How to get rid of unwanted cats

by Janice R

+12

Answered

my neighbor has a female cat that has kittens every time she comes into heat. she attracts all the males from all around. they have been going under my house and sitting on my back patio and digging in my flower beds. any ideas on how to rid my yard of these unwelcome guests???

8 answers

The Garden Frog with C Renee on May 22, 2014
Maybe find out if there is a free or low cost spay and neuter place close to you and volunteer to take the poor cat! here there is an organization called Prevent a LItter (there is the SPCA which does feral cats here free) and it is awesome. For cats it is around $35 and if it is a feral or wandering cat, then it is free on certain days. Some people just do not know any better and having litter after litter is shortening that poor cats life. Good luck

Helpful Reply
Moxie on May 22, 2014
I agree with the Garden Frog : ) Whoever started this problem probably thought the same as you and just wanted them out of their life. The cats didn't choose to be feral but now that they are you can help SOLVE the problem with TNR (trap, neuter, release) Once the cat is fixed the males will stop coming around and the cycle will stop. I hope your neighbor can find it in her heart to help the poor cat. They have advantages to; no more rodents!

Helpful Reply
Jeanette S on May 23, 2014
Call animal control to catch the cats and take care of them. The bad thing about unattended animals is disease! I would never touch a stray cat or dog!

Helpful Reply
- See 3 previous
- The Garden Frog with C Renee on May 23, 2014
  @Jeanette S Here where I live animal control will not go after stray cats. Another thing that happens here for feral cats is that people volunteer to trap them, take them to the SPCA to be fixed, and then re-released where they were. It is a shame that people do not take their animals to be spayed and neutered and in many places there are low cost or free programs for this. I feel bad for all the animals that are thrown out like garbage or left outside to fend for themselves.
  
  Helpful
- Jeanette S on May 24, 2014
  @The Garden Frog with C Renee AND people will feed stray cats without claiming "ownership". They just say, "it took up with us and we can't let it die". What the do not consider is the danger that disease puts on the population. A County here in the Atlanta area has had about 5 rabid fox attacks on humans and several on dogs and summer is just starting!
  
  Helpful
- The Garden Frog with C Renee on May 24, 2014
  I SO agree! I never got that feeding stays and then not taking care of it with spay/neutering.
  
  Helpful
- Janice R on May 25, 2014
  @The Garden Frog with C Renee
  
  Helpful
Adrianne C on May 24, 2014
Get a dog.

Helpful Reply
- See 1 previous
- Janice R on May 25, 2014
  I have three 2 small and 1 german shepherd cats are not afraid of them, but my dogs do not run loose, they are my babies and like the coolness of the house better thaan our hot fl. sun z @Adrianne C
  
  Helpful
- Adrianne C on May 25, 2014
  @Janice R Yes, some dogs are better than others at this! With mine, all they need is a window to see a cat!
  
  Helpful

Anna Ibarra on May 24, 2014
I read somewhere when I was trying to find a way to rid of cats, when I had a cat coming and sitting on my plants or on my front porch settee, that there is a plant called "scary cat", that or get spikes to put in your plants and I also heard if you get toy snakes in the area they come around.

Helpful Reply
Z on May 24, 2014
Have you talked to your neighbor about this?

Helpful Reply
Janice R on May 25, 2014
yes she says she is going to take her female to her mom's house, but hasn't done so yet...lucky mom

Helpful Reply
- Z on May 26, 2014
  @Janice, I think the reason she hasn't taken her cat to her Mom's yet, is that she loves the cat and doesn't want to part with her. I'd have another talk with her after finding an inexpensive, but reputable, place to have her cat spayed, so that you can pass that information on to her. Check this link to see if you can find one near you: http://www.lovethatcat.com/stfl.html If you can't find one there, here's the Google results that might help you find one: https://www.google.com/search?q=low+cost+spay+and+neuter+in+Lakeland%2C+FL&rlz=1C1CHWA_enUS582US582&oq=low+cost+spay+and+neuter+in+Lakeland%2C+FL&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4.15156j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8 I have had cats, and dogs, since I was a young child and they are such wonderful gifts to the lives of the humans around them. They don't see us the way we see each other. Most love unconditionally, whether they are part of your family, just neighbors, or how they are treated. Though I personally believe they should always be treated with kindness and not "thrown away" because they do things that are undesirable, I do understand the frustrations when they do those undesirable things. The spaying should take of the male cats and the Mom cat and kittens taking over your yard, the adult cat may still use your garden as it's potty. In this case, maybe the easiest fix would be to bury chicken wire an inch below the soil. Since a cat tries to cover, it's potty with surrounding soil, they'll soon find another spot to "go" where they're paws won't come into contact with the chicken wire. And yes, I know you shouldn't have to be the one to make changes to keep your neighbor's cat out of your garden, but no matter how good of a cat-Mom she is, an outside cat will make potty where ever they find an "appropriate place" in their mind. If it takes a little chicken wire on your part, it's better than causing angst amongst neighbors.Good luck!
  
  Helpful
153091 on May 29, 2014
place moth balls(in small muslin bags, not loose) and put under house...most animals don't like the smell.

Helpful Reply

Related Discussions

GNATS - How to get rid of them?

Gina Garbo Answered 5 days ago

Somehow my house and garden got tiny gnats that killed my fuchsia plant and fly everywhere. I have tried ALL the Web recommendations - soap and oil dishes, sand in th... See more

122

See Answers

Marigolds growing! Should I pinch the buds?

Dianne King Answered on Jan 29, 2024

My marigold plants are growing. I heard that pinching the buds until Autumn will allow them to grow without killing the plant. Is this true?

See Answers

Growing garlic

Decor&Dine Answered on Jan 01, 2024

Growing our first garlic, should we wait until the leaves are drying out before we pick it? Husband picked first one today along with our first potatoes.

See Answers

How to keep mice out of your garden?

Debra Answered on Sep 22, 2023

Hi everyone, I have mice in my garden destroying my vegetables and I have also noticed them in the barn and shed. Please can someone tell me how to prevent them from ... See more

See Answers