Feral Cats

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:38 pm

i purposely did not put this in the 'pets' forum. i know there are cat lovers here, but i am not talking about your pet. the feral cat problem down here is horrible. they attack kids, they make a mess everywhere. there are THOUSANDS of them! i can't leave my slider open or they walk in, i know, i need a screen, i can't get one to fit. i had a 20 year old classic jaguar they urinated all over, i never got the smell out. what is the solution? do you have the problem where you live? the humane society and cat-saving people can only get so many with their traps. and they're unfit to be pets by then.

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:50 pm

I had this problem where I used to live.

I phoned the council who said I should put a notice in my window saying I would report any animal caught fouling my garden.

I said "That's no good. Animals can't read!"

Funnily enough though, the notice worked! :wah:

Maybe they know more than we think they do!

However, another neighbour suggested spraying pepper spray where thy normally do their business. Apparently they hate the smell. It's worth a try!

I hope you get rid of them. The stink they create, especially in hot weather, is unbearable!

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:52 pm

thanks Snooze....the keys has an organization to combat the problem, they simply are overwhelmed and can't keep up. any area of palmetto scrub is completely infested.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:53 pm

Hmmm LC go invest in a highpowered pellet gun and get some moving target practice in. :sneaky:

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:54 pm

Sheryl wrote: Hmmm LC go invest in a highpowered pellet gun and get some moving target practice in. :sneaky:when they hang out on my porch i throw water at them and they run off, but not for long.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:57 pm

I have a large cat population in my neighborhood, but 2 of my neighbors feed and take care of them. So there not really feral. Cats can be good in helping keep mice and rat population down, I've heard they help with snake problems too.

And it looks like the snakes are out early this year. Hubby killed 2 rattlesnakes yesterday.

Just shoot at them with pellets or bb's neither will hurt them, just put sting in their butts.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:44 pm

We don't have feral... just neighborhood and I'm so tired of them I could

SCREAM!!

Just the other day I told DH I wanted to live trap them and take them to

the animal shelter... he won't let me!! But they come after the birds and

they poop everywhere it's sooooo disgusting.

Upside down mouse traps help some, or sprinklers on motion detectors.

But it's really a problem, they carry diseases. Cover kids sandboxes if

any of you have those.

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:01 pm

Feral cats are a very big problem in Australia. Cats are not an indigenous species here. Irresponsible owners don't neuter their pets and large numbers of kittens get dumped in the bush. Most die probably pretty miserably, but those which do survive into adulthood breed unchecked, and are tough, diseased and often very narsty critters. They have no natural predators here, so the population can expand fast. And to live, they do what comes naturally - they hunt - and they're bloody good at it. In some areas they have all but wiped out small native Australian birds, mammals and marsupials. I've a girlfriend in upstate New York who traps, neuters and homes feral cats there. She has half a dozen herself and swears she's socialised them. I have my doubts!!! At any rate, most people could not cope with a feral cat in the house. So really the colonies have to be wiped out, exterminated. I get pretty cross about all this. It should be unnecessary. The cats are doing what cats do to survive. It's not their fault. It's the fault of those irresponsible owners. They're the ones whose butts need to be peppered with shot. As also do the butts of owners who allow unneutered animals to wander at large at night. Really, unless you have a breeder's license, I think it's criminal to keep unneutered pets/companion animals.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:07 am

LC, gather up all the foulest smelling and hottest stuff you can find. Ammonia, cayanne pepper, some habaneros, red pepper flakes/seeds, everything you can think of and mash and blend it all up with water. Don't dilute it too much, but use it to cover the perimeter of your yard. I also like Val's idea of upside down mouse traps. Also, make sure there's nothing attracting them to your yard, like loose garbage bin lids.

You should be able to get your hands on some type of Mace or pepper spray, right? Throw some of that into the mix, too. 99% of over-the-counter "boundary" sprays are pretty useless. You need to make your own REALLY potent one.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:21 am

thanks for the suggestions! i don't have any garbage outside, and i never fed them, so i don't know why they keep showing up. pellet gun hell, i'm going to start using my 9mm. * bang~splat*

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cars · Post by **cars** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:45 am

lady cop wrote: thanks for the suggestions! i don't have any garbage outside, and i never fed them, so i don't know why they keep showing up. pellet gun hell, i'm going to start using my 9mm. * bang~splat*

LC, you always have the coolest pictures, that are always so perfect!:)

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:26 pm

Try planting a load of catnip out in the middle of nowhere and make sure they get a whiff of it.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:20 pm

lady cop wrote: i purposely did not put this in the 'pets' forum. i know there are cat lovers here, but i am not talking about your pet. the feral cat problem down here is horrible. they attack kids, they make a mess everywhere. there are THOUSANDS of them! i can't leave my slider open or they walk in, i know, i need a screen, i can't get one to fit. i had a 20 year old classic jaguar they urinated all over, i never got the smell out. what is the solution? do you have the problem where you live? the humane society and cat-saving people can only get so many with their traps. and they're unfit to be pets by then.

