Neighborhood Cats ARGH!

[mickeyboat]

We have been smelling the strong smell of cat urine in our mudroom for a couple of weeks. We had bought a new rug, and thought maybe one of our indoor cats had peed on it for some reason. They have never peed on anything before, but weren't able to find a "puddle." We were concerned, but didn't find any smell anywhere else, so we cleaned the mudroom really well, bleached the floor, aired out the rugs, and went along our business.

But the smell kept coming back. So we ditched the rugs, cleaned the floor again, and worried something was wrong with our cats. The smell would not go away, and was worse when we wore wet boots in the house. We tossed the rug outside the door, and started to suspect that it was a smell we were bringing in from outside.

Today I noticed the smell outside the front door, and I was able to see and smell exactly where a cat had peed on our front rug. Argh! So now we are out two welcome mats, two huge floor mats, and our mudroom smells like pee. I am going to have to clean the bottoms of every pair of shoes we have worn in the past three weeks. I might even have to throw out the shoe baskets we have in the mudroom. Total cost about $120, plus labor.

I am furious! It looks like there is some neighborhood cat peeing on our rugs, ruining our stuff, and smelling up our house. I don't see many cats roaming around the neighborhood, but I would really like to find the cat which is doing this, and talk to their owner about it.

I would also like to figure out a way to make this cat stop coming up on our porches. Any suggestions? Thanks for whatever advice you might have, and for listening to me gripe!

Denae

 

[N&B'smom]

We've had a situation with stray cats and people just letting their cats run around the neighborhood too. Not only did our dog get fleas because of them but they also come up and sit on our porch. They actually lounge on our rocking chairs. We have cushions on them from The Cracker Barrel, well, they're covered with cat hair! Now we need to get news ones because we won't sit on the chairs covered in cat hair. I don't want to handle the cushions because I'm VERY allergic to cats. My son is also allergic and he has asthma. So, these cats have become a major annoyance. I know we don't have cat pee issues like you do, but I do sympathize.

Shelby

 

[UMTerp]

Same problem here. Stray/neighbor's cats pee in our mulch around the front door. Smell is awful! I'd welcome any suggestions to keep them away as well!

UMTerp

 

[korbbec]

PEOPLE!!! Ughhhh....

You see- the thing is, if people were resposible in the first place and took care of their pets and spayed/ neutered them there would not be any problem. People suck, not the cats.

 

[korbbec]

You could try tin foil to keep the cats away- cats don't like to walk on it, but I'm not sure if that is doable in your situation.

 

[mickeyboat]

korbec - I might try the tin foil. Heck, I'd wrap my whole house in tin foil if it would keep it from smelling like pee.

And does anyone know - it is probably an unneutered male cat that is doing it, right? That would be the only cat that would spray like that, eh? I don't know a lot about that because all of my pets have been spayed/neutered.

Denae

 

[korbbec]

It is probably an unneutered cat, but you never know- some animals buck the system. I had a male neutered cat that used to regularly rape my roommates spayed female cat. We had to put them in seperate rooms when no one was home- animals are weird.

 

[JadenLayne]

Same problem here! Neighborhood cats peeing on the front porch rugs. We finally just stopped putting them out there.

 

[jillyjoey]

I've heard about the cat pee too. Very sorry this happened to you I have already voiced my opinions about free-roaming cats (they have ruined 2 of our cars!!) so I'll save my rant on this and I won't tell you about my idea of getting them to stay away (got flamed on that same thread). The only thing I can wish for you is good luck in keeping the little boogers away.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I thought I've heard someplace that mothballs repel cats. If you put them around the porch, the smell will keep them away. But I'm not a cat person so I could be wrong.

 

[CinRell]

It's not the cats' fault... they may not have a home.. .they may have been dumped.. they may be trying to find a home... trying to make it... somewhere in their history there was an irresponsible human who shoudl've kept them or their ancestors inside and had them fixed.


Don't use mothballs.... they cause kidney damage.

Sprinkle cayenne pepper all around where they're going. It burns and the cats will stay clear of it.

