How do I get rid of my neighbors cats?

[mselly13]

We love animals. I do not want to hurt these cats. But my neighbors have 3-4 cats that live under my house(mobile home) more than they live anywhere else. Their oldest son moved home a year ago. He orinally brought home just one pit bull dog, now he has 2 more. Two of them are chained in the back yard and one in the front yard and they also have a wolf/huskie that stays in the house when he's not running the neighborhood. So these cats stay under my house most of the time. I believe they have had babies. A little cat showed up at my window last night(more than a kitten but less than a year)...the little cat just wouldn't leave and it is driving my 3 cats nuts. My cats are indoor cats only. But with these other cats right outside my cats won't quit tiddling all over my house.
Help!

 

[teacups]

I cant remember what it is... maybe coffee grounds, but there is somethign like that which cats do not like the smell of. Did you try to Google? Maybe try "coffee grounds cats" and see what you get. (Maybe it was moth balls?) See? I can not recall, but I know there is somethign.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Sounds like an interesting neighborhood.

 

[Kies99]

Use a hose. Cats hate getting wet and if you keep a hose handy, just keep squirting them with it when you catch them under your home. They'll quickly get the idea.

You're other bet is to try something called "Shake-Away":

https://www.critter-repellent.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=CATS

Only problem with using something like this is that it MAY affect your indoor cats as they might be able to smell it as well.

 

[TurboKitty]

There are many natural cat deterrants, including water, coffee grounds, aluminum foil and citrus oils. You may need to find what works best on these particular cats.

Please please PLEASE do NOT use chili powder, red crushed pepper or cayenne pepper (it gets on the cat's paws then they wash themselves and they get it in their eyes, beware cats have literally scratched their eyes out because of this. Even if it's one cat out of 500 infected in this way, that's one too many for me. )
Also, Do Not ever use mothballs or flakes. Those little toxic waste pellets destroy cats' kidney function. (Their packaging even warns against using them this way.)

 

[eclectics]

Have the neighbors officially abandoned them or do they still feed them? If they don't care for them in any way, or don't care about them, you could rent a 'Have A Heart' trap and take them to a decent shelter in your area. Seems both yours and the cat's quality of life have been affected. At least they will be cared for properly at a shelter.

 

[flrose]

Thanks for asking the question as I have this problem also. There are about 5 cats that hang out at my house. I don't have any of my own and I do like cats but, the two that hang out in the back yard are digging up and knocking over my plants. Then there are 3 that like to sun themselves in my front flower garden. One of them likes to sleep on the roof of my convertible at night. So glad you mentioned the moth ball thing and I had read about the chili powder/pepper thing but, I would never have used that idea anyway. I did do a google search a while ago trying to find plants that cats may not like. (Not poisonous plants) I came up with a couple: nicotainia (sp?) and lavender. I'm going to try that rout.

 

[mselly13]

I don't know if the neighbors are taking care of the cats or not. I would assume not because they are here so much and because the cats can't get home for the dogs in the yard.
We do not get along with these neighbors. Mom works but only when she has to...otherwise is seldom seen. Dad drives truck and so is gone all week and home for a short time on weekends. Two sons...(21ish and 18)...neither work...traffic comes and goes at all hours(I think they are dealing)...the dogs get loose and come over here and we shoot at them (sorrry I don't do pit bulls at all...I have a 3 yo) The dogs do jump at the fence sometimes when we are outside trying to play.

We live in the county. No shelters. The shelter in the next town over won't take them. We tried calling SPCA in Dallas...they are too full.

And my yard is starting to smell like a litter box.

 

[eclectics]

I don't know if the neighbors are taking care of the cats or not. I would assume not because they are here so much and because the cats can't get home for the dogs in the yard.
We do not get along with these neighbors. Mom works but only when she has to...otherwise is seldom seen. Dad drives truck and so is gone all week and home for a short time on weekends. Two sons...(21ish and 18)...neither work...traffic comes and goes at all hours(I think they are dealing)...the dogs get loose and come over here and we shoot at them (sorrry I don't do pit bulls at all...I have a 3 yo) The dogs do jump at the fence sometimes when we are outside trying to play.

We live in the county. No shelters. The shelter in the next town over won't take them. We tried calling SPCA in Dallas...they are too full.

And my yard is starting to smell like a litter box.

It sounds like a non-win situation. I wish I had a solution to offer but I don't. Only thing I can think of is perhaps to build a small makeshift shelter as far away from your home (and the dogs) as possible and set up a water bowl and some dry food for them? They might set up shop there instead of under your home. Not an ideal solution but maybe a stop gap measure for now.

 

[WDSearcher]

Your best bet is to call Animal Control for your county and tell them that you have a nest of cats living under your mobile home. If they ask who the cats belong to, you can either tell them to whole story, or you can say that they are strays.

If you tell them the whole story, Animal Control will call or pay a visit to the neighbors and register the complaint. This could make life very difficult for you.

If you maintain that they are strays, Animal Control will trap them and take them away -- either to be adopted or not, depending on the animals' dispositions and general health.

If you build a shelter for them, as suggested above, they become your cats (for all practical purposes) and you will become responsible for any damage they do, for all their kittens, etc. If you plant something or spray something or sprinkle something to keep them away, they will simply find another place to live, quite possibly still on your property.

It seems clear that the neighbors don't care about them. The kindest thing for the cats is to get them out of there and somewhere safe.

 

[eclectics]

Your best bet is to call Animal Control for your county and tell them that you have a nest of cats living under your mobile home. If they ask who the cats belong to, you can either tell them to whole story, or you can say that they are strays.

