DISCOURAGING FREE-ROAMING CATS
Many people have a problem with free-roaming cats who hunt wild birds as
they feed or nest in their yards, who use their garden as a litter box,
or who upset their pets by invading their territory. You certainly have
the right to enjoy your yard and the birds who visit it. However, it's
your responsibility to solve your free-roaming cat problem humanely.
Why Are They Picking on Me?
Although a destructive neighborhood cat can be frustrating, don't take
it personally. The cat isn't acting out of spite or picking on you for
some unknown reason. He's behaving naturally. The problem, of course, is
that he's doing so in places you find inappropriate. The solution lies
in making those places undesirable so the cat will behave naturally
somewhere else.
Cats have preyed upon birds for thousands of years, and there's no
foolproof way to discourage this natural instinct.
Another natural feline instinct is to defecate in areas where the cat
can cover his scent by burying the waste. Therefore, a cat that spends
most of his time outdoors appreciates the soft, pre-dug dirt of your
garden€”or your child's sandbox€”as a handy toilet.
When a cat naps on the hood of your car or in the center of your
flowerbed, he's simply sunning himself in a nice, warm spot and doesn't
realize the damage he's doing. He won't connect your negative reaction
with the place where he naps, and although he may learn to avoid you, he
won't avoid the place or stop the activity.
A free-roaming cat may approach your window or patio door and challenge
your cat or dog through the glass with blatant body language and/or
vocal insults. The best way to protect your pet from this type of
situation is to keep the outside cat away from the areas that your pet
can see by using the techniques described below.
Of course, the ideal solution is for all cat owners to keep their cats
safely confined. Unfortunately, not all cat owners are willing to do
this, so you'll need to take steps to solve the problem without harming
the cat, the birds, other innocent animals, or your yard and garden.
Because each situation is different, you may need patience and ingenuity
to find the appropriate deterrent through trial and error.
Repellents
Repellents and devices designed to startle the cat "in the act" will
work best to condition him to avoid the area. Never use poisons. Not
only is poisoning animals inhumane and illegal, it's not an effective
solution to the problem. Poisons will only rid you of one "pest" and
won't deter any others. You'd have no way of knowing or controlling who
might find and ingest the poisonous substance.
Check with any pet supply store or garden supplier for commercial cat
repellents. There are a variety of natural oils (available at health
food stores) that some people claim have worked in deterring cats from
their property including eucalyptus, citrus oils and lavender.
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of any repellent will deteriorate
with moisture and/or time. Whether you use an aromatic oil or a
commercial mixture, you'll need to re-apply the solution after each
rain, heavy dew, or watering. Check with your garden supplier to be
certain that the solution you choose won't harm plants growing in that
area, especially if you use fertilizers or other soil additives.
For areas where cats want to dig, ornamental pebbles may be an effective
deterrent. Avoid pebbles that are very round or smooth, as they make a
great cat bed. Rocks or pebbles should be placed in a way that makes it
difficult for them to be dispersed. Small-gauge chicken wire can also be
buried under a light layer of dirt or mulch, and may even restrain some
weeds. The sharp pebbles and/or rough wire will be uncomfortable to soft
paws.
"Surprise" Devices
To teach a cat to avoid a specific area, you must make that area
unattractive to him. The best method is to surprise the cat "in the act"
but without the cat knowing that you are the one administering the
surprise. Simple devices can be used to effectively "booby-trap" the
area that a cat has found attractive.
Sound and Movement: Scatter pebbles on a metal tray; disposable pie pans
or cookie sheets work well and are inexpensive. Balance several trays
along the fence, porch or deck railing, the windowsill, or around the
edge of any vehicle where the cat jumps onto the surface. The weight of
a cat leaping onto the surface will upset the tray. The cat will be
startled by the noise and by the unsteady, collapsing perch. As a
variation on this "falling tray" method, set shallow plastic lids filled
with water on each end of the tray to add a shower to the noise and
movement of the falling tray.
