EASY SOLUTIONS TO CAT BEHAVIORS

CATS ARE GETTING IN MY TRASH

REASON: Cats are scavengers and are looking for food.

SOLUTIONS:

Place a tight lid on your trash can.

If neighbors are feeding the cats, ask them to do so on a regular schedule to help ensure they don’t get hungry and start searching for food.

Start feeding the cats yourself and follow a regular schedule to prevent scavenging.

THERE ARE PAW PRINTS ON MY CAR

REASON: Cats like to perch on high ground.

SOLUTIONS:

Gradually move cats’ shelters and feeding stations away from the car to discourage climbing.

Purchase a car cover.

Use humane deterrents (see next section).

CATS ARE DIGGING IN MY GARDEN

REASON: It is a cat’s natural instinct to dig and deposit in soft or loose soil, moss, mulch or sand.

SOLUTIONS:

Scatter natural deterrents such as

1. fresh orange/lemon peels
2. citrus sprays
3. coffee grounds
4. vinegar
5. pipe tobacco
6. oil of lavender
7. lemongrass
8. citronella
9. eucalyptus

Plant the herb rue or sprinkle dried rue over garden to deter cats.

Use plastic carpet runners spike side up, covered lightly in soil.

Artfully arrange branches in a lattice-type pattern or use wooden or plastic lattice fencing over soil.

Obtain Cat Scat.

Cover exposed ground with large, attractive rocks to prevent digging.

Establish a litter box by tilling soil or placing sand in out-of-the-way area in your yard. You will need to keep it clean.

CATS ARE LOUNGING IN MY YARD OR ON MY PORCH

REASON: Cats are territorial and will remain close to their food source.

SOLUTIONS:

Apply cat repellent fragrances in any areas where you wish to deter cats.

Install an ultrasonic animal repellent or a motion-activated water sprinkler such as CatStop® or ScareCrow®.

CATS ARE SLEEPING UNDER MY PORCH OR IN MY SHED

REASON: Cats will seek out dry, warm shelter away from the elements.

SOLUTIONS:

Physically block or seal the location the cats are entering with chicken wire or lattice once you are certain there are no cats or kittens inside.

Provide a shelter (similar to a small doghouse) in a safe, secluded area.

FEEDING THE CATS ATTRACTS INSECTS AND WILDLIFE

REASON: Cats are to be fed under proper guidelines. Leaving food out can attract other animals.

SOLUTIONS:

Keep the feeding area neat and free of leftover food.

Feed cats at the same designated time each day during daylight hours.

Give only enough food to finish in one sitting and clean up leftover food after 30 minutes.

CATS ARE YOWLING, FIGHTING,SPRAYING, ROAMING & REPRODUCING

REASON: These are all mating behaviors displayed by unsterilized cats who will continue to breed prolifically.

SOLUTIONS:

Spaying, neutering and vaccinating the cats will stop these behaviors. Find out how to do this humanely and economically HERE.

To combat urine smell, spray area with any of the following products, all available at grocery or pet supply stores:

1. white vinegar
2. Nature’s Miracle
3. Fizzion Pet Stain & Odor Remover
4. Simple Solution

MORE INFORMATION

You can find more resources through Alley Cat Allies.

The material and information on this page is courtesy of Alley Cat Allies.

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Happy Tails # 152

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We have had Anubis (formerly Milo) for about 9 months now and we couldn’t be without him. I wanted to get a friend for our Beagle Vegas (also from HSTB) and kept checking on the website and even went by the shelter a few times but no dogs really captured me. Then one day I saw a picture of a cute Basenji mix and was intrigued. When I walked by his cage Anubis stuck is nose through and just looked at me very quietly with his brown eyes and I knew he was mine. Anubis is a great lap dog but also very skilled at agility so we get the best of both worlds. Thanks HSTB!~Malerie Carey

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