I have two dogs (one Doberman and one Miniature Dachshund) who are always either on their cables or on their leashes when they are outside.  This is the law in the state where I live.

For the last two months, there have been two cats that have been wandering around my neighborhood and my property, doing their "business" in my yard, slam into my windows while trying to kill birds and send my dogs into a barking frenzy every time they come onto my property.  I am sure my other neighbors don't appreciate the barking at 5:30 AM and I don't appreciate someone letting their freaking cats wander into my yard whenever the hell they please.

I have seen these cats go in and out of my neighbor's house and when I confronted her with the problems her response was, "They are not my cats, they are outside cats.  I just feed them".

If my Doberman ever gets hold of one of these cats it will be Bye, Bye Kitty for sure.  I am worried that my dogs are being exposed to these freakin' cats that I am sure have had no vaccinatons/inoculations and are leaving nasty critter infested piles of crap in my yard.

This "outside cat" excuse is just not cutting it for me.  If they are "outside cats" keep them outside in your own backyard.   GRRRRRRR!

Any suggestions from responsible cat owners will be appreciated.

depending on the country in which you live, you may be able to just kill them, skin 'em and sell them at the local meat market. If anyone asks, they are just funny looking rabbits.

That's probably not the most humane way of doing it, but effective. Call the local animal shelter or humane society. They can leave very humane cage-like traps for you to set out. When they are full of kitty, call them and they come pick it up. That is all you can do here in my state. Most of the time if they are truly an "outside" cat, they will spay or neuter, vaccinate and release them back into the "wild".

I say feed the poor and helpless with stray cats. Bah just my $0.02

Cyn,
I'd call the local Humane Shelter or Animal Control and ask them what the laws are.....take it from there.

say feed the poor and helpless with stray cats. Bah just my $0.02

Ya just gotta admire the way that mans mind works! ;D

Joe

Quote:

Call the local animal shelter or humane society. They can leave very humane cage-like traps for you to set out.

I have done this Cyn and it works great.

One cat does have a cropped tail so the "funny looking rabbit" idea might work. ;)

I will be on the phone tomorrow morning with the SPCA tomorrow morning for sure.

Hopefully they will be able to catch these little fur faced terrorists and they will find good homes with responsible owners who will take care of them and not let them run wild.

There just isn't any way to make an irresponsible cat "caretaker" a responsible one.

Gary and I trap-neuter-release feral cats.  We also rescue adoptables and have them rehomed.

This person says they're not her cats, so finding a shelter to take them isn't like stealing them.

Just FYI, if you call animal control, they will most likely be trapped and killed.  Don't know if you care.

If you care about finding a humane solution for the kitties (like they wind up in a shelter where they have a chance to be adopted out to a better home), do a little searching before you make that call to animal control.

Try START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE  Go to find shelters & rescue, and type in your zip code.  Call around if any show up.

If that doesn't turn up anything, IF you're willing to put a little more work into it, go to START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE and scroll through the cat adoptions in your zip code - the organizations that have them up for adoption are listed, and often there are a lot of orgs there that are not listed on pets911.  There is usually a link to a blurb about the org, where you can find an e-mail address or phone number.

You can also just try buying coyote urine scent from a hunting store and put it out around the edge of the yard.  Often works to stop the cats from coming over - though I don't know how that will affect the dogs.  

Laurie

Being a cat lover and owner, Max stays indoors at all times.  Neutered, but not declawed (yet), he's my baby but I ensure he stays safely inside and not get himself into others yards.

There should be animal rescue somewhere nearby that will come get them if the neighbor states they do not belong to her.

Redd, if you're seriously considering declawing, please PM me for solutions before you try that route.  :)

Laurie

OOPs! Sorry... I thought this was Kitty Carlisle's obituary.

You may have no luck with the Humane Society. I tried that one because my neighbors dog was being neglected outside during horrible weather with no food or water. I asked the neighbor if I had his permission to feed and water his dog and he told me he did not want me near his dog.

I tried calling the humane society but they suggested I called the state cops... I did... they showed up, issued the guy a fine, made him take the dog to a vet for shots, then a current license and then made him take the dog indoors during sub freezing temperatures.

Unfortunately there are no laws requiring the licensing of cats.
Good luck with this Cyndi. I'd like to know how things turn out.

with warm regards,
Tony

Quote:

depending on the country in which you live, you may be able to just kill them, skin 'em and sell them at the local meat market. If anyone asks, they are just funny looking rabbits.

SURELY you are joking.


 Right?

I already trim him weekly, however, he just digs deeper into the carpet as he kneeds it.  I rent, so damage to the carpet is not an option.  And when he kneeds ME and scratches the hell out of ME even with trimmed paws, once I finally find a job and my income is fluid again they will be coming off.  

