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Stray Cat Problems

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Started 2 years ago by TaraK
Latest reply from TaraK

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cats

TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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This cat (nicknamed Zombie Cat, as he looks like the living dead) has been coming by our place daily since sometime in June.

He comes around to various windows on the first floor multiple times a day. At first we had no problem with it and felt really sorry for the guy; he's clearly had a rough life.

But lately, he gets our two cats really upset. I don't just mean yowling and tail puffing, but they morph into all out balls of violent, spastic kitty rage. Our semi-feral kitty just goes ballistic and attacks our other one -- a big dope. (They get along great otherwise.) Two mornings this week I've had to run out on the porch in my robe like a mad woman to chase this guy away.

So does anyone have any experience with an antagonistic stray who visits daily? I don't know of any voodoo to keep him away, but he would be very violent if I could trap him. And chances are, a trap would catch one of the other strays that comes around, none of which do any harm or bother. (In theory I could catch them all and call a local animal organization, but I'm not sure if I'm quite ready to be the Cat Trapper of the area.) Is there such a thing as cat repellant?

Posted 2 years ago #
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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An old anti-pigeon trick - grease the windowsill.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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Well, he also comes to the front door (it's has a big piece of glass in it), so that would require we lube the porch, thus making it difficult to go to work in the morning. Also, our window sills are brick. But thanks the same.

Posted 2 years ago #
sixyfivepercentwater
Within earshot of Columbus
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I feel for you. I have cats too, and there is a moderate stray cat issue in our area, although nothing like what you're facing.

A couple of things come immediately to mind. First, this guy can communicate fleas, ticks, and several airborne diseases to your cats. The picture shows that actual nose-to-nose contact could occur, which is a bad thing. It also looks like he's been in a few fights, so I'm wondering if he's an unaltered male. If so, he could easily think your house is his territory and your cats are the interlopers. He could spray all around your property and through your windows.

It's unfortunate that we don't have better laws regarding keeping cats indoors where they belong, but we have to deal with the reality. There is no way to gently persuade this guy to go elsewhere, and the situation is not going to get better. There is no earthly reason why you should put up with your cats - who are being taken care of responsibly - to be upset. My cats are indoors, of course, and I've had them get so upset by an outside cat that they develop behavioral problems.

You can try to discourage this cat by chasing him away whenever you see him, spraying him with a vinegar/water solution, etc. Or you can effect a more permanent solution. Try to trap him, and if you trap other strays then oh well. Inform your neighbors that you're going to take whatever action you need to, and then take it. This is very much a problem you shouldn't have to deal with, and it's only going to get worse.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
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Yes, this guy does cause behavior problems (as in one pissed, violent kitty and one that's scared to death). And, yes, he probably has lots of diseases and has been in many fights, as evidenced by his missing ear.

Trapping may be necessary. Do you have any suggestions of who to call if I do catch him? And what would they do with him?

Posted 2 years ago #
sixyfivepercentwater
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Tarak, who you call depends on where you are. Your local animal shelter will be able to tell you who you should contact, and your vet should have that information as well.

I wouldn't recommend attempting to catch this cat yourself and then transporting it anywhere, because once again you have no idea what diseases it has, and I doubt you're going to want it in your vehicle.

It's much better to not ask what is going to happen to this cat. I don't think anyone can imagine a scenario where a cat that's been left outside and neglected to this extent goes on to live a happy life. I doubt this cat is able to be a pet, and odds are it's sick and miserable. Humans who take in kittens and then abandon them, believing they'll be "fine" outside have a lot to answer for!

In the meantime I would strongly suggest closing your windows and curtains in an effort to lessen your own cats' anxiety as much as possible. There is no reason you or your cats should be going through this, and taking action is the only remedy.

Posted 2 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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sixyfivepercentwater wrote >>
In the meantime I would strongly suggest closing your windows and curtains in an effort to lessen your own cats' anxiety as much as possible.

This is the easiest, best wayt to deal with your problem.

