Need suggestions keeping raccoons out from under the house but the cats in

Hey I am trying to help this woman who has been caring for a feral colony in her yard. The cats love to go under the house..but now there is a raccoon going under there..so they had to close it up..now the cats are wandering..is there a way to keep the raccoons away?

I just saw a commercial on tv for mint-x garbage bags on tv. Supposedly raccoons hate mint. maybe getting those might keep the raccoons from going in there. I also heard raccoons don't like cucumbers as well. Maybe a cucumber air freshener down there.

Hi . I honestly do not know of a way to keep coons away from where the ferals hang. Actually, raccoons and feral cat's do get along quite well. I don't like that they come around either and I make sure to take up all food before dark. Never heard about the mint or cucumbers before. I would think they would eat the cucumbers :lol3: Will be interested in seeing of others have suggestions.

Thanks..the issue however is that the owner does not mind the cats under the house...but she does not want raccoons under there. It may look like coons and cats get along..but raccoons eat kittens.

Yes - they do unfortunately. Most feral mom cats will move the kittens frequently. That is where TNR comes in also then there won't be any kittens for the coons to eat. :nod: Hopefully this lady can get an organization to come in and help trap these cats for their TNRs if it is not already done. Best of luck

Oh this lady has had lots of help with TNR..including from me. The jerks across the street will not neuter and bring home kittens..eventually the cats get pregnant and end up at my friends house. We have trapped about 10 cats..one mama has not been caught..she is really smart. But we are still trying. The cats going under the house are already TNRed except for mama. Now the people across the street have a few new kittens.

It sounds to me like the biggest problem is the jerks across the street.  Check your local laws and see if there is something in there about spay/neuter requirements. The only other way is to file a complaint with the local SPCA or shelter naming the jerks. 

I have been thinking about this one.  Raccoons have such clever little hands that about anything you can do, they can undo.  Maybe a board with a hole small enough for the cats, but too small for the 'coons. This is assuming they are going in at a foundation vent.  If there is a big opening where they are going in, I have drawn a blank.

I think they figured something out. I will update when I get a chance.

Iris said:

I think they figured something out. I will update when I get a chance.

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Just catching up here. Those jerks across the street are burning me up nfire: That is so maddening that they just get kittens and let the cats breed. It is like you are fighting a never ending battle You and this nice lady. Is there any talking sense into them :dk: :frusty: Let us know what your plan is. :cross:

This thread is about me and my hubby and our caring for the ferals.We have been blessed with lots of amazing help to stabilize this colony. 1  Mama left and it will be complete.

YES it all started across the street. Then they just stopped caring for them all.  I had been helping them with food and offering to personally pay to have them all fixed.  They never took me up on the offer to fix any of them. Once the care and food was gone they 1 day appeared in my yard. That was 2 years ago. Several litters later. All caught and taken to Kitty harbor in Seattle. I have a 99% stable colony of amazing kitties. Not without issue and losses. 3 kittens were lost this year. 1 young Mama could have been gone but my instinct new she was sick.

The raccoon issue is hopefully ending. Just now to get the kitties all back to where I know they are safe and taken care of. The do come 2 times a day to eat and I know where most of them have been hiding.

The neigbor across the street is troublesome. I have given them all the info to spay/neuter their cats. NOTHING.

I cannot go to animal control. I cant risk the outrageous fines they could potentially fine me just for feeding the ferals. They could  consider them MY cats if they are on my property and a fine is 250.00 per cat. Thats a lot of cat food.

We are just 2 normal people trying to make the best of a bad situation and caring for kitties who didnt deserve this life.

Hi Jo! You found this site! Folks this is the lady with the jerrrkkkyyy neighbor and the coon problem. I think her hubby is going to build a raccoon free cat feeder and we are going to trap a couple of coons..and relocate them. There will probably be more raccoons but maybe if the new ones can't get to the food they won't come

Where do these neighbors keep getting their kittens from?
Whoever those people are should at least be informed about the neglect they are recieving from them.