Its all Hemingways fault. Blame him.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:24 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: I went on a tour of his house in Key West, and then we hit some hotel's outdoor restaurant... cats everywhere. But these cats are obviously acclimated to humans, and receive regular vet care. I didn't notice any pee smells either.

I liked it, but then everyone already knows I'm a cat fan.

Werent they unique ? 3 legs or 1 ear or something ?

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:28 pm

Nomad wrote: Werent they unique ? 3 legs or 1 ear or something ?they allegedly all have 6 toes on each front paw.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:32 pm

hey Snooze, the problem in key west isn't so much cats, it's chickens!! there's an official chicken catcher. they're everywhere! :yh_chickn :yh_chickn :yh_chickn middle keys have the severe cat problem.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:39 am

lady cop wrote: hey Snooze, the problem in key west isn't so much cats, it's chickens!! there's an official chicken catcher. they're everywhere! :yh_chickn :yh_chickn :yh_chickn middle keys have the severe cat problem.
Val's going to kick my ass for saying this, but it's another option. Do you have a .22, LC? This problem will only get worse, considering they are unadoptable and probably breeding like crazy. I don't know what the ASPCA would say about you taking that kind of action, or if you'd want to, but it is kinder than the lives most of the feral street cats live.

(OK, let the attacks begin...) :yh_nailbi

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:00 am

BR - I'm just packing my longbow and a good bunch of arrows, I'll drop by and maybe you can give me a lift on your bike. Bring the .22. Let's head down to Florida and give LC a hand!!! (LC - I got no idea how to mix a martini, but if you get the ingredients in, BR might just be able to manage.. ) .. By the way, LC, where's Siesta Key?? My girlfriend from NJ - who's a grade school teacher - is on vacation there for a week of sun, cocktails and possibly snakes. She's earned it.. well not the snakes.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:48 am

Siesta Key, Florida Siesta Key Information and Accommodations ... Siesta key is on the west coast of florida, not one of the keys you think of like key largo down in the caribbean. i'm sure your friend is having a good time! :-6

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:14 am

SnoozeControl wrote: Got room for me too? I've got a few vacation days coming up.well i'm not in siesta key, but come on down!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:21 am

I thought you were in Miami, LC ... I really do gotta go look up my atlas!!!!!!! Loved the Carl Hiaasen article, by the way. Grin. In my search for angels for you, in regard to another thread, I found a load of bad cat angels... grin.

Here's one

http://ewancient.lysator.liu.se/pic/art ... kitten.jpg

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:36 am

SnoozeControl wrote: I know, silly... you're in that big scary city down at the pointy end of the state. How's the neighbor situation?the dicks are GONE!! Pam, the link is not working. i'm way down in the conch republic, miami sucks. come on down to kokomo!!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:42 am

So glad those drongoes have shot through, LC. (Burial at sea???) I really do gotta go get my atlas... I've never set foot in Florida - though got pretty close once or twice. Soon!! In fact I'm packing my case right now and phoning the travel agent!!! Grin. ... One day!!!

I gotta go hit the hay - have an early start tomorrow. Folk Festival time. I'm very excited!! Here's the bad angel cat!!

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valerie · Post by **valerie** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:12 am

BabyRider wrote: Val's going to kick my ass for saying this, :yh_nailbi

:yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl

Me, kick your ass? That'll be the day!

Little known fact: I don't like cats. At all. The only reason we have one,

is Paul talked me into it. I've informed him that it's the very LAST thing

he's ever talking me into. And when the now 15 year old Gracie goes to

her last reward, that's IT. Unfortunately, Gracie is an extremely healthy

(hybrid vigor) cat who's one of those that will probably live to 30!!

:(

Now, what was it we were talking about?

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:35 am

Key West Chickens Raise Bird Flu Fears... and feral chickens!:yh_chickn :yh_chickn :yh_chickn

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:42 am

Iguanas Invade Florida Town .........feral iguanas too! gads i love florida!! :wah:

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:51 pm

Tossem on the barbie, LC.. I bet they'd cook up nicely and go down well with a cosmo.