Posted 2 years ago #
Hael

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I wonder if one of those fake Owls would work.

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/792927381-bobbing-head-owl-decoy.html

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
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sixyfivepercentwater wrote >>
Tarak, who you call depends on where you are. Your local animal shelter will be able to tell you who you should contact, and your vet should have that information as well.
I wouldn't recommend attempting to catch this cat yourself and then transporting it anywhere, because once again you have no idea what diseases it has, and I doubt you're going to want it in your vehicle.
It's much better to not ask what is going to happen to this cat. I don't think anyone can imagine a scenario where a cat that's been left outside and neglected to this extent goes on to live a happy life. I doubt this cat is able to be a pet, and odds are it's sick and miserable. Humans who take in kittens and then abandon them, believing they'll be "fine" outside have a lot to answer for!
In the meantime I would strongly suggest closing your windows and curtains in an effort to lessen your own cats' anxiety as much as possible. There is no reason you or your cats should be going through this, and taking action is the only remedy.

I have no problem letting someone else catch the cat, I just doubted that any agency would come catch one specific cat because I asked them to. If they will, though, that's great. I certainly don't look forward to tangoing with the guy.

You're right about not asking what will happen. I'm pretty realistic than diseased, feral cats are a population problem and can't all be expected to wind up on some old lady's feather cushion. Some city's have trap-and-release programs where they immunize and alter the cat, then release it again, though I'm not sure that's the best solution either. Regardless, this guy's in bad health. He's covered in scabs and, as said, missing an ear. His fur is patchy. I know he's not going to go on Extreme Makeover or anything. I guess I just need to try to track down an agency that will help catch him.

(By the way, I do keep the curtains/windows/blinds shut some, but I my cat can open cabinet doors. Getting around a curtain or blind is no problem. He'll actually just climb through horizontal miniblinds if he can't go around the side. I'm not being a whiner, but I'm just saying it would be impossible to keep him from having visual contact and getting violent unless I boarded up the windows.)

Posted 2 years ago #
sixyfivepercentwater
Within earshot of Columbus
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Yeah, my cats can do some pretty remarkable things too, for creatures who have no thumbs.

I'm in Delaware County, and when I called the local county animal control at one time I was told they have a limited number of live traps which I could borrow or rent from them and then they would pick the animal up once I'd caught it. It seems to me if Delaware County can do that on their limited budget, you should be able to get at least that level of service in Franklin County. From your description of this guy, it sounds like you'd be doing him a favor as well as your own cats.

One thing I do on my property is when I brush my cats I put the clumps of fur around the house. Some of it is taken by birds to make nests (ah, the irony!) but I also think the smell of it keeps feral cats away to some degree.

Right now we're dealing with one cat which seems nice enough but it upsets my cats more than I can say. Since some of my cats have health issues already, I'm not pleased that they are being upset as a result of another cat owner's negligence.

The odd thing is that when we lived in South Carolina (why did we do that?) we were in the armpit of nowhere, but they had laws about not letting cats roam. I don't see those laws on the books here, and I keep hoping someone will tell me I'm wrong about that.

It also sounds like this cat is too far gone for the catch-and-release thing, which I'm not even sure they do around here. They do it a lot in England, and they also spay/neuter at the same time. By and large Europe has nothing like the kind of stray and unwanted pet problem we have here.

Good luck.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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yes, there is cat repellent. You can buy it at any decent garden shop. The kind I used for a while was essentially crystallized coyote urine. Worked pretty well to keep the cats away from places we wanted 'em gone.

Of course, when the actual coyotes showed up they were even more effective, and solved the problem entirely. Yes there are coyotes in parts of the city, and if you like your small pets you best keep 'em inside.

Posted 2 years ago #
mitchellosu
Merion Village
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I see stray cats as two different issues. First, the well-being of the stray itself. The other issue is the potential for that stray to breed and create more homeless or unwanted cats.

