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- Apr 23, 2016
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We live on the edge of a wooded area in a suburb and we care for 2 stay cats. Both are fixed and we've been feeding them for years. We have always had a lot of suburban wide life (foxes, raccoons, deer, and even the occasional bear), so we NEVER leave food out at night so as not to attract problem animals. We've always had raccoons around but usually only at night.
My routine is that when I get up in the morning around 7:30am I put out some wet food, dry food, and clean water for the outside cats. They know the routine and are usually waiting for me to feed them. They might eat a bit as they come and go throughout the day, but that's their routine and also the only time they're likely to get some wet food as I don't leave that out all day for bugs and bees.
Now all of a sudden we have a raccoon coming around in the morning AFTER I put the food out! He does not seem aggressive or sick in any way. And he's VERY friendly and not scared enough to be chased off when we come outside to stop him from eating the food. It doesn't help that my spouse has amazing animal energy so squirrels and even raccoons often come right up to her.
We don't hate raccoons and we don't want to be terribly mean to them, but we don't want them out in the daytime eating the cat food. Any advice on how to make this stop?
My routine is that when I get up in the morning around 7:30am I put out some wet food, dry food, and clean water for the outside cats. They know the routine and are usually waiting for me to feed them. They might eat a bit as they come and go throughout the day, but that's their routine and also the only time they're likely to get some wet food as I don't leave that out all day for bugs and bees.
Now all of a sudden we have a raccoon coming around in the morning AFTER I put the food out! He does not seem aggressive or sick in any way. And he's VERY friendly and not scared enough to be chased off when we come outside to stop him from eating the food. It doesn't help that my spouse has amazing animal energy so squirrels and even raccoons often come right up to her.
We don't hate raccoons and we don't want to be terribly mean to them, but we don't want them out in the daytime eating the cat food. Any advice on how to make this stop?