how can i get rid of stray cats...humanely?

Question

stray cats have invaded my backyard. i do not feed them, so i don't know why they chose my yard and not my neighbor's. i can't even go into my own backyard, they hiss and screech at me like i'm invading their home.

animal control said they could do nothing. a local pest control company came and put down traps (little cages with trick-doors) which did not work and cost me $70 for the cages $30 for the wasteful visit.

i don't want to harm them, like using rat poison or anti-freeze mixed with a can of tuna fish (a suggestion from a friend). i just want them to GO AWAY!

any suggestions??

i have a dachsund that i adopted from PetSmart. he was attacked by three of the strays a month ago. and now he won't go into the backyard.

i should have stated this with my question: I DO NOT HATE CATS! i had a cat a few years ago. i just don't like the strays taking over my property: reproducing in my patio on my patio chairs, digging up my yard, causing the neighbors' dogs to constantly bark at them, and attacking my dog.

i refuse to feed these cats (like someone suggested) that would give them more reason to stay. if they are working as some kind of rodent-deterrent, "thanks! go to someone's house and do them the same favor!"

once again, i do not hate cats.

Answer 1

Hi there...Common odours that are effective deterrents for cats are:

Citronella works best for cats as well as citrus scents such as orange or lemon (primarily towards cats), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.

"Havahart's Cat Repellent" uses capsaicin pepper and oil of mustard as its active ingredients. It repels by both taste and odor, has a lemon scent.

Every animal responds differently to each of these. Some will not be phased by them and others will be quite revolting.

For training purposes they are applied on items that are to encourage avoidance behaviours and not for use with a squirt bottle as they could harm the eyes or respiratory system. Test each substance and observe to see which works as a deterrent so that accidental injestion does not occur as some could then be fatal.

Coleus plants can be effective, but every cat responds differently so it is uncertain without experimenting.

Many people believe mothballs work, however they are considered toxic and should be avoided. Here's more information on this:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=89
MOTHBALLS are toxic to cats which contains the ingredient Naphthalene. Mothballs are approximately twice as toxic as paradichlorobenzene, and cats are especially sensitive to naphthalene. Signs of ingestion of naphthalene mothballs include emesis, weakness, lethargy, brown-colored mucous membranes and collapses. Paradichlorobenzene mothballs may cause GI upset, ataxia, disorientation, and depression. Elevations in liver serum biochemical values may occur within 72 hours of indigestion.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Contact Alley Cat Allies and ask for help with the TNR program. That is Trap/Neuter/Release. The cats will go back to where they came from (your yard) but at least they will not be reproducing.

I didn't want cats either, but in the last 4 years I have had over 40 cats fixed, all caught in my yard. Imagine how many cats I'd have if I wasn't catching them and getting them fixed. I do feed mine now. I am the reluctant cat lady. Not all 40 are here--a lot of the males were people's pets that were not fixed (I had them fixed if I caught them). Males tend to wander back to where ever they came from once they are neutered. They were attracted to the females in heat. I have about 9 that hang out regularily and they keep my yard free of snakes and rats, so that is okay by me.

Answer 4

Borrow a friend's dog for the weekend. Once they realize a dog has come to town, the yard will look MUCH less appealing. Do this once a weekend a month for the next year and it should work.

If you have a sprinkler system, turn it on next time they are in the yard. They won't want to come to a yard that sprays them.

There are also various sonic devices that may or may not work. if they *do* work, they may also scare off wildlife, so be prepared for that.

Keep a hose by the door to the yard. Anytime you see them and are afraid to go out, grab the hose, turn on the water, and spray them.

Answer 5

Don't know how large your backyard is, but you could hook up your sprinklers to a sensor. Every time they come near they get squirted after awhile they will get the message.

I know they do this for deer. You may find out by asking a local hardware or nursery.

The idea of getting cages from your humane society and trapping them and taking them in is another good idea, but I would try the sprinkler sensor first.

Answer 6

Go to your Humane Society and get a live cage trap. Then trap the cats one at a time and take them to the animal shelter. You may have to put some food in the cage so a cat will go inside.

Answer 7

have you tryed calling the pound in and around your town, usally they'll pick them up or they might be able to direct you to one of those stray cat havens. If that doesnt work you could always get out the hose (if its not to cold out) or a dog (barrow one from a friend if need be, just make sure it wont hurt em or to small that the cats will hurt the dog) good luck

Answer 8

First do not feed them. Second try getting one humane trap and trap them one by one and take them to the shelter or get them spayed and if u don't have money to get them all spayed try getting them a home with a rehoming fee to cover the cost of spaying and nuturing. Also try to get the kittens which are usually are easier to catch in my experience and find them a home and u don't have to spay and nutre them. Or I've heard of these things when u put them in the ground they detect movment and are meant to spray wat ever it is with water. For ur dog I would take him on walks and park instead of the backyard for they could really tear him up if they wanted to

Answer 9

Trapping ferals is almost an art form. Just putting those metal traps around and baiting them is not sufficient. The traps have to be disguised and properly baited. A feral cat has not survived into adulthood by being stupid. The traps need to be disguised (wrapped in a blanket, piece of burlap, or settled in under a spreading bush). A cat will not enter something from which there is no escape and that leaves it feeling exposed to danger. Someone needs to keep careful watch on the traps to be sure that the cat doesn't spend too much time confined in it. They can injure themselves badly trying to escape.

You may, unwittingly, have a good food souce in your yard (moles, field mice, etc.) or good areas to shelter from the weather. If it's moles or field mice, the cats are doing you a service by eating them before they invade your home or ruin your lawn.

I really don't understand folks who don't like cats, because I am a cat lover. What I can tell you is that the service you paid for wasn't correctly done, or the cats would have been gone.

Answer 10

jsut make sure you dont feed them at all and look around in your backyard for a litter of kittens that maybe why the cats hiss at you when you go out there and are staying in your backyard