I have such a soft-heart for homeless cats, if I wasn't already at capacity I would look into FIV, etc testing for him and take him in. It doesn't sound like this would work for you either, but if he tests negative for FIV and FeLV it would be safe for someone with other pets to adopt him.
For the second issue, Colony Cats (www.colonycats.org) can help spay/neuter this sad little guy.

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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Maybe he's just trying to get back home. maybe his previous owners moved out of your apt and then abandoned him, and now he finally made his way home. That happens a lot around Columbus.

if not, if you can catch it you can take it to the humane society and they will take care of it.
http://www.cahs-pets.org/about_CAHS/admissions.htm

There are fees associated with surrendering any animal, including strays. To make an appointment for an animal admission, please call (614)777-7387 ext. 208 during open hours.

Stray Animal (from within Franklin County only)***
$30

they should also scan his neck for a microchip to see if he belongs to anyone

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
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Rockmastermike wrote >>
yes, there is cat repellent. You can buy it at any decent garden shop. The kind I used for a while was essentially crystallized coyote urine. Worked pretty well to keep the cats away from places we wanted 'em gone.
Of course, when the actual coyotes showed up they were even more effective, and solved the problem entirely. Yes there are coyotes in parts of the city, and if you like your small pets you best keep 'em inside.

Awesome. Would you mind telling me of a local store where you can purchase it? I don't think there's anything in my area, so I'd be happy to swing by any place in the general Columbus area that has it.

I wonder if I could also put some of this stuff in my houseplants to keep my cats out of them.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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TaraK wrote >>

Rockmastermike wrote >>
yes, there is cat repellent. You can buy it at any decent garden shop. The kind I used for a while was essentially crystallized coyote urine. Worked pretty well to keep the cats away from places we wanted 'em gone.
Of course, when the actual coyotes showed up they were even more effective, and solved the problem entirely. Yes there are coyotes in parts of the city, and if you like your small pets you best keep 'em inside.

Awesome. Would you mind telling me of a local store where you can purchase it? I don't think there's anything in my area, so I'd be happy to swing by any place in the general Columbus area that has it.
I wonder if I could also put some of this stuff in my houseplants to keep my cats out of them.

i'm pretty sure I last bought the stuff at the little garden store on king ave near grandview ave. "dog and cat repellent".

i dont think you would want to use it indoors. its has an odor (thats how it works) and would probably give your cats a big freakout.

i think it was this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PQZRIY

Posted 2 years ago #
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
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I should know better than to ask this...

Is it more humane to have an animal put to sleep, or: let it remain a stray, make more cats, and potentially starve/freeze to death in winter? Are shelters a viable option? (What is the success rate for cat adoption anyways?)

I don't know what the answer is, but, based on the pic, he kinda looks "sickly" or torn up from fights, I dunno.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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turnedNOTburned wrote >>
I should know better than to ask this...
Is it more humane to have an animal put to sleep, or: let it remain a stray, make more cats, and potentially starve/freeze to death in winter? Are shelters a viable option? (What is the success rate for cat adoption anyways?)
I don't know what the answer is, but, based on the pic, he kinda looks "sickly" or torn up from fights, I dunno.

I was tempted to say that, ideally, I could drop him off in a distant, rural place (like where my parents live) and let him be his wild kitty self, but in reality coyotes would gobble him up pretty quickly.

Anyhow, I've ordered the repellent that Rocketmastermike recommended and hope that will do the trick. A small part of me will be sad to see this guy go; before he started making my cats act like they were possessed, we kind of enjoyed seeing this wild fellow.

Nonetheless, doesn't he look like a poster child (erm, cat) for population control and why animals should be altered? He has the saddest face.

Nonetheless, I will be happy to get some peace back. Now I just have to wait on my coyote urine.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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This is Tenzo, from the squirrel thread....
I have a humane trap you can borrow in a week.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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Thanks.

And it cracks me up that you are now identifying as "Tenzo from the Squirrel Thread." Maybe you should get a vanity plate made.

Posted 2 years ago #