Battling the stray cats for territory ...

[Teacher Terry]

Janet, that is horrible. Your poor son.

 

[Sarah in SC]

I vote with the TNR folks. Generally if you move a cat population out of an area, another will move in. So it is better to vaccinate and neuter the existing stable population.
I do not feed strays, nor do I feed birds or other wild animals. I take care of my own pets and do my best to protect the wildlife around me from my pets, and work with my local shelter to take care of strays.

I had a big pregnant raccoon decide to take up residence in a tree right behind our back porch. After consulting with wildlife specialists, I waited until nearly dark when she was coming down the tree and started making a huge racket, playing music, shouting, and hitting the tree with a board (after she was safely down). Then I followed after her, shouting “you cannot have your babies here!” while she glared at me before ambling on off toward the fence.

I am delighted to report that yes, the sound of my voice is so annoying, that I can force animals to relocate not to hear it again. She never came back, and I didn’t have to face 8 weeks of protecting her kits from my slightly murderous dogs and cats.

 

[Curmudgeon]

don't spill antifreeze in a small tuna can and leave it.

I would never use antifreeze, or any poison, on a cat or dog. Death by antifreeze is a horrible way to kill an animal. There's so many humane options that this is just an unjustifiable choice.

(And, this is coming from the guy who recommended .22LR.)

 

[NYEXPAT]

We have a park in the center of town "Parque Kennedy" that they moved homeless cats into and it has become a top tourist destination in Peru. There is a volunteer group that feeds them and Vets that come once a month to take care of medical needs. People will abandon there cats there and once a month they have an adoption center for the little guys. Tourist's are often seen lounging around on the grass or in the amphitheater with a cat sleeping in their laps. It got rid of a rodent problem and also keeps the birds away. We have a army of street cleaners here day and night so there is never any cat poo around.

 

[mamadogmamacat]

thanks for sharing NYEXPAT. I really needed to see that story. loss of habitat does way more damage to birds that that done by domestic cats. TNR does work. I've seen it work in several colonies in the various cities Ive lived in/near or have visited. Even visited, and support, one in Rome, Italy

 

[NYEXPAT]

In all fairness, I should state that up until 2013 "El Festival Gastronomico del Gato" was very popular in various parts of the country.

 

[NYEXPAT]

thanks for sharing NYEXPAT. I really needed to see that story. loss of habitat does way more damage to birds that that done by domestic cats. TNR does work. I've seen it work in several colonies in the various cities Ive lived in/near or have visited. Even visited, and support, one in Rome, Italy

Do not worry for the birds, Even though this is the driest coastal desert in the world, my district is loaded with trees ( the municipaliy has tanker trucks come water each one twice a day).

 

[mamadogmamacat]

Ah, not surprised, both based on greater incidence of poverty induced hunger (you learn to like to eat what you can catch for free) and the significant # of Asian and South Asian (where in some regions both cats and dogs are eaten) immigrants to Peru over generations.

The shelter/colony in Rome Italy was not entirely welcome in its early years, not really until it became something of a tourist attraction also in an otherwise somewhat bedraggled neighborhood

 

[mamadogmamacat]

As far as birds are concerned, I'm not a big fan in any case, but nice to hear how the trees (do love trees) are well cared for

 

[MRG]

I would never use antifreeze, or any poison, on a cat or dog. Death by antifreeze is a horrible way to kill an animal. There's so many humane options that this is just an unjustifiable choice.

(And, this is coming from the guy who recommended .22LR.)

A friend of mine runs a rescue shelter in Bali. They have a rabies problem and some think poisoning dogs helps.

She posts some very gruesome photos of the dogs. There's been many cases of pets in fenced areas poisoned. I knnow there's been some cases of children eating poison fish.

 

[braumeister]

the sound of my voice is so annoying, that I can force animals to relocate not to hear it again.

