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keeping cats out of my yard

post #1 of 26
6/23/05 at 3:41am
Thread Starter 
I need help. My neighbor has 3 cats that roam the neighboorhood each day, attacking our birds, scratching our trees, urinating on our decks and furniture cushions, and generally just being cats. Several of the residents have spoken to the owners of these pests about keeping them indoors and the owners just refuse. Since the animals are only doing what cats do, we have no wish to cause them harm. We would like to humanely capture the cats and take them to a shelter. Does anyone have any ideas on how to solve our problem?
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post #2 of 26
6/23/05 at 5:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bebonner
We would like to humanely capture the cats and take them to a shelter.
Are you saying these cats actually belong to your neighbours?!, if so you can't capture them and send them to a shelter, because their someones pets!.

If i found someone doing that to my cats they'd find themselves straight in the small claims court, and with an even bigger case if i found that the shelter had put them to sleep

Like you say " Their doing what cats do! " so their anything but pests!, and you can't force a cat to stay indoors if it's been used to being outside.
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post #3 of 26
6/23/05 at 5:39am
Call your local animal control center and report that you have some unattended cats causing a disturbance in your yard. If people tried speaking rationally with the owners, and they just waive off the neighborhood's concerns -- then to hell with them!

As much as someone else might love their cats, you have a right to enjoy your private property without disturbances.
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post #4 of 26
6/23/05 at 5:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nano
Call your local animal control center and report that you have some unattended cats causing a disturbance in your yard. If people tried speaking rationally with the owners, and they just waive off the neighborhood's concerns -- then to hell with them!

As much as someone else might love their cats, you have a right to enjoy your private property without disturbances.
I agree totally..
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post #5 of 26
6/23/05 at 5:54am
There are products that deter cats, usually sprays or crystals.

I had the same problem with my front porch and garden, managed to stop the little beggars. Hose your deck and chairs down, wash the cushions and remove everything for about a week. In garden areas the cats are going toilet in lay down wire mesh or you can also get black plastic mesh with prickly bits that are especially for that purpose. My neighbour used kebab sticks for her narrow strip of garden.
After you've given garden and deck a good hose-off then apply your deterent.
By hosing it down you're removing the cats scent. Water filled plastic bottles also will scare them off, but just for a while.
Perhaps you could ask your neighbour to provide them with a scratching post and toilet area in "their" yard.
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post #6 of 26
6/23/05 at 7:10am
be-

As already stated, these cats belong to someone else. They could be socialized feral cats that aren't happy in the home, which is why she lets them roam. But you cannot trap them and send them off to a shelter! If one of my neighbors did that to the two cats I have now that aren't comfortable living either in the house, or our outside enclosure, I too would go after them legally because you have no right.

You can invest in a scarecrow- it is a motion detector type sprinkler- if you go to www.meowhoo.com and look under Cat Behavior, you will find several links that give you products to deter cats. I find it interesting that you state you have no wish to do them harm, but are thinking of trapping owned cats and taking them to an shelter? Unless it is a no-kill shelter, they will maybe keep them three days top then put them to sleep. And if it is a no-kill shelter, chances are good there is no room anyway because it is kitten season.
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post #7 of 26
6/23/05 at 7:59am
If the town has an ordinance about letting pets roam unleashed, aren't the neighbors breaking the law? I am all about cat welfare, but what recourse does this poster have if he does not want the animals on his property? And people wonder why roaming cats are often the target of inhumane acts.

I say if a deterrent product is ineffective and letting pets roam is against the law in your area, you have little recourse but call Animal Control.
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post #8 of 26
6/23/05 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hissy
be-

But you cannot trap them and send them off to a shelter! If one of my neighbors did that to the two cats I have now that aren't comfortable living either in the house, or our outside enclosure, I too would go after them legally because you have no right.
As Hissy mentioned and others, they would take legal offense at this practice. I encourage you to check with your local animal control center or city clerk to determine if the cats are allowed to roam without penalty. If they are, then you can seek legal redress in small claims court for any damages you can prove were caused by the cats.

BUT - if the laws prohibit the cats from roaming at large, then it is legal to capture and take the animals to the animal shelter. Just because the cats have an owner does not give them the right to roam on your property. If this is the case, the legal threat is to the cat owner for criminal or civil violations.

Again, check your local laws.
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post #9 of 26
6/23/05 at 8:32am
I’m sorry the neighbor's cats are disturbing you. Cats should be contained whether indoors or outside, when possible. Please do all you can to help the residents work things out with the neighbors. Perhaps you can help them fence in their yard and so on. Try community dispute mediation (found through neighborhood associations and city or county resources.)

