What to do - cats invading home

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Frankie

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Someone with cats must have moved into our complex - there's two cats coming into our home while we're out, and I guess while we're asleep.
We aren't accustomed to this and can no longer leave food out, like meat to defrost etc. and I have concerns that they are marking territory (spraying).

I've thought about ways to deal with this, without harming the cats, and all I can think of is to capture them and hand them over to the SPCA - anyone have suggestions?

I'm not prepared to close all the windows etc., particularly in the heat PE is having right now.
 
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Spraying citronella oil at strategic places help. Cats absolutely hate that stuff.
 
Cats will prowl wherever there is something to eat. They will even stay away from their owners if the food is better elsewhere. What about mesh on the windows?
 
Trap them, and shave them. Do it until their owner get the message.
 
this is how I solved my cat problem, as one of our neighbours is a cat lover / collector / and actually "illegally" built an outdoor cattery!! :wtf:

I found a place that hires out cat traps. Hired a trap, then I posted notices (apparently a requirement by law) to all my neighbours that I will trap & hand over all cats caught in the trap to the SPCA for disposal!!

that night I never heard / saw a cat and its being like that ever since :D
 
spiff said:
this is how I solved my cat problem, as one of our neighbours is a cat lover / collector / and actually "illegally" built an outdoor cattery!! :wtf:

I found a place that hires out cat traps. Hired a trap, then I posted notices (apparently a requirement by law) to all my neighbours that I will trap & hand over all cats caught in the trap to the SPCA for disposal!!

that night I never heard / saw a cat and its being like that ever since :D
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This is more inline with what I was thinking - I'm in a free-hold gated complex, so I doubt the laws apply here, but will nevertheless place a notice in all the mail boxes at the complex entrance - now need to find a places that rents out traps.

As for the other suggestions - as much as I like dogs (Staffie my favorite), we're away from home too much for that, and as for the mesh, I'm not prepared to adjust my lifestyle or go to that kind of expense for someone else's pets.
 
I am not sure if the shaving will really give the cat itself the message... however www.paintballonline.co.za has a variety of alternative cat 'deterrants' if you can call them that. Will also get the message to the the owner. No law against shooting paintballs in your house/garden.

Otherwise get a dog... :)
 
Frankie said:
Someone with cats must have moved into our complex - there's two cats coming into our home while we're out, and I guess while we're asleep.
We aren't accustomed to this and can no longer leave food out, like meat to defrost etc. and I have concerns that they are marking territory (spraying).

I've thought about ways to deal with this, without harming the cats, and all I can think of is to capture them and hand them over to the SPCA - anyone have suggestions?

I'm not prepared to close all the windows etc., particularly in the heat PE is having right now.
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Ok first, if theyre spraying, you'll know all about it...
Second - if they look like strays ( kinda hard to tell, but anyway ) call cat-care and ask them to come pickup the cats.

Apart form locking a cat into a room, there is almost nothing an owner can do to stop his cats form roaming all over the place.

If you like the cats, feed them and peruade them to stay....


One thing to remember : dogs have owners, cats have staff.....
 
I dont know about the trapping especially if you're not taking precautions to prevent them from entering your house.

My feelings on it are that cats roam (in some countries they're legally entitled to do so). If you trap and confine one of mine and do anything to it I'm gonna be pissed.
 
Frankie said:
This is more inline with what I was thinking - I'm in a free-hold gated complex, so I doubt the laws apply here, but will nevertheless place a notice in all the mail boxes at the complex entrance - now need to find a places that rents out traps.

As for the other suggestions - as much as I like dogs (Staffie my favorite), we're away from home too much for that, and as for the mesh, I'm not prepared to adjust my lifestyle or go to that kind of expense for someone else's pets.
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no problem but rather stay within the law u don't want to get on the wrong side of the SPCA / DARK or any of those "useless" organisations.

speak to yr municipality they gave me a number of a place where I hired the traps - here in CT it was in Goodwood just across the railway line from Grand West Casino.
 
bwana said:
I dont know about the trapping especially if you're not taking precautions to prevent them from entering your house.

My feelings on it are that cats roam (in some countries they're legally entitled to do so). If you trap and confine one of mine and do anything to it I'm gonna be pissed.
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I hear you, but what should I do if I don't enjoy them inside my home?

I think the owners of the cats have an obligation not to allow them to become others pests, and unlike dogs, you cant confine the cats to your own premises - not an easy one, but I really don't believe that I should just accept the current situation.

As mentioned, I would never harm that cats, but just cannot accept whats going on now.

I really don't believe that I should now start "taking precautions to prevent them from entering my home" - what kind of precautions did you have in mind anyway?
 
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bwana said:
I dont know about the trapping especially if you're not taking precautions to prevent them from entering your house.

My feelings on it are that cats roam (in some countries they're legally entitled to do so). If you trap and confine one of mine and do anything to it I'm gonna be pissed.
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I would be furious, to the point of rage actually, anything involving cruelty to animals gets my blood racing! To the OP, shut your windows just enough so teh kittehs won't get through, keep a spray bottle handy in the house and if you catch one of them spray it with water, they hate that and it harms them not!
 
markings said:
Spraying citronella oil at strategic places help. Cats absolutely hate that stuff.
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Username + comment = irony.

@OP: Get a dog - a good, cat hating canine citizen - they'll stay away.

Other than that you just have to deal - I totally understand how unsavoury prowling cats from next door can be but there isn't really much you can do - try to minimise the leaving of food around though - thawing meat in the fridge over a longer period of time is far better anyway and if you really cant think that far ahead then leave it in the oven overnight.

...wait until they start calling for some booty - then you're really in for an all night treat!
 
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Frankie said:
I hear you, but what should I do if I don't enjoy them inside my home?
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Shut the window. Or get screens. Before I had (to have) cats of my own I drilled new holes in the latches to make the gap too small for a cat to come through.

Frankie said:
I think the owners of the cats have an obligation not to allow them to become others pests, and unlike dogs, you cant confine the cats to your own premises - not an easy one,
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Fair enough but how?

Leaving meat out all day with open windows is called an invitation. Why not put the meat in a cold oven, or in the microwave, to thaw?
 
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