Skunk living in garage - advice?

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Our 19 yo cat lives in the garage. We thought her food was going away rather fast, then heard some banging around at night in there.

Opened the door to find a pretty darn cute skunk chewing on the broom. Then it waddled over to our garale sale pile and hid under.

We leave the overhead door open a crack during the day so the cat can get in and out. When we close the door at nite, apparently the skunk has been staying in too!

BTW, the cat is not phased at ALL. She comes trotting over to the food even w/ skunk sitting there.

what to do?????

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Does it look anything like this? That is the first thing I thought of. She has a boyfriend.

Pepe Le Pew

 

[kirbsam]

shoot it.

 

[wdwmom2]

shoot it.

Did this one time YEARS ago, not good. It sprayed.

Any wildlife workers in your area that could come to your home? They could trap it and relocate it.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Is there any reason I shouldn't let it live w/ us? It's frighteningly cute.

Trap and release is probably a good idea tho.

thx

 

[HeatherFeather]

My friend had a possum in her garage and when she called animal control they told her to put an open can of tuna outside the garage and wait for him to go out and then shut the door. I know you said your cat stays inside the garage, but maybe you could temporarily relocate him/her somewhere else until his new BFF skunky finds a new home?

 

[tonilea]

Mothballs. Scatter them in the garage and the skunk should vacate. Mothballs can be toxic. Read the box and relocate your cat.

There are lots of good reasons you don't want want the skunk in your garage. First and foremost, the can carry rabies. I would be particularly worried about a wild animal that didn't show any fear of humans. The symptoms of rabies are not always agression and foaming at the mouth. Symptoms also include any behavior that is not normal for the animal. ie Nocturnal animals being out during the day, not showing fear of humans, even being friendly!

Second, the scent can permeate everything in your garage - even if it doesn't spray. If it does spray, it can premeate everything in your home! A friend of ours had one spray under their house. Their clothes stank - even after repeated washings. I'm talking about clothes that were in their closests and drawers! Not to mention their upholstered furniture!

Third, don't leave food out for your cat. Only feed her as much as she will eat in a single feeding. You might need to feed her a couple times a day, but leaving food out only attracts assorted varmits. You might find a possum or a racoon or squirrels. They can be quite destructive.

 

[manning]

Is there any reason I shouldn't let it live w/ us? It's frighteningly cute.

Trap and release is probably a good idea tho.

thx

Yes, RABIES!!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

It is not legal to keep an indigenous US species as a pet. People who keep ravens as pets must actually import them from Australia, since native ravens are illegal to keep.

You won't be able to take it to a vet to get vaccinations since the first vet you take it to will tell you this.

I suspect the first time the skunk sprays your garage you might decide he's better off in the wild. I'd just keep the garage shut for a few weeks so he can't get in to eat and he'll go elsewhere for his food.

You can put a cat door in the garage door that is keyed to a lock on the cat's neck, so only the cat opens the cat door.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

You can put a cat door in the garage door that is keyed to a lock on the cat's neck, so only the cat opens the cat door.

Cool idea about the cat door! will investigate.

yes, smells and rabies would not be fun at all.

that's why I came to the boards, needed to hear the voices of reason!!
(better those than the voices in my head heehee)

no pet Pepe Le Pew for us.

thanks everyone