Feral Cats
I have a large colony of wild cats (5-8) that live in my backyard (as well as my neighbors) due to the fact that the local crazy woman feeds them. They are digging up my newly renovated backyard and leaving nice little presents all over. Anybody have experience dealing with this? Thanks
I have a large colony of wild cats (5-8) that live in my backyard (as well as my neighbors) due to the fact that the local crazy woman feeds them. They are digging up my newly renovated backyard and leaving nice little presents all over.
Anybody have experience dealing with this?
Thanks
Feral cats are a pestilance.
The solution to the problem can be found here:
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?cmd_rifles=show_guns_manufacturer&Manufacturer=Crosman
I’d recommend the 2250b or the 2260. Get something in 0.22 cal. These are pretty noiseless. Target just above the fore leg. Cats can have very hard heads, causing a grazing shot that may not be fatal.
I use this for squirells and chipmonks. Find the Solution to the feral cat problem here:
http://www.pyramydair.com/
Look for Crosman. About $75.
If those cats are killed, MORE will move in-
The ferals are there (and all over this nation) becuz of Irresponsible members of man”kind” dumping them.
Volunteers and members of Alley Cat Allies,
http://www.alleycat.org
and many other organized or independent Feral Cat Groups — AND — People like the “Crazy” (NOT) Cat Lady (and there are lots of men who do this too) are getting these cats Spayed, Neutered, medicated, vaccintated and eartipped. They are giving them COMPASSION. THIS is the way to deal with Feral Cats.
Talk with this lady and se how you can HELP.
Killing cats in most states now is a Felony.
We resonate with all of creation — we are all connected. Why kill? Why poison? Why brutalize?
There is More than Enough Suffering in this world — what can WE do to make things better for ALL living beings?
Get friendly with your crazy cat lady. Not REALLY friendly. Just “over the back fence” friendly. It’s always good to maintain some distance until you get to know folks, but you’ll have a lot more influence over her actions as a “nice neighbor” than a “nasty neighbor.” You may find she would be perfectly happy to have one or two get homes elsewhere if they are friendly, and perhaps you could help her with that (get an ad in the paper, etc). You might be able to encourage her to get them fixed, if they aren’t (or locate a local group as others have suggested and fix them yourself). You’ll be able to quietly mention things like feeding the cats in the morning and picking up the food at night to decrease problems with wildlife, etc. When you’ve already moved into a neighborhood, you’re often stuck with what you’ve got. To make change over time, it’s often better to start out positive, rather than negative.
I don’t know how many times people have told me “Oh, she won’t do that (fix the cats, find homes for some, stop making a mess feeding them) and then when I go over myself it turns out the lady would love to only have two cats one day instead of ten. A few cheap spays, a nice discreet feeding station, a couple of bowls, a lesson on feeding out of sight, and a couple of a cats adopted, and suddenly the cat problem is no big deal.
I’ve also had cat people assume that other neighbors (especially men) are cat haters. One lady was trying to smuggle food into a construction area for kittens because she was ‘certain’ the construction guys were cat haters. They kept kicking her out (for her safety) and she called me. When I stopped by to talk, turns out these guys all loved cats! I showed them that I was insured and experienced, they gave me a hard hat, showed me how to sign in and out of the site, told me when to stay away to avoid inspectors, and they fed the cats on the days I couldn’t trap.
“Nice” can go a long way.
You can tell by my email address what to expect from me…
For your own newly renovated back yard: Simple! Just put down oranges and lemons, cut in half. Cats hate citrus. They will go somewhere else to hang out and poop and pee.
For the cats: absolutely do not call animal control since there is an overwhelming population of cats and dogs already languishing in shelters, and these animals are used to their freedom and would suffer so much from being in cages, and then (being ferals) they would not be likely to get adopted, and that would be the end of their lives.
Rather, if you get help from Neighborhood Cats – ask them for assistance from someone in their circles who lives in your neighborhood – to get these cats neutered and spayed, they will keep the population stable, so there won’t be ever-more kittens showing up, and the cats can be fed in one place where they are tolerated and you and your neighbors can live in citrus-scented peace. And the cats can be cats in peace too.
http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/ and go to “contact”
good luck! JK
It is truly disgusting that someone would recommend poisoning feral cats with Tylenol.
Another resource:
http://www.nycferalcat.org/services.htm
Re: the poisoning suggestions, you may want to reconsider. Instead of having to dispose of the “presents” they leave in your yard, you’ll have to dispose of their smelly, rotting corpses. And cats like to hide in safe (i.e., hard-to-reach) spaces before they die…
The humane route is probably best for you and the cats. Good luck.
Have you tried putting out a saucer of minced beef seasoned with crushed tylenol?
My friends had the same problem, so they got a solar-powered cat-zapper. It’s a little electrified fence that you install on the top of your fence. I’s powered by a small solar panel. The cats only have to touch it once, then they stay away as long as it’s on. Before my friends acquired the zapper their newly landscaped yard was completely ruined by the cats.