I caught a family of four racoons (Momma & three teenagers) last year in 24 hours using marshmellows, dried dates (from our tree), and dried dog food (what they were stealing). I don't know which bait item was the most favored (they ate them all), but they were practically pushing each other out of the way to get into the trap! Only one fit at a time and I had to take the trap in the truck to go release them between captures. I must have released them far enough away, as they haven't been back. Now that I have chickens, and know better, I will probably give any new ones the same treatment the packrats get. Air/pellet gun at very close range to the head. Don't assume they will only go after your cat food during the night. Two, possibly three, of the ones I caught were during daylight hours.