Texture: To keep a cat from jumping onto flat surfaces (railings,
vehicles, or decks), criss-cross double-sided tape onto a piece of
sturdy plastic€”either a heavy, plastic drop cloth or a vinyl tablecloth
would work well. Drape the plastic over the surface, and secure it with
cord, or at least one weighted object, to keep it in position. The
sticky tape is annoying to the cat (without causing pain or panic), and
the slick plastic not only rattles but also offers no foothold. An
alternative to sticky tape would be to use a plastic carpet protector
with the knobby side up.
Water: This method works especially well for those areas where birds
feed on the ground or where cats are using a garden area as a litter
box. When the temperature permits, turn on a water sprinkler during the
usual time of disturbance (which may be dawn or dusk if the cat is on
your property to hunt). A timing device for the sprinkler, set to a
staggered schedule, will help discourage those intelligent cats who
would otherwise simply avoid the area at "regularly wet" times of day.
Obstacle: If your bird feeder or birdhouse is mounted on a post, nail a
galvanized metal guard in the shape of an inverted cone to the post to
protect the platform.
Responsibility
If these suggested remedies fail to provide relief, your next step is to
establish who cares for the cat. In many cases, the "problem cat" may be
an owned cat who is allowed to roam, or the cat may have no real owner.
If the cat belongs to a neighbor, your problem is a shared one. It's not
always easy to discuss neighborhood issues diplomatically. Remember that
the cat is your neighbor's pet, even though he's a nuisance when he's on
your property. By emphasizing your concern for the cat's safety, instead
of the problems he's causing, you have a greater chance of gaining your
neighbor's cooperation.
If you're unable to determine who owns the cat, the problem is in your
hands. In some cases it may be difficult to distinguish a feral
(semi-wild) cat from a potentially friendly stray, so unless the cat
comes to you fairly readily when you squat down nearby and gently call
to him, play it safe and don't touch the cat (if you are able to get
close enough in the first place). If you have not been able to get near
the cat even after several days, the cat may be feral and unaccustomed
to human contact. Before you attempt to trap a feral cat, contact animal
control to obtain an approved trap and permit.
Humane Traps
Don't use anything other than a humane cage trap designed to lure a cat
into the cage with food, and to safely contain him until he can be moved
to another area. Collinsville Animal Control loans out these traps. Be
sure to find out how to set and bait the trap, how to cover the trap,
and how often to check the trap. You must call the shelter at 346-5213
to reserve your trap.
If you have any reason to believe that the cat has an owner, please let
animal control know. Usually a simple letter in the mail solves the
problem. To trap a stray cat, bait the trap with canned cat food. Place
the trap in an area that's sheltered, as much as possible, against the
weather. Although you may hear some alarming noises when the cat
realizes he's trapped, he's only scared, not hurt. If the cat is
confined with no access to water or shelter from inclement weather or
predators, it's important that you remove the trap from the area
immediately. Using gloves to prevent scratches or bites, put the trap in
a protected area until Animal Control can pick it up. Please don't
release a stray cat. This will only cause further overpopulation
problems and, inevitably, a painful life and death for the cat.
Many owned cats, unfortunately, don't wear collars with identification.
An owned cat who is lost may behave fearfully. If the cat is unknown to
you, take him to your local animal shelter. He will be cared for there
and his owners will have a better chance of reclaiming him. If he is not
reclaimed, but of good health and temperament, the shelter will try to
find him a new, loving home, at which time you may be able to take the
cat yourself if you wish. That way, you can keep him safely confined in
your home, where he belongs, with you.
REMEMBER: CALL BEFORE YOU TRAP!
The city of Collinsville prohibits trapping without the approval of the
Animal Control Department. 346-5213.
Persons caught with un-approved traps on their property can be fined up
to $750.00 for each trap.
Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal
behaviorists at the
Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.
If you have questions or need our services, please contact the shelter
at
618.346.5213 or contact us today via
e-mail
Copyrights 2009 WARREN BILLHARTZ ANIMAL SHELTER OF
COLLINSVILLE. A KTLLC Communications Solution