Dealing With Stray Cats

try posting on craigslist or freecycle.org

I sprinkle cayenne pepper in my gardens wherever the stray cats start to dig. The next time they start digging they get a whiff of the pepper and decide it might be nicer to dig at home.

Holly Monroe

Re: the stray cat problem, there are some aerosol repellents sold at pet stores and garden stores that might work. Also, supposedly citrus peels in the garden keep the kitties away. You could try it. The cats probably like the soft mulch or nice soil of your garden beds. I have simply learned to live with the "problem" in my area, but I do plant my garden very thickly, so that once it's grown in, it doesn't make an inviting kitty litter. But one "plus" is that the cats often keep the mole and mice population down.

Ness - Lakeview, NY

Gina if you are speaking of cats digging in your garden beds here is what you do. Lay chicken wire over the soil, the plants will grow through it. The cats do not like the feel of the chicken wire on their feet and will stay out of the garden.

Kathy Cohen - Northfield, Vermont

This sounds terribly gross, but usually garden supply stores will have what is called 'predator urine' packets that you put around your garden. This alerts the cats, in your case, that there is danger and they will go away without bothering anything. (Don't think it is something that humans can detect, but the animals sure know what it is. Like cougar urine for keeping deer away, etc. Good Luck!

LeeAnn

Most of the time oranges will work, just cut them up and throw them out there in the garden.

It may be a little bit of a hassle, but cats do not like, and will not dig in wet soil. I never have a problem if I keep the garden area wet.

I tried cayenne pepper and it didn't work they still cocme

Are there any natural detterents for cats - mine is digging up rug in places (near doors) and the store bought kind does not work.

Thanks

Pet stores sell cat trapping cages. (around $45) The local rescue places will often loan or rent them out. There is often help too with low cost spaying with certificates from local organizations. Call a vet to find out who has them. Our sherriff's department here in California passes them out when they are available.
The cages work real well, we have to trap feral cats fairly often.

First of all, you need to determine if they are strays or drop-offs. You definitely don't want to have an irate neighbor on your door-step. If they are one, or the other, then you have a couple of options.
1. You can try to win the animal's trust, by being gentle, and enticing by food, try to trap it, whatever you have to do.
2. Your next action is to advertise "Found Cat"; around the neighborhood, in the newspaper, etc

Call the animal control officer in your town. They have strategies and equipment to deal with situations like this and will help you capture the animals. If the cats are strays, there may even be a rescue organization in your area that provides low-cost or no-cost vet care. The ACO will know or your own vet with know, and it doesn't cost anything to ask.

Good luck.

Place white pepper powder in those areas. Cats always sniff and scratch before going to the bathroom. I have the same problem and it really works.

Also it won't hurt anyone, it will just annoy the cats until they find other places to go.

Do the pet population a favor and trap him with a cruelty -free trap. Sometimes the local humane society will loan these out. Then get him neutered. There are feral cat rescues that can help with costs, but neutering is fairly cheap anyway.

I've never known a cat that likes mothballs, and only one that can tolerate the smell of vinegar. You might consider spraying the porch and surrounds with undiluted vinegar. You'll have to redo every day or two for a while (or if it rains), but it's better than the smell of cat urine!
If this doesn't work, you may want to put mothballs by each corner of your porch. Good luck!

Terry

Call you local rescue groups and ask them to pick the poor cats up. They are in need of medical care then they will be put up for adoption.

It is inhumane to force a cat to go outdoors, these kitties will be better off in a loving family.

Jennifer
Northern Virginia

Lurk by an open window and squirt him with a strong jet from a water pistol. Not harmful but the surprise.shock will deter him from coming back as he will then associate your porch with the surprise. You may need to do it a couple of times.

Regards

Jo

I've also heard citronella oil works (outside!), but avoid using it on cement or similar surfaces as it will stain.

Try blood meal, you put it in the dirt and the flowers like it also, keeps cats away!

My grandmother scattered rose bush clippings around her gardens. The cats disliked the thorns pricking their paws, so left her plants alone.