They have 1 mama cat who has had 2 litters. They have kept 1 from both litters. So they now have 3 cats.. The Mama and we believe atleast the older kitten is female.

Also just  to be clear. The Mama cat and the kittens are the grandsons personal pets. BUT none the less none are getting fixed and are being allowed to reproduce and then they either sell of give away the kittens.They also have 2 dogs living there that have never been fixed.

I have over and over and over again given them lists and numbers to call for help.Thats all I can do.

I can only deal with the ferals that were born due to the irresponsibility of the granddaughter.

IzzyBees said:

Where do these neighbors keep getting their kittens from?
Whoever those people are should at least be informed about the neglect they are recieving from them.

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Well, unfortunately, since the cats are breeding and there are kittens who are not getting fixed.... then those kittens will have kittens. They can start breeding at four months of age :shocker: So that is where all the cats are coming from. :nod: Yes, they are being neglectful.

MyJojo422 said:

Also just  to be clear. The Mama cat and the kittens are the grandsons personal pets. BUT none the less none are getting fixed and are being allowed to reproduce and then they either sell of give away the kittens.They also have 2 dogs living there that have never been fixed.
I have over and over and over again given them lists and numbers to call for help.Thats all I can do.
I can only deal with the ferals that were born due to the irresponsibility of the granddaughter.

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It really IS a rough spot you are in. Animal Control can be very difficult to deal with for sure. I am sorry that they would fine you that outrageous amount per cat!!!!!!!!!! So you are dealing with that issue and the issue of the irresponsible people across the street. Are there no TNR organizations in your area? Seattle is it? IF so, then you could be umbrellaed under that organization as a feral caretaker. That is how I am able to deal with animal control and the fines. I commend you highly :nod: for you efforts!

OH YES...we are blessed in our area to have lots of TNR help. I am a independent trapper. We have places to get things done. BUT the issue is more and more cats for people like Joanne. She and her husband Harry have inherited a problem with the cats who are breeding across the street. She cares alot for the little waifs..and does her best. She has trapped several of them but some she has been unable to get..and they keep breeding. The expense of feeding all these cats that are not hers is HUGE. NOW..if you can believe this..SO the people across the street let unneutered cats out. They have kittens..and more kittens. Because they are hungry they go across the street to Joanne's house. She feeds them because she cannot stand to see starving hungry cats. She has done her best to get them neutered..many are feral. Animal Control goes by and sees the cats on her property and threaten her with fines for FEEDING THE CATS. UNFREAKING UNBELIEVEABLE. She tries to explain the cats are coming from across the street. Does Animal Control Care? NO..she is going to get the fine. She has tried and tried to get these people to cooperate and they will not. Today I went over and introduced myself as a Cat advocate..that I can transport cats to clinic to be neutered for free. I left my phone number. I am going to nag them. LOL. I am thinking about going to the head of Animal Control with a presentation and explain what the deal is.  Even in this area that has many resources to get animals neutered for free we still have to work with ignorant people who don't give a crap about animals. Sometimes my heart gets so heavy because try as I will we can't help every animal who needs help.

Just to be clear the 3 cats from across the street that are there now do not come over to eat. They get fed and are taken care of. BUT the owner is irresponsible as far as spaying/neutering the 3 cats.

Animal Control has never been to my house. They told me this over the phone 1 day when I called about a coyote.They told me to trap the cats and take them to the humane  society. Not an option when I know they would be killed. They also said to stop feeding them. Again not an option.They said i could be fined up to 250 per cat if they deemed they were living here. My property then they are my pets.

I have enough neighbors and people from organizations to back me up if that ever happened.

As long as I am here Meana, Dr Suess, Punkin,Brother, Mama, Snickers, Mario. Luigi, Oreo and Dora will have food and shelter.

Joanne, you are such a kind soul. ANYWAY a update. I went over to problem neighbors today and I am picking up the cats to take to Pasado's tomorrow to get done!!!