What should I do with my neighbor's cats?

Question

He has two cats that he lets roam freely around the neighborhood. Apparently, the two cats like the dirt pathway I have set up around my house and driveway, and the play in it, and use it as their litterbox. I do not want to have to clean up after my neighbor's cats, but I don't want to make him hostile towards me either: neighbors should depend on each other, right (perhaps against burglars)? What should I do? Any biological way: a spray that cats don't like for instance?

Answer 1

There are some smells that cats do not like and will avoid like citrus/bitter types. My mom uses a bitter apple spray that keeps cats from chewing on wiring in her house. I've also used granny smith apples and that works. There are a few good resources on this site below on keeping cats out of areas you don't want them, even outdoors!

http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/a/whosehousex.htm

Here is a great site on how to deal with "neighborhood" cats in a nice way...when they are hanging around your house:

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

Answer 2

If you have NOT said anything to the neighbor about the cats, do the following.

Go to the local animal shelter and borrow a live catch trap. Set it out. When you trap one of his cats, take it down to the animal shelter. If he did not have a tag or collar on it, the only way he is going to find the cat is by going to the shelter. Then they will charge him a license fee and perhaps he will have to provide proof of immunization against rabies. It will cost him quite a bit. If he did have tags on them, it will still cost him money to get his cat back.

If you HAVE said something to him about the cats, if anything happens to them, you are the first one he will suspect. I would recommend you get a medium size dog. If his cats come into your yard and your dog chews them up, well it is his fault for letting them wander around.

Answer 3

I say use the water spray ideas or talk to your neighbor and tell him that when you catch his cats in your yard, you will be bringing them to the pound. Maybe he will be keeping them indoors where they belong. Cat poop, especially from roaming cats, can contain parasites and when you garden, you can get them in your skin if you do not wear gloves. They can also bring fleas to your own pets or impregnate them if they are not fixed.

Answer 4

Pour asphalt on the driveway. It will look nicer, increase your property values and cannot be used as kitty litter. It is loose dirt that cats like to use for litter. Around the house, put rose bushes. Cats dont like thorny plants.

Answer 5

A short blast from your garden hose is both humane and effective. I have used it on my own cats to keep them in my yard and out of my neighbor's. I have also used it on neighborhood cats to deter them from coming in my yard and scrappin' with my cats.

Keep in mind that sometimes they're in your yard for good reason. We had what our building inspector called a "chipmunk" hole next to our front porch. While washing down my front door one day, several rats ran for their lives as the "chipmunk" hole flooded with water. I totally freaked out. I had no idea there were rats in my nice neighborhood, let alone under my own porch. Apparantly, my three cats were unaware of the rats as well. A few months later a new stray cat appeared from under my hostas. She had killed three rats that day and ate them in their entirety. She refused the cat food that I offered. She lived under my hostas from July until September that year and rid us of the rat problem. I am a master gardener and the "litter box" issue was no big deal to me. I simply buried it with my trowel when I came across some. She cuddled with me on the hammock every day. I took her to the vet early on to have her spayed and debugged. To my dismay, she was already pregnant. At the end of September she had three kittens. I moved her and the kittens into our home office and gradually she and one of her kittens became beloved members of our family. I swear that this cat was sent to me by angels. I was ready to move, since I could not find a humane method of encouraging the rats to move out.

Now, she only occasionally goes outdoors while supervised. She desperately wants to get at something that's been living under my neighbor's dilapidated deck for years. I keep her in my yard by using the garden hose method when she tries to escape. I must be vigilent, as my very unpleasant neighbor has threatened to poison my cats and has called the ACO twice to report that my cats are "at large" when they're in my own backyard with me. My cat also asks to come in to use the litter box these days.

Anyway, I truly hope that you find a peaceful resolution. I can tell you from my own experience that a nasty neighbor is not a fun situation. I work at the police department and used to roll my eyes over the ridiculous reports of neighbor disputes. Why not be the nicest, neatest neighbor you can be? Now I have my very own nutjob that moved in right next door.

Answer 6

if you can catch them use a little spray bottle with some water in it. there are certain things like putting up roses or prickly bushes around. if you go to a pet store they should be able to give you some good advice

Answer 7

you can buy spray, that will make them want to leave the area alone... after a time, they'll avoid the area without the need to spay...

Answer 8

A) A Garden Hose, especially in winter, or when its cold.

B) An Airsoft gun that shoots safe plastic bullets. They'll sting. But no harm done.

C) Melee. Just attack them. Scare them away. Go at them like a spidermonkey!

Answer 9

I'm sure you can get some natural cat deterrents loke a couple of rottweilers even a 3 legged poodle

Answer 10

Talk to your neighbor