In Texas, is there behavior or conditions when domesticated animals can be treated like vermin??

Question

In Texas, is there behavior or conditions when domesticated animals can be treated like vermin... Loose cats are constantly urinating and defecating in the flower beds that i work in. This should be a health hazard and be considered as an act with places my safety at risk. Trapping and impounding isnt changing owner behavior. Looking for a more permanent (and legal) solution. My lawn smells of cat urine, i can't even open my windows or doors due to the smell.

Answer 1

Very few places in the country don't have leash laws. Granted they are not enforced much but they are there. Call the humane society or animal control and have the animals picked up. You should never have to contend with other peoples animals but it is against the law for you to kill them yourself.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Trying to move or get rid of the cats only opens up new territory that brings more cats in, so you aren't really solving anything.

A barrier fence, like the netting to keep birds off fruit trees works fine, the cats won't jump over anything 3' tall because it's too much work. Hanging sections of nylon stockings with about 5 or 6 mothballs around the garden helps too, they hate the smell of those.

I can't imagine it smelling that bad though--the neighborhood strays use my front flower garden all the time, the plants grow great (my neighbor refers to it as my jungle) and they bury the poop. The only animals that DON'T bury their poop is the raccoons which do stink up the back yard by the fence.

What I've found in stray cats is that they won't poop or pee within 30 feet of a water source. Maybe the simple arrangement would be to put out a bowl of water for them at key areas. But I'd also do the netting and the mothball thing.

Answer 3

They do make cat repellant that you place around the perimeter of the property...also coyote urine works as well. It sounds as if you want the ok to shoot them...if there are no laws saying that pet cats cannot roam, killing them could get you into serious trouble.

Birds poop all over the place where I work...and you can get nasty diseases from that....even bird flu!!!! yikes...yet I just deal...don't want to shoot em either. I just wear gloves and wash my hands a lot.

I would definately try cat repellant or a sprinkler system in your gardens that activates on movement...cats hate water so that would be a good solution.

Here is a great website I found for alternatives to keep cats out of yards:

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/keepingout.htm

Answer 4

in texas, there are conditions and behavior when PEOPLE can be treated as vermin.