Neighbor’s Cats

JoeB – posted 26 March 2004 10:47

I am trying to replace my front lawn but find my neighbor’s cats have decided to turn it into their private habitat – including lavatory. The neighbor doesn’t seem to care, which is evident by the fact that they do not have a clue regarding animal population control. I’ve been told sprinkling red pepper would discourage the cats but doing that would mean no watering (wash the pepper away) and the grass would wither away. Any suggestions?

ted – posted 26 March 2004 13:44

buy a dog.

Sir Skrip – posted 26 March 2004 14:13

wow Joe, you must live 2 houses down from me. It drives me nuts! There’s a lady who feeds strays, and they love walking across my front lawn. They leave that nasty cat urine smell everywhere, and when they go on the grass, it burns the grass.

I wouldnt want to hurt an animal deliberately, although it has crossed my mind many times.

They seem to go around my lawn more often now. How did I do this?

Whenever I have time, I sit on my porch with my hose ready for them. Once they see me trying to wet them, or even chase them, they get the idea that their not wanted in this area. It seems to work, well, for the cats that have been there the longest. The new strays Im still working on.

There is also some cat & dog repellant spray. I bought this and sprayed around the concrete, and guess what, it stained. So I decided to use lids and spray them and place them randomly where I think they would ‘walk’ by. I have just done this but so far so good. That nasty feline smell doesnt come around too often now.

What I mean by lids, I mean like those plastic ones found on butter/margarine containers. I spray the underside and almost use it like a bowl. I do not recommend this if you have kids running around, like I do. But they are all in school and Im at work, so in the morning i place them around the yard and when I get home I put them away before the kids get there. And follow this routine at nighttime when they are in bed.

cohiba – posted 27 March 2004 17:39

Has anyone tried Coyote Urine? I was told this is available and works as long as you reapply after rain or irrigation. Another thing I saw in a catalog was a motion detector that fit on the end of a hose. As soon as it senses motion it gives it a short blast with a sprinkler. I don’t like cats in my yard either and you can bet if I let my dog run like people let thier cats I’d be in hot water with the authorities. Another idea would be to contact a local councilman. Maybe there’s a local ordinance against allowing cats to run. Maybe there should be.

centraltexas – posted 27 March 2004 18:54

If they just seem to go in one or two small areas. You can lay down chicken wire. You really cant see it in a flower bed, they will not walk on it and it detered them from my yard.

dazed-n-confused – posted 29 March 2004 11:34

Cats?!! I like cats, they taste just like chicken Seriously, the cats in my neighborhood were out of control and calls to the owners and animal control were getting me nowhere. Finally, I called the dog pound and was able to get a trap to catch them at no cost. Cats, once caught in the trap were cheerfully removed by animal control officers. Now I can work in my roses without fear of discovering a nasty cat potty.

JoeB – posted 31 March 2004 06:20

First, I’d like to thank everyone for their inputs and advise — most of which I’ve already tried. I have a dog but dont let her run free in front of the house. Turn on the sprinklers whenever I catch them (cats) on the lawn. Called the city about traps but they claim there is a ‘huge’ waiting list. Have not tried “Coyote urine”, “sitting in wait with a hose”, or the “plastic lids and repellent” so, thanks to you all, I have some new things to try. By the way, along with the dog, I also have 2 cats (strictly indoor and fixed) so I too am a pet lover except when they are left to do as they wish by inconsiderate neighbors.

TrapNeuterReturn – posted 11 April 2004 19:05

dazed-n-confused

I’m part of a three-person Trap-Neuter-Return team. I know from personal experience that your answer is ineffective.

When I started in my area, we had about 100 feral cats. My personal group numbered about 20.

Animal Control and local residents will catch 1-2 cats at a time, turn them over to a “kill” shelter. It’s completely ineffective, and amounts to just killing a few animals.

Cats are territorial animals that will basically expand to fill an area. Kill five cats, and more will eventually come into the area from neighboring colonies.

The ONLY people who actually take the time, spend their personal money, monitor and actively reduce cat populations are “Trap Neuter Return” groups.

For example: in my personal situation…through adoptions and a “Trap-Neuter-Return” program, etc…, I reduced our cat population from 20 to about 6-7 vaccinated, sterilized animals. They don’t spray when they’re neutered. The kittens were put up for adoption. Two sterilized cats moved on. One cat that had cancer was put to sleep. The others don’t spray and don’t fight.

What people like you are doing is trying to hit a swarm of birds with a fly swatter. You get one or two, but it’s only the people who really care that effectively deal with the situation. Nobody did anything beside kill a few cats before I implemented the TNR program. Our program has actively reduced the cat population without killing animals unnecessarily.

Thousands of other people working with TNR programs have come to the same conclusion — not because they’re bleeding hearts — but because it’s the truth.

More information on feral cats here: http://www.alleycat.org/