Mandrake wrote: ...I've been very successful at turning feral cats into tame housecats that require thousands of dollars in medical care over the years.....
you know, in case you're interested....
One of my daughters worked for a vet and got and still gets a 50% discount.
My daughter told me the other day she has spent over $24,000 there in the last 6 years.
I think SHE needs to see the Dr. LOL
TV: Mint 1972 Ford F-250 XLT
TT: 1969 19' Excel; entertains 6, feeds 4, sleeps 2 You don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stay alive.
I don't carry because I have to, I carry because I get to. I like new things-
- when they're 40 years old! My pictures
Bubby's RV wrote: The motion sensor sprinklers do work. We've had a problem with them using the flower beds by the front door (and forgetting to bury their "presents"). Since I installed a Scarecrow sprinkler, they go elsewhere.
I didn't have a problem with ants. I used to put the peelings in my flower beds at the old house all the time. I guess they could attract ants though.
Of course, I ended up solving the "problem" another way. Her name is Goldie and she is fast asleep on the couch as I type.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
1. Set a trap, call animal control. This is the best option. If they are pets, the owners will recognize their absence and have to pay to get them back. After a couple of times, they will either stop getting them back or figure out a way to contain them instead of letting them roam free. If they're not pets, they need to be getting proper attention and food, anyway. Also, they will get neutered/spayed so they can't multiply and continue to be an increasing nuisance. If they get destroyed, it's not your fault. . . it goes on whoever turned them loose. You actually gave them a chance to be adopted by a family that will care for them. Leaving food out for stray or semi-stray cats is not caring for them, but so many people do it. Letting them run stray leaves them more likely to be hit by a car, shot by somebody, tortured by a kid, starve to death, spread disease, and have litters and litters of new little problems. I'm not a cat lover, but I honestly believe that trapping them and turning them in is the most responsible thing to do and the best for them.
2. Ammonia (wears off and has to be reapplied often)
I know moth balls work for skunks. . . never tried it for cats. You said not to say it, but I have to, my Weimaraner makes sure no cats feel safe around our house.
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab SB LS 6.0L 4x4 4.10
DW, DD (May, 2007), DS (October, 2008), and me
fickman and others, although live traps and animal control are the best answer, it is not always the most obvious answer. The OP may live in an area like mine, Animal Control is very minimal, ours just do dogs, no cats, just dogs. I have tried for over a year to find someone to take the feral or otherwise, "roaming cats" off my hands after I live trap them. No one local will or can do anything. I have even trapped two cats and had them spayed at my expense, $60.00 a pop, but fewer and fewer Vets will work on them. They say that feral cats carry too many diseases and they need to be eleminated. More than one Vet has told me this. They can and will overrun a place fast if not kept in check........
Dave & Pat
1999 Wanderer 230FB
2004 F250, XLT Crew Cab, V10, finally, enough power!
"No kids, no pets, trying to make it to retirement"
Redcatcher70 wrote: fickman and others, although live traps and animal control are the best answer, it is not always the most obvious answer. The OP may live in an area like mine, Animal Control is very minimal, ours just do dogs, no cats, just dogs. I have tried for over a year to find someone to take the feral or otherwise, "roaming cats" off my hands after I live trap them. No one local will or can do anything. I have even trapped two cats and had them spayed at my expense, $60.00 a pop, but fewer and fewer Vets will work on them. They say that feral cats carry too many diseases and they need to be eleminated. More than one Vet has told me this. They can and will overrun a place fast if not kept in check........
I only suggested traps and animal control because I live in the suburbs. . . it's the best solution here. I'd have to violate the OPs guidelines (no dogs, no guns) to give my real solution. . . a trap and a shotgun. If I lived in the country, I doubt I'd waste time calling animal control. . . and as you said, I doubt animal control would care very much even if I did call.
Agree on unfettered reproduction and diseases. . . that's why I recommend a more hands-on solution than just a stinky deterrent that still leaves them running around in the area.
Redcatcher70 wrote: fickman and others, although live traps and animal control are the best answer, it is not always the most obvious answer. The OP may live in an area like mine, Animal Control is very minimal, ours just do dogs, no cats, just dogs. I have tried for over a year to find someone to take the feral or otherwise, "roaming cats" off my hands after I live trap them. No one local will or can do anything. I have even trapped two cats and had them spayed at my expense, $60.00 a pop, but fewer and fewer Vets will work on them. They say that feral cats carry too many diseases and they need to be eleminated. More than one Vet has told me this. They can and will overrun a place fast if not kept in check........
Bubby's RV wrote: The motion sensor sprinklers do work. We've had a problem with them using the flower beds by the front door (and forgetting to bury their "presents"). Since I installed a Scarecrow sprinkler, they go elsewhere.
onions will do the same thing
We didn't want our front porch to smell like onions.
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