How to deter feral cats?

[PulletSurpriseWinner]

An update on the feral cat problem, Animal Control says they don't have jurisdiction to handle nuisance animals in this part of town, permission given or no. They said they'll gladly lend me one of their traps. Too bad they're all out right now and there's a waiting list. Not very helpful.

I did catch the calico (the most proficient murderer) unawares when she was stalking a robin. Managed to connect solidly with a pretty good kick and launched her several yards. She made a perfect four-point landing and put on an amazing burst of speed as soon as paws contacted turf.

I figured it'd be at least a month before she came around any more. Next morning when I was coming home from work, I saw her bolt from our yard with a dead robin clamped in her yap. Those cats are persistent, vicious, sneaky little monsters and they've gotta go.

Think I'll get a "have a heart" trap and bring Shmoopy-shmoopy, Snuggles, and Kissy-face in to be euthanized when they're not busy murdering our poor songbirds. I'm not waiting for them to get in the habit of "haunting" our girls!

 

[RHRanch]

I often deal with feral or dumped cats in my area. They are always very easy to trap. I have a racoon sized trap that works very well, which I own. In my opinion, its just a good idea to buy one of these to have on hand if you keep poultry. Anyway, you can often rent them from feed stores, etc. Your feed store operator can often tell you where to rent them if they don't rent them out. Just bait the trap with canned cat food in areas frequented by cats. Be wary when checking the trap that you haven't caought a skunk. LOL

Once trapped, take the cat to the shelter in your area. Even if they won't trap or deal with cats in your area they probably still have to accept strays if you bring them in. Just call around to the shelters and find out which one is your "areas" shelter and ask if they'll take it if you trap it. Then, once at the shelter they can be scanned for chips, evaluated for temperment. Nice kitties often go to rescue groups. This approach takes a little bit of effort on your part, but keeps you on good terms with the neighbors and gives cats a slim chance at a better life.

 

[Velvet Hairpiece]

Quote:
I'm restraining on mentioning the above being a case of animal cruelty, and that eradicating a predator for no reason other than it going after prey is the actual act of murder, not the other way around. Oops.

Have you talked to your neighbor about taking in the cats, and how you're concerned that they may get your chickens? It's not the cat's fault that they were dumped and abandoned. I'm sure you would take a meal anywhere that you could if the same were to happen to you. I'm sure if a human child were on your property after the parents split your solution wouldn't be to shoot them in the head.

I would be more than happy to try and find a TNR group for you, just need to know where you are located.

 

[86121]

If you cant get the numbers under control, and your animal control cant do anything more to help you...then Sss seems to be an option.

 

[BoutrosBoutrosGalusGalus]

Quote:
http://motherjones.com/environment/2011/06/cats-tnr-birds-feral

"In theory, this strategy, known as trap-neuter-return (TNR), sounds great. If cats can't reproduce, their population will decline gradually. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. To put a dent in the total number of cats, at least 71 percent of them must be fixed, and they are notoriously hard to catch. Cash-strapped cities can't afford to chase down, trap, and sterilize every stray—a process that costs roughly $100 per kitty."

Also it is not murder to kill a pest - doh, or else I murder mosquitoes every day

 

[RHRanch]

Quote:
http://motherjones.com/environment/2011/06/cats-tnr-birds-feral

"In theory, this strategy, known as trap-neuter-return (TNR), sounds great. If cats can't reproduce, their population will decline gradually. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. To put a dent in the total number of cats, at least 71 percent of them must be fixed, and they are notoriously hard to catch. Cash-strapped cities can't afford to chase down, trap, and sterilize every stray—a process that costs roughly $100 per kitty."

However, maintained colonies of nuetered vaccinated cats do exist and are very good solutions, particularly in urban areas or for those farmers who agree to host a colony. In San Diego, there are colonies kept by fishermans warf. They are monitered, fed, vaccinated by volunteers and special Feral Cat colony groups. A feral cat rescue can take a cat and they relocate it to a feral colony. feeding the cats cuts down on predation issues, and colonies are located on properties where the owner wishes to have these cats.

SSS would be an option only if the cats are preying on livestock and you have verified that there is no animal control help, no rescue that can get involved. You can solve problems like this with compassion just as well as with lethal methods in many cases.

 

[BoutrosBoutrosGalusGalus]

At great cost for what purpose? Cats are no more special than a raccoon that others advocate SSS for. If its not your little buddy than what does it matter? Are they higher on the karmic cycle than a pig? A pest is a pest and cats are a especially bad pest.

 

[RHRanch]

Quote:
What cost are you referring to? Do you mean the funds a rescue uses to vaccinate and neutor? If a rescue org uses its funds for that purpose - thats why it exists. You may have a different value system that makes you feel that it isn't worth spending your own money on it, but that doesn't change that these groups exist to help people with problems like this with non-lethal population and disease control.

 

[Velvet Hairpiece]

Quote:
Alley Cat Allies is a network of individuals who will help out in situations like this. They are strong advocators of the TNR program and I'm sure someone would be more than happy to help out in order to stop a senseless killing.

No one is saying that cats are "higher up the karmic cycle" than any other creature. IMO the people throwing out SSS are just as wrong in "dealing" with other predators in that way. We all share the same space with these creatures and they have a purpose in the larger cycle of things. I don't think it's too much to ask to treat them with respect. Live and let live. Fortify your flock properly and you won't have as many problems.

 

[RHRanch]

Quote:
Alley Cat Allies is a network of individuals who will help out in situations like this. They are strong advocators of the TNR program and I'm sure someone would be more than happy to help out in order to stop a senseless killing.

No one is saying that cats are "higher up the karmic cycle" than any other creature. IMO the people throwing out SSS are just as wrong in "dealing" with other predators in that way. We all share the same space with these creatures and they have a purpose in the larger cycle of things. I don't think it's too much to ask to treat them with respect. Live and let live. Fortify your flock properly and you won't have as many problems.