Keeping cats out of your yard

[Tracir]

Does anyone know how to do this? There are 4-5 stray or wandering cats that roam the front yard and 2 are coming in the backyard and sitting on my BRAND NEW patio furniture with the padded chairs- we haven't had it a week and there is cat hair all over it!

We don't have a dog anymore- any suggestions? We got home tonight and 3 of them were just hanging out in our carport! It's so annoying.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

[luvmetender]

Get a dog?

[Tracir]

HAHA Luv- sounds so simple doesn't it?

Actually we realized tonight that we have a gate between the neighbors behind us. They have a huge dog that we love and is so gentle. Duchess stays outside all day so we are going to call the neighbors this weekend and see if we can "borrow" Duchess and let her roam both yards next week. She loves our yard too- we've done it in the past when we had Sadie.

I also read to put aluminum foil out- they don't like it. I have some cheap $1 foil- I am going to lay in the seats of the chairs.

[luvmetender]

Sharing your neighbor's dog sounds like a great idea. I don't know about the foil. There is a product you can spray on the cushions to keep them off, but it won't keep the cats out of your yard, just off the cushions.

[Jaxxie]

Actually i am having the same problem right now. It really irks me to go outside and smell cat pee where they have sprayed. So I bought a have- a-heart trap at home depot. I catch..take to the vet..she fixes em and gives them to the cat shelter. You can also catch and contact cat shelter or take them yourself to your local shelter. That way 2 or 3 cats in a year don't turn into 20 or more and you don't have to listen to cats fighting, deal with cat hair or pee.

And if they belong to a neighbor or someone, call your local township and ask that a letter be sent to the owner. I have 3 dogs and 3 cats and I don't let them wander all over the neighborhood. But for some reason the minute all my dogs are inside (i have fenced in yard) the strays are out there.

[Tracir]

Jaxxie- that's a great idea and we are thinking about it. The problem we have is we think the cats belong to these people that live 3 doors down from us and I don't think they speak English.

We are going to "borrow" the dog behind us and see if that works. Everything I read tonight suggests that it only takes about 3 days for a cat to realize they don't want to come into your yard. If that doesn't work- we'll buy a trap. We have a great relationship with the local vet- he took care of Alleigh when she was so sick. We can trap the cats and take them to him. We might ironically find them a better home.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[3tbear]

We get cats in our yard too, and we don't own any cats. The other day I was in the kitchen, walked over to the sink and practically jumped out of my skin, there was a cat on the roof outside the window staring in at me. Talk about being startled. The roof is to our outdoor shower. Then there was a cat that ran into our garage so hubby took him or her out. We have to watch for that too 'cause I have mouse poison in there on the floor. We shouldn't have to patrol to make sure people's animals don't get hurt, 'cause it is our property. It is their responsibility. I wouldn't want an animal to get hurt, but give me a break here. Another cat was on our porch, and last year, one was lounging on our doormat out front of the house. We love cats, but what gives the neighbors the right to let their animals roam in other peoples yards? My husband said cats don't like leather, so maybe if you had some pieces of leather, or leather cushions you could put on top of your lawn furniture seating areas. I don't know what else to tell you.

[Pipanella]

This is an honest question.....how are cat owners supposed to keep cats from roaming? They are hunters by nature, so they naturally want to go in quest of something.

Not everyone has an enclosed yard and chaining a cat isn't like chaining a dog.

Has anyone come up with a good way to keep an outside cat contained and restricted to their own yard?

[Jaxxie]

Originally Posted by Pipanella

This is an honest question.....how are cat owners supposed to keep cats from roaming? They are hunters by nature, so they naturally want to go in quest of something.

Not everyone has an enclosed yard and chaining a cat isn't like chaining a dog.

Has anyone come up with a good way to keep an outside cat contained and restricted to their own yard?

I agree Pip, but where I live in a very condensed housing development it is unfair to have to be woken up at 6 am to cats fighting or smell urine where they have sprayed your yard or in your garage. My one neighbor woke up to a stray cat hanging on her screen trying to get to her indoor cat. My cats do not go outside, with all the traffic around here it is just safer that way. But they can get over a 6 foot stockade fence.

I grew up in farmland and our cats never were inside..but then they also back then had alot of acres to roam. I think once a cat gets a taste of roaming free then it is hard to get them to stay inside, they are always trying to dart out the door on you. My Mom is having this problem right now, but she is holding firm to keep him inside. Her cat did get out on her and came back bloodied and bruised. He was in a bad cat fight and she ended up with a 190 dollar vet bill. So now she has a can of pennies and a water pistol by the door and when he tries to dart she shakes the can and yells no. (It's actually kind of funny to watch this mild mannered lady doing this).

[JillyB71]

Originally Posted by Pipanella

This is an honest question.....how are cat owners supposed to keep cats from roaming? They are hunters by nature, so they naturally want to go in quest of something.

Not everyone has an enclosed yard and chaining a cat isn't like chaining a dog.

Has anyone come up with a good way to keep an outside cat contained and restricted to their own yard?

There is a city ordinance where I live that states that cats and dogs may not be on the streets except on a leash. It's the owner's responsibility to keep their cats from getting out. My brother's neighbors unfortunately did not adhere to this rule and his dog killed their cat when it came into his back yard. They said they were going to sue until he told them about the ordinance. I personally don't think it's healthy at all for animals to be roaming freely and I call animal control on the few I see out. If the animal has a tag, the owners are called and given a $50 fine for allowing their animal to be free.

[Pipanella]

So really, what you're saying is, if you want to have a cat as a pet, you need to keep it inside?

I would always keep a cat inside, but my husband thinks neither cats nor dogs belong inside. I had to BEG to have an inside cat 17 years ago, and we had Mimi for 16 years. I had to beg again, when we got Simon and now it's okay, but we do have an outside one, too. I've asked the neighbors if Jinx has been any kind of a nuisance to them, and they've all said no. I thought if maybe he had, then I'd have more to convince my DH to allow Jinx to be a full-time house cat. Now he says it would be mean to try and keep Jinx inside, when he's lived over three years outside.

We don't have an ordinance for cats here, only dogs, and I think that's because of the danger of them biting more than anything. Cats aren't usually aggressive, but dogs can be, even when they mean no harm. When I've been out walking, I've never had a cat run out on the road to me and start meowing and jumping on me, but it's happened MANY times with dogs.

I totally see your point, I do. I just think it's really hard to do this with an outside cat. Not impossible, just more difficult.

[luvmetender]

I have 13 indoor/outdoor cats. They pretty much stay near our house, although they do visit our neighbors occasionally. No one seems to have a problem with them. They are all neutered, so there is no male spraying or howling females.

If a neighbor had a problem with one of them, I would definately do what I could to fix it.

[telos2000]

Rent out your backyard to a Chinese Street Vendor.

[Pipanella]

Yes, both of our cats are neutered, too. I'd never have any cat that wasn't.

[telos2000]

Originally Posted by Pipanella

Yes, both of our cats are neutered, too. I'd never have any cat that wasn't.

Makes 'em fatter!