15 minutes a day for a week or so and you should be able to pick him up by then.

[TiNi]

Throwing a cat carrier over him is unlikely to give him the warm/fuzzies about you.  Food is a great motivator, use it to get him to come to you

+1

good luck 
try to get a pic too... he sounds adorable!

[triangleforge]

A comfy chair for you, food and water (or milk) for him. Patience. Spend about 15 minutes a day for a week or so and you should be able to pick him up by then.

Letting them get used to you seems to make a huge difference. We've got a couple of black feral cats that have adopted our yard. Initially, they ran for cover as soon as I opened the door, then they'd wait to see if I (or the dog) was actually coming their way, and then they started largely ignoring me altogether. One of them has taken to sleeping under the truck, which we park on a gravel pad. The other day I went to check/top off the gear oil in the transmission/transfer case and when I crawled under the truck I got a half-hearted hiss, saw the cat think about running, and then decide "Aw f-ck. It's too hot for this nonsense." S/he curled up and went back to napping under the rear differential, and stayed their while I clattered away with wrenches, dropped the skid plate & opened up the smelly gear oil. Apparently I've become unworthy of his/her further attention.   

[herm]

put the food/milk/water in the carrier, along with a towel or some other soft item. he will become used to it, and may actually end up sleeping there.

[ducpainter]

If all else fails...

I have a cat you can have.

[Monsterlover]

You practically have a vending machine that dispenses them.

[TiNi]

 

[ducpainter]

You practically have a vending machine that dispenses them.

Must be a new critter around...

the cat level is pretty low these days.

[Monsterlover]

Don't worry. Your barn will hatch more.

[kopfjäger]

Must be a new critter around...

the cat level is pretty low these days.

You might have my friends "puppy hawk"