Cats also hate citrus ... so spray something citrus smelling or put lemon peels around where they're going.

 

[Kath2003]

Two top ways to remove cats from places you don't want them to be:

1. Tin foil. Freaks them out.

2. Squirt them with a water gun (a small one!).

 

[mickeyboat]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try some of them tonight.

I wish I could catch it in the act and spray it with water, but I have only encountered their "gifts." It's strange that we have had the mats since last summer, and only recently have we started having problems.

JadenLayne - do you have cats in your house, or do the cats jus tnot like the mats?

 

[Laura]

I thought I've heard someplace that mothballs repel cats. If you put them around the porch, the smell will keep them away. But I'm not a cat person so I could be wrong.

Don't use mothballs unless you want to poison the cats. Also cayenne pepper is bad, though not poisonous. Just too harsh.

Better to use citrus peels and vinegar.

 

[pfishgirl]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try some of them tonight.

I wish I could catch it in the act and spray it with water, but I have only encountered their "gifts." It's strange that we have had the mats since last summer, and only recently have we started having problems.

JadenLayne - do you have cats in your house, or do the cats jus tnot like the mats?

It is getting close to "Mating Season" the male cat is leaving his scent for the females..

We have wicker furniture on our porch and I can't leave cushions on them because my neighbor's cat from accross the street took over. He/She doesn't pee or spray but the Hair..

Our neighbor right next door, grand daughter comes for the summer with a cat. We caught him ON my DH Nissan 350z convertable roof!!!

Have you called your local Vet? Maybe they can make suggestions. I know Moth Balls work with some animals, not sure about cats though

Good Luck..

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I swear we must be in the same neighborhood!!! I too have neighbors who think they are Seigfried and Roy. I am so sick of their cats pooping all over my yard. We do not have any animals yet my dh has to clean up the yard so the kids can play. Today I was outside with the kids and there were landmines all over the place. They have also killed my front garden 3 times. I spent a fortune buying plants only to have them pee all over them and kill them. Talking to our neighbors about it is pointless. Trust me. It makes me so mad. Cats are not outdoor animals unless you have maybe a mountain lion. If you feel that your cat yearns to be in the great outdoors then keep it in your own yard. Mothballs do work. I put them all around the perimeter of our property once summer and it kept them away. But then my whole yard smelled gross and I have to worry that my kids don't pick them up and put them in their mouth. I knwo it is not the cat's fault but you can bet that if I had a dog that was pooping in their yard they'd take the thing to the pound. I called our local congresswoman to see what could be done and she said you can trap them and take them to the pound but if the owners found out then you would be responsible. Who needs that headache? Cayenne pepper does not work. I have tried it more than once and I swear the cats just give me the finger and stick their tongue out at me. I have had it with them. I would never harm an animal but I am so mad at their owners - none are strays. Why do they think this is okay?!!! I am sorry to vent but you took the words out of my mouth and today I was steaming about it.

 

[pfishgirl]

Two top ways to remove cats from places you don't want them to be:

1. Tin foil. Freaks them out.

2. Squirt them with a water gun (a small one!).

Umm.. Tin Foil ?? My cat LOVES tin foil, especially when you roll it in a ball and throw it to him

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

If I read your post correctly you mentioned that your cats also have access to the porch/mats,it's just a thought that even though your cats are spayed/neutered they still have a scent and possibly the female scent is what attracted this "sprayer" Once a cat urinates "marks" his territory they will return again and again.There are products available to eliminate the odor like Urine Gone but they really don't work that long. My best advice is vinegar ... yes it stinks too but not as bad as cat pee!Just a thought! Good Luck!

 

[Cindyluwho]

You can buy Coyote Urine at many online agriculteral/farm supply websites. Sounds awful, I know, but it really does work. Obviously you wouldn't put it right next to your door, but even on the plants around the house will keep the cats out of your yard, they're very afraid of Coyotes.

 

[jrmasm]

how about a humane trap followed by a trip to the Humane Society?