Why has a freak like Perediablo not yet be banned ?  He's insulting about half of the board members.


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AlienSpaceGuy wrote on Mar 11^th, 2009 at 11:35pm:

Why has a freak like Perediablo not yet be banned ?  He's insulting about half of the board members. [smiley=bash.gif]   [smiley=hammer.gif]   [smiley=bash.gif]   [smiley=hammer.gif]   [smiley=bash.gif]   [smiley=hammer.gif]   [smiley=bash.gif]   [smiley=hammer.gif]   [smiley=bash.gif]   [smiley=hammer.gif]   [smiley=bash.gif]   [smiley=hammer.gif]

Ain't THAT grand... This is such a kinder, gentler place now.  Crack a joke, you get threatened with extinction, but it's OK to call a person (directly) a freak.

This place has totally lost its mojo.

According the the 'rules' ASP needs to be put on time out, and Perediablo deserves an apology.

But we all know it was a joke, right?  No need to get your panties in a twist.

Redd wrote on Mar 11^th, 2009 at 11:23pm:

I already trim him weekly, however, he just digs deeper into the carpet as he kneeds it.  I rent, so damage to the carpet is not an option.  And when he kneeds ME and scratches the hell out of ME even with trimmed paws, once I finally find a job and my income is fluid again they will be coming off.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but there are options to try first.

A few cheap throw rugs or car carpets (they tend to work best especially if you can find the ones with the little bumps on the back to keep them in place) - especially if there's particular places he likes to scratch.  Cats tend to be drawn to stuff like that like frogs to a lily pad.  ....and keep an old sweatshirt handy for your lap.

Cats tend to like to stretch and knead when they wake up, so strategically placed mats or scratching posts or pads often help solve the carpet problem.

There are problems with declawing.  Not always, but someone who didn't know the dangers just had her cat die from an infection as a complication of declawing.  This is not as rare as you'd hope.

There is a product called Soft Paws.  They are nail covers for cats:

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(Obviously you don't have to choose blue!)

Soft Paws:  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Just please make an informed decision.  It's actually illegal in 23 countries, and Norfolk, VA.   Removing their claws is not like removing fingernails.  The construction of their foot is such that the nail is attached to the tendon, so they have to remove the entire joint.  So it's like cutting off your fingertips at the joint.  Cats walk on their toes, not their feet, so it can cause problems, like arthritis and lameness.

18% of declawed cats begin biting after the declaw procedure.
33% of declawed cats developed some type of behavior problem.
16% of declawed cats stopped using the litter box.
10% of declawed cats have problems with nail regrowth (requiring another declaw)

70% of cats surrendered to shelters for behavior problems are declawed;
75% of cats surrendered to shelters for litter box avoidance problems are declawed.

I can provide all the references to the stats if you like.

Sorry for the thread hijack.  But too many vets don't provide any information, and it is a traumatic procedure that often has consequences that people don't know they risk.

Laurie

we had a problem with our kitty lilly clawing the carpet where she eats... we simply placed a large piece of Plexiglas under her food dish... problemo solved.

with warm regards,
Tony

If you don't get any luck getting the humane society come to you then maybe you can catch the kitty and bring it to the humane society??? Lisa and some of the other guards did this at a pool she worked at. They just left an open cage out and trapped the cat. It took a few days. Good luck!!

Charlotte

I've tried the softpaws when he first came here.  He chews alll day till he's chewed them off. Rugs are all over this place...in the kitchen, by the doors, in the bathroom, in my bedroom. He prefers the burber on the living room floor, pulling it up from the padding underneith.

Scratch posts and pads are ignored.  He's taken to going on his hind legs (I swear he's part Maine Coon he's so big) and scratching at the door jams of the open bedroom and bathroom doors.

I've tried everything to get him to stop but it doesn't help.  The decision to declaw is my last resort, not my first and only option I've considered or tried.  

I may try the soft paws again, since there still seems to be no work to be had around here, because I'd need to be back to work to afford the procedure anyway.  Maybe he's more settled here than the last time I tried.  But his inscesant chewing on himself to get them off was very hard to watch.

Laurie,

Thanks for your info. and suggestions.

I would never hurt any animal but when it comes down to the possibility of my dogs getting sick from being exposed to cats that most likely have not received any shots/immunizations, that are using my yard as their litter box and are causing destruction to my property, this is when I get ticked off.  Why should I have to face paying vet bills for my dogs if/when they get sick because of another person's ignorance?  If my dogs were out running around the neighborhood, I'm sure no one would hesitate to complain.

I just let my dogs outside this morning @ 5:30 so I could get my work day started and both cats were once again in the back yard digging and crapping in my garden.  I now have dirt all over my patio and who knows what other "little presents" they left for me to clean up.  I also noticed that one of the cats is pregnant.  Oh joy!  Now we will have more "feral" cats running around the neighborhood.

