WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR’S CATS IN YOUR YARD?

Bird lovers, gardeners and homeowners have been asking, "What can I do about my neighbor’s cats getting into my yard, digging up and fouling my garden, spraying my bushes and deck, and killing birds at my feeder?" Unfortunately, there aren’t any easy answers, but here is a list of suggestions.

Ask your neighbor: The best answer is to get your neighbor to keep their cat indoors or under their control when outside. American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) brochure, Keeping Cats Indoors Isn’t Just For The Birds, and fact sheet, How to Make an Outdoor Cat a Happy Indoor Cat, may be helpful in explaining to your neighbor why they should keep their cat indoors and how to best make that transition. Explain to them that their cat can still get some fresh air if they build an outdoor enclosure or screened-in porch, or train them to walk on a leash. See below for more information on these options.

Cat enclosures: Many cat owners who want their cat to enjoy the outdoors safely will build an enclosure themselves. Or, they can order the Cat Enclosure Kit which measures 6’ X 6’ X 6’ for $249.95 plus postage and handling. Cat enclosures can be made interesting for cats by placing tree branches, tires, wooden boxes, platforms and other structures for cats to play on and bask in the sun. For more information on the Cat Enclosure Kit, call toll-free: 1-888-554-PETS; or write: C & D Pet Products, 1663 Northstar Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954.

Training on a leash: If your neighborhood is not overrun by free-roaming dogs, your neighbor may want to train her cat on a harness and leash. This takes patience, but it can be done. The cat can get used to a harness by wearing it for short periods of time inside the house. Cats should never be left outside unsupervised while on a leash or lead.

Cat-proof fencing: If your cat-owning neighbors have a fenced in yard but refuse to keep their cat indoors or otherwise under control, perhaps you can convince them to install cat-proof fencing. This won’t prevent the cats from killing birds and other wildlife in their yard, but at least it will keep them from killing the wildlife in your yard. One option is The Cat Fence-In System_TM. This is a 3/4" mesh black netting that attaches to the top of an existing fence. It angles inward, preventing cats from climbing over the top of the fence and getting out. Or, if you have a fenced-in yard, you may want to install this fencing yourself, because it is supposed to keep cats out of a yard as well. For more information on The Cat Fence-In System_TM, visit their web site at <www.catfencein.com> or call 702-359-4575.

Another method is Kitty Klips_C which is supposed to be easy to install, inexpensive to buy and works on nearly every type of tall fence. Kitty Klips_C is PVC pipe strategically placed to make it impossible for cats to dig in their claws and clear the fence. For more information on Kitty Klips_C, check out their web site at <www.corporatevideo.com/klips/index.htm> or call 619-280-0420. Please note: Since cat-proof fencing does not completely prevent cat predation on birds and other wildlife, ABC and Wild Spirit does not endorse it.

Humanely trapping the cat: When all else fails, some people feel they have no choice but to trap their neighbor’s cat and take it to a shelter. You should check with local laws first, because in some parts of the country, it is illegal to trap a neighbor’s cat, even if it is on your property. Also warn your neighbor that you plan to trap their cat if they refuse to control it. Many animal control agencies or shelters have humane live traps to lend to homeowners who need to trap a nuisance animal. Use bait such as sardines or tuna spread on newspaper or a paper plate, and put it in the back of the trap such that the cat must enter the trap to get the bait. Regularly check the trap, preferably every hour. A word of caution--well-fed cats can be hard to trap. You may also end up with non-target animals such as raccoons, opossums, or skunks, so avoid trapping at night. Also, minimize trauma to the cat by gently handling the trap, and put a cloth over it during transportation. Take the cat to your local shelter and tell them he’s your neighbor’s cat so that they can contact your neighbor. Never abandon the cat or harm it in any way. Be extremely careful not to get bitten or scratched, especially if you are trapping stray or feral cats, because they may carry rabies and other diseases.

Working for laws to prohibit free-roaming cats: While this can be a multi-year effort, working for local cat ordinances to decrease a cat over-population problem or to prohibit free-roaming cats can be very effective, especially if the necessary funding for enforcement goes along with it. For more information, see the ABC fact sheet, The Importance of Local Cat Ordinances, and the booklet, Facts About Cat Laws, by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Call HSUS at 202-442-1100 or visit their web site at: www.hsus.org.

Sonic cat collars: CatAlert_TM by Willana Life Sciences in England is currently testing a sonic cat collar. The collar emits high-pitched signals to alert birds and other wildlife that a cat is near. A small field trial showed a reduction in bird and small mammal predation, but animals were still killed by cats wearing the collar. It is unknown whether CatAlert_TM would be effective in reducing cat predation on nestlings, fledglings, reptiles or amphibians, and it would do nothing to protect the cat from hazards of roaming outdoors. Willana is looking for 1000 volunteers to participate in a field trial. Perhaps your neighbor would be interested. Participants would need to purchase the collar for about $27.00. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.willana-lifesciences.co.uk/content.htm. Please note: Since CatAlert_TM does not completely prevent cat predation on birds and other wildlife, ABC and Wild Spirit does not endorse it.

Spraying with a garden hose - Some people try to discourage cats from getting into their yard by spraying them with water from a garden hose. This will only be an effective deterrent if the cat gets sprayed with water every time it comes into your yard.

Putting brambles under a bird feeder - Some people try to keep cats away from their feeders by placing branches from prickly bushes directly under the feeders, such as multi-flora rose. ABC cannot attest to how well this works, and it would not prevent birds from getting killed by cats in other parts of the yard.

Tips on feeding birds: Keep feeders well away from bushes and underbrush where cats can hide, and regularly clean feeders to prevent fungus and mold from growing in the seed. If free-roaming cats remain a problem at your feeders, you should discontinue feeding the birds. You are doing more harm by attracting birds into a yard where there are cats.

What we know doesn’t work: Putting bells on a cat’s collar does not prevent predation on birds and other wildlife. A cat can learn to silently stalk its prey. Even if the bell does ring, a bird would not necessarily associate the sound with danger, and a bell would do nothing to protect young animals. Feeding a cat also does not prevent predation. Scientific studies have proven that well-fed cats still kill wildlife because the urge to hunt and the urge to eat are controlled by different portions of a cat’s brain. Neither does declawing a cat prevent predation. A free-roaming declawed cat in an on-going scientific study in Wichita, Kansas has killed more birds than any other cat in the study.

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