Live trapping cages are a popular and effective method to catch small game, like squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, raccoons, and more.
They’re also great for humanely catching small rodent pests for relocation. These live traps are a humane way to catch animals without harm and can be reused multiple times.
Keep reading for our 5 best trapping cages, along with a detailed guide to help you decide which trap is best suited for the animal you’re trying to catch.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
HomGarden Humane Live Animal Cage
Budget Option:
Kensizer Live Trapping Cage
Best Double Door:
Havahart 1045SR 2-Door Live Trapping Cage
Best Overall
HomGarden Humane Live Animal Cage
The HomGarden one-door live trapping cage is designed to safely and humanely capture small-to-medium-sized animals. This trap is ideal for wildlife such as groundhogs, opossums, nutria, raccoons, cats, armadillos, and so much more.
HomGarden’s one-door design allows animals to fully enter the trap before being triggered to close, which results in fewer escapes. Its fine-tuned trip mechanism targets medium-sized critters with a powerful door that eliminates false triggers and ensures secure captures.
This 32-inch cage is made with smooth internal edges to prevent injury to animals trapped inside, as well as a handle guard that protects you from any contact with your catch.
Engineered with galvanized steel wire mesh for maximum resistance to rust and corrosion, this cage is designed to remain reliable and sturdy enough to withstand the elements and any unruly wildlife. The solid steel door also adds to its durability.
Pros
- The single door helps prevent bait theft.
- The collapsible design makes for easy storage.
- Has safety features to protect both you and the animal from harm.
Cons
- Large animals are difficult to trap in this cage.
- This trap may be challenging to assemble and bait for inexperienced users.
Best Budget Option
Kensizer Live Trapping Cage
The Kensizer live trapping cage is made up of an ingenious design, advanced craft, and high sensitivity to pests like rats, mice, and other similarly sized rodents and animals. Larger animals may break the trap.
Its lightweight design uses galvanized steel and the finest mesh that can’t be bitten through by small, but sharp animal teeth.
The sensitive pedal trigger mechanism and single door make for easy trapping. Once the trigger is touched the door automatically swings shut, locking critters up tight.
This cage consists primarily of aluminum and galvanized steel and can be purchased in small and medium sizes. The traps come in sets of two, so these are fantastic on a budget!
Pros
- These traps come in sets of two.
- The sturdy build utilizes galvanized steel.
- A humane way to trap wildlife.
Cons
- This trap is too small for some pests.
Best Double-Door
Havahart 1045SR 2-Door Live Trapping Cage
The Havahart 1045SR double-door live trapping cage offers a convenient way to improve your catch rate.
With a weather-resistant stainless steel construction and solid galvanized steel doors, this trap is built to last through the elements along with the rough treatment by wildlife.
These traps are made in the USA and are tested and used by professional trappers to ensure the best quality and effectiveness possible.
This trap is great for skittish animals that don’t like being cornered since the two doors allow for a sense of security, encouraging your prey to enter. The trigger rod is outside of the trap also, which greatly reduces the risk of injury to wildlife while it’s trapped.
The double doors are spring-loaded to snap shut quickly once the trigger rod has been tripped, effectively trapping your catch until you can come back for it. The fine-tuned trip mechanism eliminates false triggers and targets heavier animals, trapping them safely and quickly.
With smooth internal edges that prevent injury to animals and a handle guard to protect you from contact with the animal, this trap is big enough to catch medium-to-large-sized animals.
Pros
- The small wire gauge protects your hands.
- Versatile use of one or both doors.
- Made with galvanized steel to resist rust and corrosion.
Cons
- The angle of the doors reduces room for the trapped animal.
Best for Larger Animals
Faicuk Large Live Trapping Cage
The Faicuk large live trapping cage is made using sturdy galvanized steel for maximum resistance to rust and corrosion, even out in the elements for extended periods.
This large cage is ideal for medium-to-large-sized wildlife, including cats, dogs, foxes, coyotes, and more similarly sized animals.
With a collapsible design, this cage is easy to fold flat, saving up to 75 percent of space when put in storage. You can expect this cage to come fully assembled and ready to use. The durable trap measures 32 inches long.
A large handle guard offers protection from your catch during transportation, with smooth internal edges that protect animals from injury. This trapping cage has a sensitive trigger that snaps the single door shut within microseconds to eliminate the chance of escape.
Pros
- This trap is for larger animals.
- The collapsible design saves 75 percent of space.
- Doesn’t require assembly.
Cons
- Reviewers report the instructions come locked inside the cage, making it difficult to access them.
- The trip wire is small and could be triggered by accident.
What to Look for in a Live Trapping Cage
Design/Size
The design and size is an important factor when considering which trapping cage you need. The size you’ll need depends on which type of animal you’re attempting to trap.
If the trap is too small, the animal can’t fit inside, but if it’s too large the animal may make a break for it before you can capture it. Trapping cages come in three size categories.
Small
Small cages are designed to catch smaller animals, like mice, squirrels, and other similarly-sized wildlife. Most of these cages measure around 16 inches in length and width and 5 inches in height.
Medium
Medium-sized cages are designed to catch bigger animals like foxes, beavers, and wild dogs. Most of these cages measure around 32 inches in length and 10 inches in height.
Large
Large cages are the least commonly used option. These cages are made for catching large animals like mountain lions and bobcats. Large cages are generally over 72 inches in length.
Doors
Some live trapping cages have only one door, while others have two doors. If you’re trying to trap an animal that doesn’t like to be backed into a corner, you may want to go with a double-door cage so that the animal still has a little sense of freedom to go inside it.
One Door
One-door traps are the most commonly used live traps. With these cages, the animal must fully enter before being cornered at one end of the trap.
Since there’s only one way in and out of these traps you may have to get creative to get the animal out of the cage safely.
Two Door
A two-door design isn’t as common, but they work great for animals that are harder to trap. The double-door design allows the animal to enter from either side. Once the animal is inside the trap is triggered, closing both doors.
Trapping Mechanism
Spring Loaded Trigger Plate
Trapping cages that use a spring-loaded trigger plate spring quickly once triggered, effectively trapping your prey. Most of these cages use a spring-loaded trigger plate that causes the trap to close as soon as the animal steps on it.
Time-Release Trigger Plate
Time-release traps are less common but they come with a function that allows you to distance yourself from the trap before it opens. Once an animal triggers the plate after the allotted time, the trap will snap shut around it.
Material
Most live trapping cages are made of metal, usually steel. Galvanized steel is commonly used for these traps to prevent them from rusting or corroding. These traps are engineered with a sturdy wire mesh to allow airflow throughout the trap.
Safety Features
These cages typically come with metal plates to provide layers of protection to keep you safe while you’re transporting the animal. Some traps also have solid plated doors to keep you safe while handling the case and to prevent the animal from getting loose.
Wrapping Up The 5 Best Trapping Cages
Whether you’re trying to trap small rodents or bigger animals like raccoons, opossums, cats, and small dogs, we hope this detailed guide has helped you decide which live trapping cage for your needs!
For more tricks and tips for staying safe in the wild, check out these 9 essential wilderness techniques for survival.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.