We have a couple stray cats around here that holler, moan, and cry all night long. How can I keep them out of my driveway and yard? I have a small dog and he goes crazy when they start all their noise.
Thanks for the help.
By Mooses Mom from FL
If you're sure these cats are strays and don't belong to a neighbor, you can call your local Humane Society (the pound), they usually have (free to borrow) safe traps that you can use to catch these strays then take them to the humane society where they may be able to find homes for them after they've been "fixed". Sometimes they'll come and pick them up. These traps don't hurt the animal. I know this because an old neighbor of mine caught 3 stray cats this way and also 2 nasty raccoons.
This is because we used to live 2 houses away from a cat hoarder who had over a dozen cats, so when her house burned down they stayed in the neighborhood after she moved away. We kept one of the friendlier cats as a "porch cat" and named her "cute-face" and fed her daily. The other cats weren't as friendly so my neighbor trapped them and took them to a no-kill shelter. There's lots of people out there looking for an outdoor mouser, and let me tell you that when I lived at that house near all the cats, we never had a mouse or a rat, even if we failed to go to the dump as often as we should have! It's important to cover the cage as soon as the animal is caught to save them stress and help keep them calm. The traps come in 3 or 4 sizes, you need the right size. (06/09/2009)
By Cyinda
Trapping them and taking them to the animal shelter does not guarantee they wont be euthanized. If the cat is wild they DON'T 'fix' them and try to find them homes, they kill them. So if you are prepared to live with that, go ahead with that idea. Otherwise, there are products you can purchase at farm stores called 'feline away' and other products for unwanted animals in your garden and yard. You sprinkle it in your yard once a month or so and it deters the unwanted animals from wanting to visit your yard. After a while they won't bother you at all and you won't have to use anything else.
Also, cats don't like the smell of rue plants. You can plant them around your home to keep cats away as well. (06/09/2009)
By Susan
Believe it or not, moth balls or crystals work. That is what they use in the mountains to keep out unwanted animals. I tried it and it worked. Just have to live with the smell of the moth balls, but the kitties stay out. (06/09/2009)
By Debbie
You could fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of citrus essential oils and spray them when you see them. Personally I don't mind a couple of feral cats outside, they tend to keep the rodent population down and snake population down. (06/09/2009)
By Athena
There are hose end lawn sprinklers that come with motion detectors on them and when movement is detected, they turn on and drench the offending invader. This would work for cats, possums and other night creatures. Just Google it and I am sure you can find a source. It was first invented for deer, but will work for all 'critters'. If the spray doesn't hit them, the sudden noise will cause them to find other quieter places to prowl. (06/10/2009)
By Sheila A.
While these responses are good, they don't address the underlying issue, which is the fact that the cats are yowling because they are un-neutered/un-spayed. Your best option is to contact your local feral cat initiative. Just google them. They will often come out, trap the cats humanely, and have them spayed or neutered. You will not only end of noise, improve your community by reducing any cat overpopulation, but also bring your dog some peace of mind! (06/10/2009)
By ingrid
Call the local feral cat place, you should be able to get a trap for free or a small rental fee (it's worth it to have them stop). In the meantime, you can mix up a bottle of citrus oil and water spray outside. Set up some citronella candles on the border, cats don't like the citrus scent at all. (06/10/2009)
By Michawn
The Humane Society in my city has a "trap, spay/neuter, and release" program. They loan you a live trap (you put down a deposit, which you get back when you return the trap). You catch the cat and take it to them. They "fix" it free of charge. They also give them a rabies/parvo, etc. shot, so they stay healthy. Then you pick it up and release it back where you found it. I have done this several times. I have a few strays around my yard, no yowling, no babies, and, best of all, no mice! Phone your local shelter and see if they have a similar program. (06/10/2009)
By Dena Roberts
We used to have an awful time keeping stray cats out of my garden, and doing their business there, so I sprinkled cayenne pepper in all my garden areas. To keep them from yowling and fighting around my house, we bought a Water Blaster, one of those super squirt guns.
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