Hi,

It's over three weeks now that Antonio's been missing.  I have 5 traps set
around the area.  I've moved some of them around a bit, trying to cover the
area as best as I can.  There has still been no sign of him.  I've been out
looking for him at different times of the day, I've talked to many of my
neighbors, and looked everywhere that I can.  There are so many places
around here he could be hiding (woods, under decks/porches, sheds, etc).

Anyway, about trapping.  I've tried a few different things, like putting
cardboard or newspaper in the bottom, nothing on the bottom, tuna, mackerel,
or canned cat food for bait, heating the bait for smell.  So far I've mostly
caught possums, one raccoon, and a neighbor's cat several times.  At one of
the traps, the food often dissappears without the trap going off.  My
husband has adjusted the sensitivity, and I know that the trap works because
the neighbor's cat has been caught in it.  I like to think this is Antonio,
but I have no idea.

I feel like I'm in my own little Fear Factor with the trapping stuff.  I'm a
squeamish person, and some of the stuff I'm doing makes me want to throw up.
The mackerel is so f'ing GROSS!  It comes in this oil, and it looks
horrible, like chum.  When I change the bait, there's usually slugs in with
the old mackerel.  Is it really necessary that I use mackerel?  We rarely
eat fish, and I can't remember Antonio being particularly interested in it.
I've thought maybe I should just use his regular food.  The things he would
go wild over were sliced turkey, pizza crust, and mashed potatoes.  None of
those are fragrant, but might he might be attracted to them.
The other nasty thing is the possums.  Several times when I've caught a
possum, which is every other night sometimes, they sh.t in cage!  Do you
know how gross it is to clean out possum sh.t?  Any way I can avoid catching
possums?  My husband read something about using catnip oil.  I went to
Petsmart today and couldn't find any, just that spray stuff.  If I can
locate the catnip oil, that would be much less gross for me to deal with.

Some other things:  I am really doing anything productive to get Antonio
back home by setting these traps blindly, without even knowing if he is
around?  What about building a shelter in hopes it will attract him?  DH
thinks that might just attract every critter in the neighborhood?  Should I
set the traps, now that it is getting cold?  It's going to be below freezing
at night soon in this area.  I would hate for anything to freeze in the
traps overnight.

Thanks for any help.