wild cats urinating under my deck - help!

[Lorix2]

There are some wild cats that keep urinating under my deck and today the smell is unbearable just as I open my kitchen door. Thanks to my loser neighbors who don't spay their cats or let them in - they keep using my property as a litter box and I've had it. I'll deal with them later. I can never catch a cat to bring to the shelter either

What can I use on that spot and around it so the cats will stop doing this?

THanks for any and all suggestions.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I heard sprinkling cayenne pepper around the effected area is a good natural deterrent. They smell that stuff and they don't want to stick around. I haven't tried it myself though. Good luck with it. No fun to deal with.

 

[Bethy Lou]

There is something that you can buy in a garden center that you spread on the ground that repels cats. I am sorry I do not know the name of it, I just have seen it when I was looking for ant killer! I hope someone can help you with the name, there is nothing worse than that smell!

 

[lynxstch]

and someone told me to spread coffee grounds (either used or new) around..it worked like a charm..the cats don't like the smell of coffee, apparently, and it's a lot cheaper than some of the other things you can buy to repel them...good luck!

 

[Cass]

I hear vegetable oil works, just pour it all over the ground, the cats don't like it on their paws. Good luck!

 

[Northstar]

If it smells really bad and it's definitely pee smell not the other thing, then they are probably marking territory by spraying, not urinating just to relieve themselves. Watch out: if you manage to make the area under the deck unattractive to them, they might just start spraying your door and stairs instead!

Another thing to try, if you can identify the spot they're marking (likely to be a wall or post rather than the ground), is a product designed to remove pet-pee smell from carpets. You can get it in any pet store. It comes in a spray bottle. The good thing about eliminating the smell is that, if a male cat smells another male cat's territorial marking, he's likely to add his own marking to the spot. It's a guy cat thing! So if you reduce the smell that's already there, that might help reduce future spraying also.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would get some traps, trap them and then take them in. How many cats do you think there are?

 

[okeydokey]

Will your local animal control bring out some traps for you? It may be worth a call.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just some other thoughts beside deterrents.

It sounds like the ongoing unchecked breeding is a problem.
I hate people who are like this. Why do they even have pets/animals if they are not going to be responsible owners!!!

Also, even though cats are not normally on leashes, many places have laws about cats as well as dogs.

Is there an animal control department where you live?
Call and get their advice.

Would you consider having some traps set to capture the cats, and then have them hauled away to the pound/humane society?

 

[Bethy Lou]

There is a spray we get at walmart called either kids and pets or pets and kids. It is in the carpet cleaning area but it REALLY takes the urine smell out, just in case they get on your deck or other areas. I had not heard of those otehr deterrants, a cheaper alternative is always better!

 

[TurboKitty]

Be warned that cheaper alternatives may not be something you'd be willing to stomach. Cayenne pepper has gotten into some cats eyes, and the cats have scratched or even scratched out their own eyes trying to get clear of it. Just one mothball has the potential to sicken a dog or cat and mothballs that contain naphthalene can cause serious illness, including digestive tract irritation, liver, kidney and blood cell damage, swelling of the brain tissues, seizures, coma, respiratory tract damage (if inhaled) and even death (if ingested). Coffee grounds are included on the AVMA's list of foods safe for humans but dangerous or even potentailly deadly to pets.

AVMA List

The best things to do are get a hose or squirt gun and spray them with water whenever they approach your property. If that won't work due to time demands, ask you humane society for live traps, bait them with a nice open can of tuna and trap the cats before turning them into the humane society.

 

[rayelias]

They're just marking their territory.

I suggest doing the same. Let them know just who's deck it is.