getting rid of stray cats?

Question

I have 5 1/2 acres of land with a party barn. These cats that come around sleep in the barn and at nights attempt to tip my trash over. I don't want to shoot them, I feel to bad killing the cats, but If i could catch them with a trap and drive them away, how and what kinds of traps do you think will work. I already killed one stary, and i felt to bad to do it again, so killing is out of the question.

Answer 1

Catch them in a humane trap and bring them to your local animal shelter. Or just make sure your trash can is always empty.

Answer 2

Secure your garbage cans with chains or twine on the lids. Catch the cats, have them neutered, and bring them back. If you remove all the cats, new ones will come in. If you leave the ones you already have, they will defend their territory against new cats and you won't have any more. Why not take advantage of the free pest control you're getting in the barn by leaving a resident population of neutered cats? Friskies is damn cheap food, too, and while I don't usually advocate feeding it, why not put some down for the barn cats? This could be a mutually beneficial relationship.

Try this site for tips on feral cat trapping/neutering:

http://www.alleycat.org/

Answer 3

Geez, there's no need to kill them!

Use a bungie cord to keep the lid on the trash can closed tight, they do this here for raccoons who get in and make a huge mess.

Cats are cleaning up your mouse/rat/pest problems, all barns even party barns attract rodents. Let them do their job. Sleeping in the barn isn't going to hurt anything and the only 'damage' is the garbage, which is easily fixed. Don't feed them, they'll find their own food. With 5 1/2 acres you've got plenty of room for them and yourself.

Answer 4

if the cats only food source is the garbage then just make sure the garbage is empty or locked so they can't get at it.
once they have no food source they will move on to somewhere else.
otherwise havaheart traps work wonderfully. once the cats catch on though they will stop going into it.
you can also call the humane shelter and they can give you contacts on who to call to help you out.
if you do catch them yourself then the shelter should take them unless they are filled to capacity.
if they are full though they may have contacts for foster homes, though no one really will foster a feral cat. their just to dangerous. if they are all feral, they most likely will be euthanized.
i wish you the best with your problem.

Answer 5

"Havahart" traps would do the trick, but I don't know how far away you'd have to take the cats.

You might also comsider chaining the lids onto the garbage cans so the cats can't raid them even if they are tipped over. If the garbage is all they're after, they'll go somewhere else to get it.

Answer 6

you can purchase humane live traps. or if your animal control has them, you can borrow one from them. once you trap the cats take them to the pound. don't take them somewhere else and turn them loose to be someone elses problem.

someone else said to use ammonia. whatever you do, don't use ammonia. cat scent contains ammonia and will attract them to use the bathroom there. use white vinegar instead. also make sure that your trash can lids are secure and nothing can get into them. I'm sure it isn't only cats. skunks, raccoons, and possums will get into the trash too.

Answer 7

Dont be cruel. Leave these cats alone. Take precautions e.g remove the trash at night to stop then looking for food.

Contact the pdsa for advice.

Answer 8

There are usually people you can hire out with all the equipment to efficiently and humanely trap and transport pests like this.

Answer 9

dont trap him leave him and dont feed him and ask around to see if it is anyone cat
or give to a friend

Answer 10

I'm pretty sure that ammonia can be used to cover their scents, and this may help to keep them away. Otherwise, there is 'cat repellent' available from pet shops that may work. I don't know how much it is, though.