I have been feeding one feral for about 7 months, and a second cat is now coming to eat every day. Unfortunately, a coyote started showing up two nights ago. (I am using a trail cam to monitor what goes on, so I'm pretty sure it's only just started coming around.) How can I scare off the coyote without also scaring away the cats? (These cats are both extremely shy; there's no way I can get them inside, which would be my preferred solution.)
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How to repel coyotes without also scaring off the cats?
- Thread starter lcf2015
- Start Date
My experience with coyotes is once they get so much as a mouthful they add your home to their regular trail. Both the food you leave, even out of reach and the cats are sources of protein. The only thing I can suggest is if you have an outside building you can make an absolutely secure entrance for the cats only. The other option is to dispose of the coyote. They are extremely hard to scare off. Smarter than wolves in many ways they get to know your behavior patterns right down to when you get in a car and leave. Small to medium sized outdoor or unattended pets in your neighborhood are easy prey for them. No wild animal will expend more energy to secure a meal than they have to. The good news is actual feral cats are very keen to predators. and make themselves scarce during prime hunting times. Dusk and dawn.
If you feed the cats outside pick a time when you can supervise and make sure not one food nugget is dropped. then remove everything to an inside space. Sometimes a few well placed rounds in the ground at their tails when they haven't gotten a meal can send them on their way.
Feeding them only during the day might help - or maybe just at dawn and dusk.
The only other thing I can think of is if you could build an enclosure for the cats that the coyote can't get into. It needed be elaborate - a large dog kennel that has a wire roof. Come to think of it, you may be able to do without the roof. If you feed inside the kennel, the cats will learn to come and go and the coyote won't be able to get inside. If the cats can get inside and the coyote can't, they'll have a safe place to get away from it.
You might also set up a shed with a cat door. Same principle - the cats can get in but the coyote can't.
I don't know of anything that would scare off the coyote that wouldn't also scare off the cats.
I hope someone else can come along with more suggestions
The only other thing I can think of is if you could build an enclosure for the cats that the coyote can't get into. It needed be elaborate - a large dog kennel that has a wire roof. Come to think of it, you may be able to do without the roof. If you feed inside the kennel, the cats will learn to come and go and the coyote won't be able to get inside. If the cats can get inside and the coyote can't, they'll have a safe place to get away from it.
You might also set up a shed with a cat door. Same principle - the cats can get in but the coyote can't.
I don't know of anything that would scare off the coyote that wouldn't also scare off the cats.
I hope someone else can come along with more suggestions
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Are they spayed and neutered? I´d take care of that first, otherwise you´ll have to worry about coyotes eating the kittens pretty soon.
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Making noise is the first way to chase off a coyote, but that would also scare off the cats. And you would have to actually see them in order to scare them with noise.
You could install motion sensor lights outside so that when a coyote reaches specific area the bright lights come on. More than one would be preferable. You would need to place the sensors in areas where the coyote's travel through - they usually follow the same pathways.
Another option would be spraying cougar or wolf urine around your property lines. Those are the top two predators of coyote. In a pinch, toss out some rags soaked in ammonia or mothballs. However, it's been noted that along the east coast, there are some coyotes that have interbred with wolves and there is now a new and larger strain in that area. I would think bear urine would work too, but you are looking at an expense when you start that. It has to be 'refreshed' frequently, especially after rain and snow and with your being in WI... well, enough said.
If those don't work you might need to completely eliminate them with a shotgun (if that is an option in your area). If you don't want to go that route, call a professional wildlife catcher and have them trapped and relocated. (you might not get snow for several more weeks with the crazy weather going on right now, but call a trapper now and get prices etc. Tracking them in the snow is much easier and they can then set up traps along their hunting trails/paths). If you can't afford a trapper, they might be able to give you better advice on how to ward them off.
Coyotes are known as the cockroaches of predators. They are very difficult to get rid of; especially once they have fed in an area or smell food.
As other's have said, having an enclosed area for the cats to be able to get into that they coyotes can't is your best bet for now. The cats will need shelter over the winter in your area too. If you have a garage or shed, simply cut a 6 inch circular hole near the bottom of the door so the cats can get in. You will have to take some time to get them familiar with the change in their feeding location, but they will catch on and eventually go inside. Put some boxes on some wooden pallets and line them with straw and keep fresh water and food for them.
Good luck and let us know what the trapper people say, what you decide to do, and if it works!
You could install motion sensor lights outside so that when a coyote reaches specific area the bright lights come on. More than one would be preferable. You would need to place the sensors in areas where the coyote's travel through - they usually follow the same pathways.
Another option would be spraying cougar or wolf urine around your property lines. Those are the top two predators of coyote. In a pinch, toss out some rags soaked in ammonia or mothballs. However, it's been noted that along the east coast, there are some coyotes that have interbred with wolves and there is now a new and larger strain in that area. I would think bear urine would work too, but you are looking at an expense when you start that. It has to be 'refreshed' frequently, especially after rain and snow and with your being in WI... well, enough said.
If those don't work you might need to completely eliminate them with a shotgun (if that is an option in your area). If you don't want to go that route, call a professional wildlife catcher and have them trapped and relocated. (you might not get snow for several more weeks with the crazy weather going on right now, but call a trapper now and get prices etc. Tracking them in the snow is much easier and they can then set up traps along their hunting trails/paths). If you can't afford a trapper, they might be able to give you better advice on how to ward them off.
Coyotes are known as the cockroaches of predators. They are very difficult to get rid of; especially once they have fed in an area or smell food.
As other's have said, having an enclosed area for the cats to be able to get into that they coyotes can't is your best bet for now. The cats will need shelter over the winter in your area too. If you have a garage or shed, simply cut a 6 inch circular hole near the bottom of the door so the cats can get in. You will have to take some time to get them familiar with the change in their feeding location, but they will catch on and eventually go inside. Put some boxes on some wooden pallets and line them with straw and keep fresh water and food for them.
Good luck and let us know what the trapper people say, what you decide to do, and if it works!