Sarah, you could make big bucks selling recordings of your voice. Set up a website where people can pay to download a track. You could even customize them to whatever critter they want to get rid of.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Sarah, you could make big bucks selling recordings of your voice. Set up a website where people can pay to download a track. You could even customize them to whatever critter they want to get rid of.

And I could even incorporate my god-like nagging skills and become a brazillionaire!
Lol, if you could have seen the look of incredulity on that raccoon’s face!

 

[dixonge]

Possibly more than you ever wanted to know about stray cats, TNR programs, etc.

TNR achieves 72% drop in kitten birth rate, finds Alley Cat Rescue – Animals 24-7

 

[robnplunder]

My county's TNR has trap, neuter, and release program. I think I will give them a call.

 

[Calico]

My county's TNR has trap, neuter, and release program. I think I will give them a call.

This is a humane approach, and will cut WAY down on a lot of issues, eg, tom cats fighting over territory and females; females in heat; unwanted kittens, etc.

It is the next best thing to every cat having a home of their own.

Good luck, and kudos to you for trying to live in harmony with your fellow creatures.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Our neighborhood online group always has notices of cats showing up in backyards and people looking for homes for these stray cats. It has got to the point it is pretty obvious there are a lot more stray cats in our area than anyone will ever find homes for. I've never seen one post from a household wanting to adopt a cat. The looking for home for stray cats posts vs. posts from people wanting to adopt cats is running about 500 to 0 this year.

 

[Aerides]

TNR, + some sort of repellent on your most important spot (your green you mentioned). Most every feral cat is the result of a negligent human at some point - either a non-fixed runaway or lost pet, etc.

And yes a couple of well fed ferals (tnr'd) will generally claim a spot and that keeps others away.

 

[robnplunder]

TNR, + some sort of repellent on your most important spot (your green you mentioned).

Not a poop was found since I declared war on the cats, knock on wood.

It rained today and I sprinkled more repellent after the ground got dried.

So far, I've spent about $100 on repellents (2 x Ultrasound devices, 3 powdered ones).

 

[robnplunder]

No cats near our house and its neighboring houses and I think it is due to a cat repellent I've bought recently. It is 50% dried blood and the rest are peppers and other ingredients. Ever since I spread it around our house, the cats are nowhere to be seen. Awesome, especially, in light of our TNR program no longer exists (due to lack of volunteers).

 

[Another Reader]

No cats near our house and its neighboring houses and I think it is due to a cat repellent I've bought recently. It is 50% dried blood and the rest are peppers and other ingredients. Ever since I spread it around our house, the cats are nowhere to be seen. Awesome, especially, in light of our TNR program no longer exists (due to lack of volunteers).

Trust me, if you are in the Bay Area, someone is doing TNR in your area. It may take a little detective work, but those folks can be found.

 

[target2019]

The only way to completely take care of this problem is to report your neighbor to local animal control officer. The problem is going to get much worse if you don't. We had a local situation where we ended up with DOZENS of cats and kittens moving throughout the back yards. Eventually the animal control officer responded, and various problems with the house and yard were fixed. A few cats were left behind, and after a few years, the problem grows again.

 

[RunningBum]

The only way to completely take care of this problem is to report your neighbor to local animal control officer. The problem is going to get much worse if you don't. We had a local situation where we ended up with DOZENS of cats and kittens moving throughout the back yards. Eventually the animal control officer responded, and various problems with the house and yard were fixed. A few cats were left behind, and after a few years, the problem grows again.

Report them for what? In post 37 he says:

They stopped leaving out their dog food where cats can get at them.

 

[OHjosh]

If the cat is a kitten or relatively young, it may be a shelter is a solution. But if the cat is feral, taking them to a shelter is a death sentence. You may want to consider a different approach: Trap/neuter/return. Contact Alley Cat Allies for the approach and you hope, willing volunteers. (Some of us do love cats, even and especially those with no chance for a permanent home.) Cats in the wild have a rough time and their numbers will decline slowly but surely.