Very best wishes for luck. I wanted to touch on one thing you
originally asked, and I hope I understand right. About trapping a
cat and not turning it into prey ("provide shelter without also
trapping them for predators").  I could take that two ways: you
want to create a warm spot, but not an unsafe spot for kitty to
become prey while sleeping and hanging around, or maybe how to keep
the cat safe after it's trapped; still in the trap. I couldn't tell
which you mean. For the latter, you want to make sure that you
don't leave a trap unattendended.

Yes, ferals are impeccibly clean cats. I have a former that was
trapped and turned into a house cat at around 5-6 months old.  She
is also the only cat I've ever had that has never clawed furniture.
She sticks to using carpet-covered scratching posts and the cat
trees I have. She never ever goes for anything else. My others
sometimes try other surfaces, and in front of me. She never does.

Good luck catching that kitty.

Yes, they will use a litter box. Most cats will.
Good for you for helping them!! Use a smelly fish in the trap such as tuna
fish. You will catch them. Don't feed them anywhere else except the trap.
Gail

... I'm wondering how I'll trap one... then the

Hi,
Cats are like heat-seeking missiles.  I would expect they already know about
the heated office & storage area.

Our Rosie was 7-8 months old and totally wild when I trapped her in a
Hava-hart (spelling?) trap and brought her inside.  She used the litter box
from the beginning.
At the suggestion of our vet, I trapped her in the evening and put her,
still in the trap, in our spare bathroom tub (without water, of course). The
next morning, I took her straight to the vet for spay, vaccinations, etc.
This prevented her from eating or drinking for the required time before
surgery.  By leaving her in the trap, I'd be able to transport her the next
morning.  No way would I be able to get her back into the trap or into a
travel crate if I let her out.

Good luck with your rescues.

Annie