Need help for friend who is highly allergic to cats.

Hey fellow feline lovers,

Sorry to pop up again after so long and immediately ask for help but my friend is having a lot of trouble with a couple of cats. These cats just love to sleep on her front porch - and as it is summer at the moment here in Australia,  they are molting their winter coats rapidly.

Unfortunately she is highly allergic to cat fur and is unable to leave her front door open or even use her front porch at the moment, she walks out the front door and immediately has problems breathing because she is allergic to the fur left behind.

I was wondering if anyone here has a suggestion to keep the cats off her porch - she has tried spraying them with water etc, but they just keep coming back. She doesn't want to hurt them, just keep them away from her.

Hope someone can come up with something. Thanks in advance.

Felineorc

How about planting in pots something that the cats don't like the smell of like lemon balm or a curry plant. There are even cat repellent sticks available which stop cats toileting in your garden, these might work too. Deterring them with smells they don't like is the only way I can think of.
I'm sure someone else will be along with some other suggestions for you.

Thanks, KittyWhiskers, I will let my friend know and see if she can get some plants going.

Can she or someone make an alternative sleeping arrangement away from house? Little shade huts or comfort shelters? Spray them with catnip and maybe lure with some treats?

That sounds great, but unfortunately I don't think it would work in this situation - the people who actually own the cat may object to her feeding 'their babies". Kitties I might add that are allowed to run free 24 hours a day. This is why they like to shelter on my friend's front porch.

Although I will suggest it to her, it may work without causing trouble with the owner.

Sorry, but the cats' owners really don't get a say in or have a right to be mad about who feeds them if they allow the cats to roam wild 24 hours a day and on to other people's property. You should not worry about offending them by offering the cats food or treats. This is really irresponsible behavior on the part of the owners and puts the cats at risk. People not as nice as your friend might decide to leave out poison for the cats, or they might get attacked by another animal.

Has your friend talked to the cats' owners about the problems she is having with the cats? The owners of the cats need to find a solution. Your friend should not be made to deal with the problem.

This reminds me of my neighborhood where some people allow their dogs to run wild and tear open other people's trash, poop all over their yards, and charge at them when they are walking down the street. But, I digress.

I noticed, by the way, that this thread has not been updated in about a month and a half. Has the problem with the cats on the porch been resolved?

Hey Tabbysia,

Sorry haven't been back to update - life got in the way

The problem hasn't been resolved.

My friend has spoken to the neighbours - they just say - "cats will be cats and do what they like" so they will do nothing.

She has been moving the cat on by spraying it with water from a spray bottle whenever it is on the porch - this seems to be working in making it move off so that she can get out - but puss keeps coming back for a nap or three every day.

We really need something that will keep it away for good. But we don't want to hurt the cat - my friend likes cats it's just that she is highly allergic to them.

Any ideas will be passed on.

I will try and check in again soon.

Thanks.