Buzz
There are many stray cats and lost felines wandering through alleys, vacant lots, and backyards all around. Although these cats are harmless to humans, they can decimate local bird populations and transmit diseases to domestic cats. To prevent these stray cats, try removing any food sources and places where they can seek shelter in your yard. Additionally, you can implement a trap-neuter-return program to prevent the population from growing further.
Steps
Remove food sources and shelters
Eliminate food sources for stray cats. Start by making sure that your trash cans are properly sealed and that there are no food scraps left outside. Don’t forget to ask your neighbors to use trash bins with lids as well.
- Keep in mind that cats can survive on very little food, so completely eliminating food sources in your area might not be feasible.
- If you want to feed cats, make sure to place the food at least 10 meters away from your house. Don’t put it right outside the door, unless you want to invite them to gather there.
Clean up or block potential shelter spots to keep cats from settling in. Cats look for warm and dry places to take shelter during rainy weather. If they can’t find a suitable spot, they will move to the next neighborhood. Therefore, block any gaps under the floor, along corridors, and make sure to secure shed doors. Remove piles of firewood and trim overgrown bushes to prevent cats from settling in your yard.
- If you notice cats gathering in a specific spot in your yard, investigate where they are hiding and block access to that location.
Tip: Plywood and chicken wire are affordable and effective materials to seal gaps. Attach plywood or wire mesh to any openings to prevent cats from entering.
Use chemical repellents to keep cats out of your yard. There are various cat repellent sprays available on the market. These products contain natural or synthetic ingredients and scents that cats find unpleasant. Spray the areas in your yard where cats frequently visit. Be sure to follow the product label instructions on distance and frequency of application.
- You can find cat repellent sprays at most pet stores or home goods retailers.
- These products are safe and non-toxic for both stray and domestic cats.
Contact animal control if you cannot manage the number of cats yourself. If stray cats and wandering felines are overrun around your home, you may need to call your local animal control agency. Keep in mind that these agencies often trap the cats and may have them removed or euthanized.
- Removing a community of cats from an area could create a “vacuum effect.” New cats will quickly move into the area and start reproducing with the available food and shelter.
Repelling cats from your garden
Install motion-activated sprinkler systems to spray water at any cats that enter your garden. Cats are notoriously averse to water, so they will stay away from the water spray and leave your property. Set up the sprinkler to activate when the animals come within about 1.2 meters, making sure not to accidentally soak pedestrians walking on the sidewalk.
- As an added bonus, your garden's grass and flowers will also get watered.
Scatter orange and lemon peels around your garden. Cats dislike the smell of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. Next time you eat these fruits, throw the peels into your garden. The cats will keep their distance from your yard.
Note: Citrus trees planted in your garden will not be as effective at deterring cats, since the scent of the trees is not as strong as the peels.
Lay chicken wire on the ground in areas of your garden where cats often dig. If you notice stray cats digging in your garden or scratching at exposed tree roots, you can prevent them by using chicken wire. Buy enough chicken wire to cover the length of your garden. Lay it flat on the ground and secure the corners with stones so the cats can’t move it.
- You can find chicken wire in various lengths at home goods or hardware stores.
Plant cat-repelling plants in your garden. This idea is similar to using citrus peels. If your garden has plants that cats dislike, they may lose interest in digging up your yard. Consider planting at least 3-4 of these plants to keep the pesky animals away. Some plants known to deter cats include:
- Lavender
- Thyme
- Rue
- Pennyroyal
Sprinkle ground black pepper in areas where cats tend to gather. Cats will find it uncomfortable due to the spicy sensation of the pepper on their paws when they groom themselves. If you consistently sprinkle pepper in your yard, the cats will soon associate your garden with the unpleasant experience. Make sure to sprinkle it on the hallway floor, in the shed, in the backyard, or anywhere else the cats tend to visit and sleep.
- Pepper can also help deter cats from the grass, but you'll need to reapply it often, especially after heavy rainfall.
Implement a trap – neuter – return method
Trap feral cats around your house for neutering and return them to their original location. The most effective way to manage long-term cat problems is to use traps to catch the cats for neutering. Buy a cage trap with a door, and use tuna, sardines, or cat food as bait. Place the trap where the cats often come to eat and cover it with a blanket.
- When you catch a cat, don't let it out of the trap immediately. Cover the trap with a blanket to help the cat calm down.
- You can find cage traps at pet stores, animal rescue centers, or home goods stores.
Don’t take feral cats to an animal shelter. Most animal shelters do not accept feral cats because they are often not adoptable. Feral cats are very shy and unfriendly, making it difficult for them to be accepted by families. Feral cats taken to shelters are typically euthanized.
Note: However, you can contact an animal shelter or rescue center for advice. They can guide you on how to trap feral cats safely without getting scratched or hurt.
Take the cat to the vet for neutering and marking. Many veterinary clinics offer free neutering services for cats, as it's well known that the feral cat population is a growing issue. Call local veterinary clinics and animal shelters to inquire about available programs and let them know you want to bring in a feral cat for neutering. Usually, veterinarians will clip the cat’s ear to mark that it has been trapped and neutered.
- Make sure the vet is informed in advance that you're bringing in a feral cat, as they may not accept wild animals otherwise.
- Neutering cats is a humane way to prevent them from reproducing and to control the population in the area.
Bring the cat back home and allow it to recover. When you take the cat to the vet, you are taking responsibility for its care during its recovery. Bring the cat home and give it time to heal before releasing it back into the wild.
- Never release an injured or sedated cat back into the wild.
Release the cat back to the location where it was trapped. The cat may have experienced trauma and will only feel comfortable in its familiar environment. Additionally, male cats can help ward off other male intruders from their territory. This reduces the chance of unneutered females mating, thus helping to control the cat population. The ultimate goal of the trap-neuter-return method is to prevent feral cats from continuing to reproduce.
- For the trap-neuter-return program to effectively control the cat population, most or all of the cats in the area need to be trapped, neutered, and released. Over time, the population will decrease as the cats can no longer reproduce.
- You can feed the cat once it is returned home after undergoing the trap-neuter-return process, as they will no longer reproduce.
Advice
- Stray cats are lost pets, while feral cats have never been domesticated and live outdoors.
- The trap-neuter-return program should only be applied to true feral cats. Stray cats that were once domesticated but became lost should be taken to animal shelters for care and return to their homes.
- If the troublesome cat is a registered pet, contact its owner and request that they keep it indoors. If they refuse to cooperate, escalate the issue to the animal control center or the police.
- The most effective way to reduce the cat population is through trap-neuter-return. If you don't want to trap the cats yourself, you can also ask animal control agencies for assistance.
- Restaurant dumpsters are often a food source for feral cats, especially when they are left open and only emptied when they overflow. If the dumpsters in your neighborhood seem to be attracting cats, talk to the restaurant owners about safer waste disposal practices.
- Try reading books or asking friends about cats. You might find yourself growing fond of them and no longer mind their presence.
Warning
- Never intentionally harm or injure a cat that passes by your house. Such actions are not only cruel and inhumane but are also illegal in some places.
- Don't try to corner or trap a feral cat, as they can become extremely aggressive. If bitten or scratched by a feral cat, seek medical attention for a rabies shot.