Here are links to further ideas for non-lethal and non-toxic solutions:

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/keepingout.htm

http://fixourferals.org/index.php?pager=10_tips

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/outdoors/820

http://www.catfencein.com/brochure2.php

Are these cats spayed or neutered? Let us know if you need help finding low-cost spay/neuter resources.
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post #10 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
I have contacted our ASPCA and our township. It is in fact against the law for cats to roam unattended. I can capture the cats and take them to the shelter. Once there, the animal welfare officer will fine the owners $75.00 to get the cats back again. They will not put the cats down. My problem is how to catch these cats. Any suggestions
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post #11 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:15am
Thread Starter 
Please see my answer below. Any suggestions?
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post #12 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:35am
have you contacted the owners and let them know you will go to these lengths? they might listen better..
I don't agree with trapping them and sending them to a shelter, even if they will be returned, because apart from the stress they could pick up illnesses etc there.
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post #13 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
Yes, I have contacted the owners and they say, "Oh well, I guess you gotta do what ya gotta do."
As you can tell by the quote, they are not rocket scientists.
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post #14 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:45am
I feel bad for the cats, but it's insensative cat-owners like that who give the rest of us a bad-name. Very frusterating.

Is the shelter willing to loan you any traps?
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post #15 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:48am
Thread Starter 
No, they do not have the equipment to lend out. I need an inexpensive way to trap these cats.
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post #16 of 26
6/23/05 at 10:54am
Holy smokes, what jerks for cat owners! Any time any of my neighbors have complained about my cats, I have bent over backward trying to solve the problem- jumping on cars, hiding in the garage (turned out the neighbors had mice in thier garage) But to just say you gotta do what you gotta do is insane! Contact the local animal shelter- they usually have traps you can put a deposit on and rent. When you turn them back in good condition, you get your money back. Failing that call a local pest control company and pick their brain. Often they will also rent you a trap to catch the cats for a small fee-

Good luck!
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post #17 of 26
6/23/05 at 11:01am
In my city, even if the cat owners are misdirected albeit loving cat owners, any cat can be trapped without legal consequence whatsoever if they are not on their own property.
I would get a trap and leave the owners a note telling them where they can be picked up. Outline the entire situation to them again in the note and state that, as they wouldn't listen to reason, you had to exercise this last resort.

Good luck to you and these cats...
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post #18 of 26
6/23/05 at 11:36am
Quote:
There are products that deter cats, usually sprays or crystals.
what crystals are these? or what do you mean by that?

Abs
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post #19 of 26
6/23/05 at 11:45am
Here is a spray:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2001&Nty=1
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post #20 of 26
6/23/05 at 2:34pm
There might be a feral cat group in your area that can lend you a trap. I've seen traps at the Tractor Supply Store, but I can't remember how much they cost. The links that AnimalResources provided might help you find a group that can lend you a trap.

Can Animal Control just come out and get the cats themselves? That would be easier, if they are willing. I'd hate to see the cats go to a shelter, but to me that's better than leaving them outside, roaming on someone's property. Who knows, you have have a neighbor who doesn't care for cats and might hurt them. The owners are obviously not prepared to accept responsibility for their cats- maybe someone else would be. At least that would be a chance, albeit a small one. I just worry that the cats might make someone angry enough to hurt them.
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post #21 of 26
6/23/05 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by esrgirl
I just worry that the cats might make someone angry enough to hurt them.
Thats my worry as well
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post #22 of 26
6/24/05 at 8:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rosiemac
Thats my worry as well

I share your concerns. One of our neighbors was scratched by one of the roaming cats a few weeks ago and was heard to say, "####!!, that's it, I'm gonna kill those ### cats."

I hope this was just male bravado and that I can find a solution soon before something like this happens to the cats.
Wish me luck
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post #23 of 26
6/24/05 at 6:05pm
I hope he was all mouth as well because if he was serious then i wish the worst upon him!.

Sometimes i wish it were as simple to get rid of some humans as it is animals?!.
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post #24 of 26
6/24/05 at 9:12pm
Man, I hate it when people leave others to deal with their responsibilities.

Good luck, I hope it gets resolved well.
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post #25 of 26
6/26/05 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AbbeyCat
have you contacted the owners and let them know you will go to these lengths? they might listen better..
I don't agree with trapping them and sending them to a shelter, even if they will be returned, because apart from the stress they could pick up illnesses etc there.

They can pick up illnesses from roaming around too.... most cat illnesses are prevented from vaccines so if they arent vaccinated then the owners arent
responsible enough to own animals anyway. The shelter can find them owners who are.... a good indicator would be if the owners are willing to spend the money to get them out. I would try talking to the neighbors frst though...maybe they would be willing to help with making your yard a cat free zone in leu of spending $$ to get them out of the shelter. Get copies of the laws in print, maybe print out some solutions to keep them out of other's yards and present it as an alternative to you trapping them.... then see how they respond. I know I respond to someone with facts much better than an irate person. Do they have any idea their cats are bothering the neighbors? I think trapping is a good solution after you've given the owners a chance to be responsible.

Nancy

Good luck
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post #26 of 26
6/26/05 at 9:21pm
Quote:
I feel bad for the cats, but it's insensative cat-owners like that who give the rest of us a bad-name. Very frusterating.
Not insensative, irresponsible is more like it.
Quote:
Sometimes i wish it were as simple to get rid of some humans as it is animals?!.
You took the words right out of my mouth
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