I applaud you for doing what you do to help the cats in your area.  I really do.  There are too many irresponsible pet owners these days so it's great to see there are some people who care about the welfare of animals.

Most of my dogs have been rescues or adopted from shelters and they have been great pets but when I adopted them, I also took on the responsibility of caring for them and doing my best to be sure they did not bother anyone, cause any property damage to my neighbor's property and that they have all of their shots.  

Last summer a rabbit had babies in the far corner of my yard.  One day they were there but  the next day, I saw a cat making a meal out of the babies and, of course, I had to clean up the nasty mess that was left behind.  Not cool at all.

Our kitty "Buck" was an abandoned kitten and when we adopted him I made a promise to him that he will never be in harms way ever again and will never, ever, be without food again.

He loves his home here. It sickens me how people can turn their backs on their pets. :'(

Cyn, I 100% agree with you that you need to make these cats go away, as you said who knows what diseases or whatever they may have that could be transferred to your dogs.

Cyn,
Unless the cats have rabies or are wormy (and if your dogs are on heartworm prevent, that should protect against worms), there's not much they can give your dogs.  I really sympathize with you though.  My neighbor's cat ened up in my back yard, up a tree.  If that cat had hit the ground, my two dogs would have had a field day (and I would have felt horrible).  Their cat is a tom and not neutered and I don't think they have any intentions of neutering him.

We live in the country and all our neighbors think it's their *right* to let their animals run free.  

Oh boy.  I can totally relate to your situation, Carolyn.

When I was a kid, we had a Saint Bernard named Mauzi who was always kept inside of our fenced in yard when she was outside.  Our neighbor's cat jumped over the fence, wrapped itself around Mauzi's face and proceeded to bite her.  Mauzi shook her head, almost got loose from the cat but the cat attacked her again.

Mauzi bit back and....well....my family had to deliver the cat in two pieces back to the owners.  :'(

We have a dozens of stray cats around my neighborhood.  

Our neighbor bought one of those no-kill box traps of the type that Animal Control uses.  When she catches one she drops it off near some random farm.  Farmers around here seem to appreciate having loads of cats around for rodent control near their grain stocks.

I don't have any cat's at the moment but Paul has about 20! People dump them at his house and he's stuck with them. I've discussed it with him in the past and said when people dump in the future we should just take them to a shelter and leave them. The amount he pays out on food is astronomical. If there were just a few i'd say lets spay the femals and graudally the problem will stop but that will only work if more stop coming.

Cyn, If you take it to a shelter they can check it for microchips. If it has a responsible owner it will have one or a collar. I'd far sooner take a cat to a shelter knowing it would be put down humanely than see it ripped to pieces by dogs. I'm not blaming the dogs there either!

I'd take action if I was you - if that helps

love
Helen

Well, the SPCA and Animal Control said they could do nothing since cats are allowed to roam free.......sheesh.  

Still have to call the Humane Society when they open later this morning.

Some shelters around here actually charge you $$ if you drop off strays at their facility.   >:(

Think it's time to call John to borrow his trap that we used to relocate a few squirrels that got into his attic and my basement last year, take the kitties on a road trip and give them a change of address somewhere in Slower Delaware around the farms.

Slower Delawareans talk funny (house = howse, mouse = mowse, etc) so I guess the kitties will have a little learnin' to do.

Lobster, we're that farm.  While I applaud your neighbor, the cats still need to be spayed, neutered, and get their shots.  So we re-trap them and that's what we do.

Actually, your dogs can get worms from the cats.  I'm not aware of heartworm prevent protecting them from other internal parasites, and many cats that are allowed to roam have at least round worm, if not tapeworm, and depending upon the area, giardia, which can be a bitch.  And, sadly, cat poop smells like protein to dogs, so it smells like a tasty treat to them.  

I totally agree - it's an unacceptable situation!  ESPECIALLY if your neighbor claims they're not hers and thus decries any responsibility.  I just didn't know how much work you wanted to put into finding a no kill alternative for them.  That is up to you, I just provide information.  :)

Redd - same thing.  There are ways to work with kitties to help with inappropriate scratching, but it does take time.  Sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes it's just too frustrating.  There are also products that can help (sometimes), such as Feliway.  But all of that said, I would much rather see a cat declawed than be surrendered to a shelter for potential euthanization or - as some people do - just put them out on the street.  It's just that so many people think it is similar to having finger nails removed, and it just isn't.  And vets aren't required to provide information on the procedure or its risks.

Laurie

Release the Hounds!!!!!!! Problem solved.  :)

What if he has eye's like this? What then? [smiley=undecided.gif]

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Sorry, just thought it would give you a laugh Cyn! LMAO ;D