Many neighborhoods have outdoor, stray or feral cats who wander into backyards or may sun themselves on patios. Feral cats who have been spayed/neutered can be easily identified by their tipped right ear. Often the cats we think are stray actually have homes, but they like to wander. Identifying where a cat lives can be difficult, but sometimes just talking to neighbors can solve the mystery.
Why do cats come into my yard?
Although a destructive neighborhood cat can be very frustrating, know that the cat isn’t acting out of spite or targeting you. He’s behaving naturally and just happens to have a preference for your yard.
Cats like to potty in an area where they can cover their scent by burying the waste. Therefore, a cat who spends most of his time outdoors, will appreciate the soft, pre-dug dirt of your garden – or your child’s sandbox – as a handy toilet.
Any roaming cat is a danger to birds. Place bird feeders up higher and use baffles to prevent cats from climbing up.
Solutions
To discourage cats from coming into your yard, try to make your yard cat proof and undesirable. Since each situation is different, please contact us for help finding the best solutions for your situation. Here are some tips:
- Texture: To keep a cat from jumping onto flat surfaces, crisscross double-sided tape onto a piece of sturdy plastic, either a heavy, plastic drop cloth or a vinyl tablecloth would work well. Drape the plastic over the surface, and secure it with cord, or at least one weighted object, to keep it in position. The sticky tape on the cat’s paws is annoying (without pain or panic), and the slick plastic rattles and offers no foothold.
- Water: This method works especially well for areas where birds feed on the ground or where cats are using a garden area as a litter box. Motion-activated sprinkler devices on the market will surprise a cat with a spray of water and cats will generally begin to avoid the area.
- Obstacles: Many ideas to keep cats inside your yard also work to keep cats out. Look up cat fencing for more ideas.
- Repellents: Orange and lemon peels, peppermint or lavender sprinkled around any area where you’ve seen cats will help to deter them. If you have a few garlic cloves, you can chop those up and add to the combination.
- Visual Barriers: A roaming cat may approach your window or patio door and upset your cat or dog. The best way to reduce or limit your pet’s visual access to the outdoor cat(s) is to cover the glass with white rice paper (or window film) that will let light in, but block your pet’s view. You might only need to cover the lower half of your 1st floor windows.
Humane Traps
If the solutions above were unsuccessful and you were unable to establish the cat’s ownership, then you can try using a humane trap to catch the cat. Many animal control agencies or humane societies will loan or rent out these traps but please call for information prior to visiting. To learn more about stray and feral cats: Feral Cat Coalition (feralcats.com) or Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org).
Need help? Call our free pet behavior help line at (503) 416-2983.
