Cat Problems

[SouthernCross]

In the last week, I have had a neighbors cat start attacking our plants. I have some planters behind my waterfall, and a cat has been going in there and damaging a lot of the ginger lilies. It also seems to have a liking for one of the taro's that I have planted in the pond. Besides getting a BB Gun and staying up all night waiting on it to visit, does anyone know how to deal with an unwelcome guest tearing up plants?

 

[Dave 54]

Yes as a cat lover I would suggest buying a dog BB guns could well lead to trouble between you and your nieghbour.
Cats are looked at as being wild animals and as such can do what they please.
Why because they aren't dependant on people where as dogs are, so your nieghbour doesnt have to answer to its actions.

rgrds

Dave

 

[SouthernCross]

We also have a cat, but we keep it inside. And buying a dog is not going an option. I was just wondering if there was a way you could get something to keep them away when I am not around the pond. Any suggestions on things that cats do not like for example, a sensor that sprays them with water, something that scars them. Open to suggestions.

 

[Dave 54]

Lion Poo is another way you can buy it from the local Zoo that cat is going to get one sniff of it and think OMG from what I've heard it does work

rgrds

Dave

 

[Mucky_Waters]

I have a neighbor/hunter who keeps the stray cat population under control. If you are not fortunate enough to have a neighbor like that, and don't want to take on that duty yourself, I suggest you secure, or build, a live trap, catch the cat, and drop it off at your local spca,

 

[Mmathis]

Supposedly moth balls will keep them away.

 

[Dave 54]

I have a neighbor/hunter who keeps the stray cat population under control. If you are not fortunate enough to have a neighbor like that, and don't want to take on that duty yourself, I suggest you secure, or build, a live trap, catch the cat, and drop it off at your local spca,

Cant really do that Mucky as the cat is owned by the next door neighbour.
Sadly as I previously stated cats are classed as wild animals as they cannot be domesticated, they just choose to live with an owner.as such they are above the law.....
If a car driver hits one and kills it they dont even have to report it to the Police but if you hit a dog it being domesticated you have to.
I would also think the SPCA would take a dim view of catching the neighbours cat and passing it off as ferral or using a BB gun.
Strangely though if you have cats and fish..... you'll find that because the pond is in their turf so to speak that they will leave the pond and its contents alone, ours even sleep by the side of the pond.
They will quite happily sit there just a few inches away from our koi and watch them at feeding times making no move at all to try catch one.

rgrds

Dave

 

[addy1]

might not be the best solution, put up some deer netting, make it hard for the cat to get there. I protect the bird feeder area with deer netting to keep the darn cats away from the birds.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Cant really do that Mucky as the cat is owned by the next door neighbour.
Sadly as I previously stated cats are classed as wild animals as they cannot be domesticated, they just choose to live with an owner.as such they are above the law.....
If a car driver hits one and kills it they dont even have to report it to the Police but if you hit a dog it being domesticated you have to.
I would also think the SPCA would take a dim view of catching the neighbours cat and passing it off as ferral or using a BB gun.
Strangely though if you have cats and fish..... you'll find that because the pond is in their turf so to speak that they will leave the pond and its contents alone, ours even sleep by the side of the pond.
They will quite happily sit there just a few inches away from our koi and watch them at feeding times making no move at all to try catch one.

rgrds

Dave

Sounds like you have the scenario for a terrible feral cat problem there Dave. Feral cats roaming free everywhere causing havoc,breeding out of control and protected by the law. I'm glad the law is on our side here.
Here pets, or wild animals, that enter your property and become a nuisance can be caught and dealt with as I described. And yes, if they are bothering your pets or livestock you have the right to shoot them or otherwise deal with them to protect you own pets and family on your own property.

 

[Jason]

Cats are silly :coolgleema:

 

[Sunshine]

I've heard of the Moth ball thing works also. My friend at work was having the same problem, she put Moth balls down around her plants and so far, no plants have been tore up.

 

[slakker]

I think cats tend to become feral more quickly than dogs but dogs go feral like cats as well and become "wild". This is a big problem in some places rural China and Russia (read a recent article on that).

But being a cat (and dog owner), I think cat problems are mostly due to the owners. Our cats are domesticated, they can be taught and trained to play fetch, etc. It's just most owners don't spend the amount of time needed to train them, they just let them roam so they become mostly feral. And it is more work to train cats as they've only been with humans for maybe 10,000 years, where as dogs for at least 300,000.

But I digress, I use cayenne or some non toxic "critter-ridder" products to discourage the neighbours cats from our yard. The range of an outdoor cat is pretty large, and they do have a "patrol route". So if you can "block" or change their route/range, it may be a good way to eliminate the problem.

 

[SouthernCross]

Thanks for the tips, but I will try and see if Mothballs will work. I read up and if you put them in a jar with holes in the lid, it puts out a smell that they do not like. If that does not work, I might go with a scarecrow sensor(link below). The only bad thing about it is that I can see myself getting sprayed a lot.

http://www.amazon.com/Contech-CRO10...75474407&sr=8-1&keywords=Scarecrow+Sprinklers

 

[topofthehill1]

im not exactly an environmentalist. but if they get in your pond that would probably bad as I have heard they are really bad for the environment in general. Shooting it with a bb gun can actually kill it. so i wouldnt suggest that either. They tend to not like citris smells. if you have a pet store near you they usually sell a citris spray that may or may not work. I think I would be very careful about where I place the mothballs.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Get a big dog? Woof Woof!
Get one of those spray guns that spray with shot of water when there is movement by the pond?
Call the bylaw officer and report the cat? Here cats are not allowed to roam free but some still do!

Set up lots little cheap mouse traps near around the pond and that should fix that cat real quick!! .... as he runs home with a mouse trap snapped on his tail! Oh how the mice Laugh !