FLY problem! outside cat enclosure

Hey guys we've got a major fly problem. In the 5 years we've had this enclosure it's the first time it's been this bad. Of course with all the rain we've had here in Alabama lately we haven't been able to mow or weedeat so that might be a factor. But basically here's the problem:

On one end of the enclosure we have it completely tarped off with 2 door openings and it's where their houses are & where we feed them. It has a ton of flies in it. It also floods really bad in there and it never did that until we had a huge storm come through several months ago.

And then on the other end is where they use the bathroom and you can imagine how many flies are in this area. They've also worn the grass down and it doesn't grow in there anymore so it's just dirt which is now mud because of all the rain so it's next to impossible to keep completely clean. We rake & shovel but we can never get it all up. We also made  mistake of using pine shavings in their houses instead of straw & we're afraid that this has attracted the flies in their houses plus the fact that it, as mentioned above, floods & stays wet.

What can we do?? I have included pictures of the enclosure.

That IS an awful problem to have and I feel for you and the cats. Great enclosure, btw !!! :bigthumb: The first thing I think would be to come up with a plan try to keep the enclosure dry from soaking and flooding. You may have to trap all of the kitties and put them up for a day elsewhere to get this done. I would strip out the enclosures - the whole floor and see about putting in new soil/sand/ or whatever to raise/level things up a bit??? I am grasping at straws here, maybe. What about exterminating - using a yard spray. Of course, again, the cats/food/water, etc. would need to be removed during spraying. I had horses for years and know all about those damn flies. ARGH. Also - what about hanging those fly traps all around the outside of the enclosure?

I think the biggest problem is the water and things being moist. I hope others come along that have outdoor enclosures in the summertime to offer up their suggestions. Sorry if mine were less than brilliant. :lol3:

Feralvr said:

That IS an awful problem to have and I feel for you and the cats. Great enclosure, btw !!!

The first thing I think would be to come up with a plan try to keep the enclosure dry from soaking and flooding. You may have to trap all of the kitties and put them up for a day elsewhere to get this done. I would strip out the enclosures - the whole floor and see about putting in new soil/sand/ or whatever to raise/level things up a bit??? I am grasping at straws here, maybe.

What about exterminating - using a yard spray. Of course, again, the cats/food/water, etc. would need to be removed during spraying. I had horses for years and know all about those damn flies. ARGH. Also - what about hanging those fly traps all around the outside of the enclosure?

I think the biggest problem is the water and things being moist. I hope others come along that have outdoor enclosures in the summertime to offer up their suggestions. Sorry if mine were less than brilliant.

Click to expand...

I forgot about those fly strips. We'll try that around the outside & see if it helps some. Unfortunately we don't really have a way of trapping & removing everyone. We have an old shed near the enclosure (maybe 20 feet away or so) and we've decided to build a walkway from the enclosure to it & have that be a huge house for them but we have to do it paycheck to paycheck & it will take a couple of months before that'll be fixed enough so they can use it.

We want to replace the ground with something else like concrete or sod or something but as big as our enclosure is it would cost a fortune. It's about 17x50 (roughly 850 square feet). And thank you for the compliment about the enclosure!

Can you put tarp over the top of the enclosure? this may keep the rain out

Draco said:

Can you put tarp over the top of the enclosure? this may keep the rain out

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing too but I wonder if the rain is traveling and flowing from upper ground and settling in the low spots. :dk:

little red said:

We want to replace the ground with something else like concrete or sod or something but as big as our enclosure is it would cost a fortune. It's about 17x50 (roughly 850 square feet). And thank you for the compliment about the enclosure!

Click to expand...

I bet it would cost a load of cash to redo and raise up the ground. It appears to me it has some low spots where water can accumulate. Raising up and leveling the ground for better drainage is probably what needs to be done.... but..... yeah...... expensive to do.

Maybe fly predators and fly traps? http://www.spalding-labs.com/

I would also put down pea gravel in the potty spots. Pine pellets might work too (they would get wet and turn to sawdust but at least will give you a surface to scrape up instead of bare dirt) or even just plain sawdust/woodchips/shredded newspaper (anything you can get free/cheap) but pea gravel would most likely be better. It might be a good idea to take out all the wood shavings from their bed area and replace it with straw. When wood shavings start to rot the flies lay their eggs in the rotting stuff. . .I've never had that problem with straw though. But then I don't live in Alabama . And maybe set the beds up on pallets/something like that. Having the plastic touch the ground makes a big damp spot with no air flow and this attracts bugs.

Are you saying to forgo the enclosure or the shed would be in addition to the enclosure?  I would be worried of them spending to much time in shed even if it is huge as I think the sun is wonderful at preventing infections from spreading and if many end up in a shed (by own choice or by need) that could be an issue.

You can make fly traps from 2 litter soda bottles.  You cut off the top right above the label and put it pour spout down and tape is around.  They go in no issue but have trouble coming out.  

Willowy said:

Maybe fly predators and fly traps? http://www.spalding-labs.com/

I would also put down pea gravel in the potty spots.

. .I've never had that problem with straw though..

Click to expand...

Great suggestion with the pea gravel. I actually use that for my dogs potty enclosure. It really allows the Pee to soak through leaving the stones clean, especially after rain. It can be pricey to do a large area at $2.99 per bag where I live but then you rarely have to re-do the substructure.

YES - straw !!!!! Very good choice instead of the pine shavings. I have always used straw in the feral winter huts and it never gets moldy or needing replacing during a particular winter.