I just got a call to help with some skunks but they are worried about their cats. What are some traps or bait that would work on skunks but avoid cats? I have some cage traps but was thinking they would get plugged up by cats before skunks thanks for any help

I swear by apples and peanut butter or a sweet lure for skunks doing adc work in warmer months. IMO the stronger lures have a greater chance in calling in other non targets, when the skunk is already there. After inspection and a general idea of the location and proper setup you should have a pretty good chance in the target animal. This skunk was caught in an area that is loaded with feral cats and neighbors who have cats that constantly venture to this property. If your cage/traps have an odor from previous catches that are appealing to cats chances are your going to have a non target. You can jump through hoops trying to catch a skunk or just have confidence in your inspection and setup.

Cats are very inquisitive, they will inspect just about anything new in their area. The smaller the trap, the less inciting it is for a cat to enter. Tube traps, similar to http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/Skunk_Rabbit_Traps/WCSRCSNKTRP.html, is often recommended. You may still catch some non-target critters. I just use large traps and accept that cats and other non-targets will be caught
.

The cats are probably the reason why they have skunks. They have been known to get along fairly well. Marshmallows are not real

attractive to cats. Using them with a lure that is advertised as not being attractive to cats should work well. We also use a smaller

cage that cats are less likely to enter.

Speaking of WCS, what a great bunch of folks over there in the CT branch. Had the pleasure in meeting some of the staff there a couple weeks back, despite dropping in unexpected, they handled the order with no issues and the service was top notch. Great place to order ADC equipment.

There is some basis for the saying curiosity killed the cat because a cat will at least once get in an empty trap. A cat is a serial killer so anything meat based will get his attention. He's not much into fruits and vegetables so clean your trap and and put a fruit vegetable base lure, popcorn works good. If you could get Winkelmann to send you a pair of worn underwear that would probably be super skunk lure...I don't think they would attract cats.

Sweet baits usually avoid cats IME...but you'll also get opossums.
Cherry pie filling, Blackies Fur King, etc.

Had BBQ chicken wings the other night for supper, for the fun of it I put the bones out to see what was around. Man those raccoons know how to eat chicken wings. If a raccoons likes them so will a skunk.IMO