If you tell them the whole story, Animal Control will call or pay a visit to the neighbors and register the complaint. This could make life very difficult for you.

If you maintain that they are strays, Animal Control will trap them and take them away -- either to be adopted or not, depending on the animals' dispositions and general health.

If you build a shelter for them, as suggested above, they become your cats (for all practical purposes) and you will become responsible for any damage they do, for all their kittens, etc. If you plant something or spray something or sprinkle something to keep them away, they will simply find another place to live, quite possibly still on your property.

It seems clear that the neighbors don't care about them. The kindest thing for the cats is to get them out of there and somewhere safe.

Your solution is way better than mine. I just assumed from the OP that no one will help her in an official capacity. If her county has an animal control, and they will come out (some won't for cats), of course, go that route.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would love to hear other suggestions for getting rid of cats nicely.

There is a cat that lives in our apartment complex that no one claims as their own until we threaten to take it away.

This cat is ill and leave goop on everyone's cars. It was trapped once and one kind soul took it to the vet to be put down. And wouldn't you know it...this crazy man steps forward and says it was his cat!!! He refused to pay for the damages on our cars and set the cat free again and doesn't feed or care for it. The cat is a nuisance and we have no idea what disease it has or if it is capable of passing the disease onto others.

And management decided to step out if it altogether because they are not responsible for our cars parked in their parking. (but what about the diseased cat??)


So, catching it again would probably lead to more issues. How do I keep the cat away from our cars? I'm not going to use a car cover every night, that is so annoying!

Do cofee grounds work?

 

[MoniqueU]

My dead fil used to shoot at them with BB guns. Not sure how many he hit but he was not a nice man. In the country he came from they were considered like rodents. I dont think he was too popular in his neighborhood.

On another note I think it is iresponsible to let your cats just roam all over the neighborhood and mess up someones yard. You can't do that with dogs, why should you be allowed to do that with cats?

 

[WDSearcher]

I would love to hear other suggestions for getting rid of cats nicely.

There is a cat that lives in our apartment complex that no one claims as their own until we threaten to take it away.

This cat is ill and leave goop on everyone's cars. It was trapped once and one kind soul took it to the vet to be put down. And wouldn't you know it...this crazy man steps forward and says it was his cat!!! He refused to pay for the damages on our cars and set the cat free again and doesn't feed or care for it. The cat is a nuisance and we have no idea what disease it has or if it is capable of passing the disease onto others.

And management decided to step out if it altogether because they are not responsible for our cars parked in their parking. (but what about the diseased cat??)

So, catching it again would probably lead to more issues. How do I keep the cat away from our cars? I'm not going to use a car cover every night, that is so annoying!

You (or any of your neighbors) should not be catching the cat. What you need to do is call Animal Control or Animal Rescue for your county or region and tell them that there is a sick, stray cat on the premises. You don't have to give them all the history or anything. You simply tell them that the cat is ill -- and some idea of how you know this, i.e. the "goop" -- and that you are afraid that it will pass something along to other animals or to children. You should also mention that there is no one giving it obvious care. That is, there is no one feeding or caring for it.

Animal Rescue will come out to get the cat, and if the guy who "owns" it comes forward to stop them, they will cite him for not caring for his cat and likely request that he surrender it to their care. If he refuses, then he will be given an order to take the cat to the vet within X number of days and then to provide proof to Animal Rescue that the cat is being cared for. If he doesn't do this, they will return and seize the cat as well as charge him with (and possibly arrest him for) animal cruelty.

Animal Rescue exists for a reason. Unless you or one of your neighbors wants to adopt the cat and care for it, get the official channels involved.

 

[EthansMom]

If you trap the cats and take them to the local animal shelter, they'll probably take them. Personally, I would tell the shelter that the cats were abandoned, which they have been IMO, instead of going into a big story.

 

[WDSearcher]

The only problem with trapping the cats yourself is that if the "crazy guy" sees you, then you're right back where you started.

Animal Rescue is usually a much better option. And that way, if he starts making a big deal out of it, they'll slap him with a citation and a fine. Which is the very least of what he deserves!

 

[hucifer]

On another note I think it is iresponsible to let your cats just roam all over the neighborhood and mess up someones yard. You can't do that with dogs, why should you be allowed to do that with cats?

I have been saying the same thing for years. Dogs running around the neighborhood and crapping on our lawn and digging in our garbage/lawn/garden is rude...but when cats do it, it's okay?

 

[Cindyluwho]

FWIW if you have cats living UNDER your mobile home, that means that other animals could get under there too. Your home should have some sort of perimeter barrier so critters can't get under there and do damage. Pulling out insulation, moisture/urine, etc can do tons of damage and cost you lots of $$. Time to put up some rabbit hutch wire or something similar to keep ALL critters out. As it is, if you get rid of the cats you'll probably just end up with squirrels, mice, rats, etc. under there. If you feel like you can't afford the barricade then you certainly can't afford the damage that could be done.

 

[sharonW]

Moth Balls should work, also we had stray cats
constantly urinating around our hemlock tree and
it was destroying the tree so we used a product
called critter ridder, it works, the cats don't come
near the tree and the tree is coming back! Good
Luck!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

You shoot AT the dogs? Are they attacking you when you shoot them or are they just loose? If they are just loose, go in your house and call animal control. Besides the obvious issues with killing an animal that wasn't posing a threat to you, but just in your yard, what if you miss and manage to shoot a person or a child with a stray bullet?