Help getting rid of feral cat

[Ali925]

Hi all,

I posted a few days ago because I was questioning why my bunny wouldn’t stop thumping.  Well shortly after I discovered it was because a cat had taken residence on our deck.  It’s a feral cat..and looking at my bunnies as food.  It comes out at random times, and also at meal time, and stares in at them.  They are thoroughly spooked.

I have asked for advice from friends and the only one I got was to have a neighbor’s dog mark around my house?  I’m obviously not looking for any cruel measures, I just want to know if anyone has had experience on what might deter the cat from living outside my bunnies’ room ?  I thought it was a one time deal but now I know he’s living under our grill cover, right outside the bun room door on deck.  I suppose we could move the grill now that colder weather is approaching, but we weren’t quite done grilling yet.  Plus I know the cat is aware of the “food” in my house now and probably would still visit.

Any advice??  I have also been told the obvious, to cover the door…we don’t have curtains/shades on the door.  But like I said I think the cat will linger since he knows what is inside.  

[Deleted User]

Get a dog!!!! ha ha hah. I don’t think having a dog pee on everything will do the trick – but a barking (yapping) dog will! It works for me, lol! Cheers….

[Roberta]

OOOOO…Kay… Firstly are you sure it’s feral and not lost… I am a Rescuer and advocate for animals including cats… My Finn Gall was a supposedly FERAL kitten he is one of the most loving and smoochie cats around…
Firstly, get a pic… What area/region/town are you located in ? Send me the pic, we have several lost in transit kittehs listed in the States and I have US advocates that can share with the relevant Lost and Found sites.
If it is checking out your buns it is probably hungry and has been forced to live off the land… Let me know where you are and hopefully there is a shelter in your area or someone involved with a TNR colony program or rehoming.

[Deleted User]

Ooops, sorry if my post came across wrong – I would never ever let my dogs harm anything. I just meant when something/someone hits my fence line they (my dogs) bark and it deters them. I have found and taken quite a few animals to the vet, and I came across them cause my dogs were barking constantly, so went outside to have a look. The last one was a frog faced owl. Apparently it had poor eyesight so couldn’t feed and was weak. After the vet got him all good again he was given to a wildlife park. Love it! & love my dogs! Sorry if what I said previous came out wrong.

[Ali925]

I’m sorry, the pics are terrible, but I haven’t exactly tried getting close to him.  I’m not a fan of cats!  I’m almost certain he’s feral.  We have cats that linger near farmhouse behind us, perhaps this is one of them.  I’ve seen some of them hunting next to my house.  But they’ve never bothered with our home before.  I don’t know if he is “owned” by farmhouse owners, I don’t know them at all.  I’m in the state of Delaware in the US.

[Ali925]

Andhenry, no worries I knew what you meant! Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Thanks Ali925 – I appreciate your reply. Cheers….

[Roberta]

That Kitteh looks awfully familiar but Not from a lost in transit post… Can you get me a clearer pic of its face…. Or describe any distinct marking or features…

[longhairmike]

i will pee on your deck for free,, what do you want, quart, gallon, 5g?

[Beka27]

I would also agree with contacting a rescue (or worse case) your local animal control.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Ali925 I’m also in the state of Delaware and the feral cat population is out of control! We have hundreds in my neighborhood alone. Luckily none of thought my house was welcoming and reside near me. Perhaps because I have two dogs, who knows. Rescues or animal control will not come out to get him if you called, trust me. You can try chasing him off and terrifying the bejesus out of him anytime he takes step on your deck and maybe he will get the hint that he isn’t welcomed on your porch and move on to another house. But remove anything he may need. No food, no water. Nada.

It’s mean to chase them away but you can’t take in every animal and you especially aren’t able to help every stray cat. Especially in this state. The shelters here are just not interested in helping the poor cats. They will only accept if there is room and if they are domestic cats that are being turned in because owners don’t want them. And even then you have to pay a fee to have the shelter take them in…that is if they have an opening.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I’m in kent county and I’m not sure if it’s like that in the other two counties but I know here, the cats are on their own. It could he different further south or further north *shrugs*

[Hazel]

I’ve heard sprinkling cayenne pepper around the area works. Although since he’s right by your door it might not be practical. I think I’m gonna give it a try, my neighbor’s cat poops all over my yard (it’s his pet, not a stray cat, which makes it even more infuriating). Today he was laying under a bush, I tried to scare him off but that little monster just stared right back at me. I had to come within inches of running him over with the lawn  mower before he got his furry butt out of there. Then I accidentally ran over one of his “presents”… Nasty. At least I managed not to step in it.

Anyway… My suggestion is cayenne pepper.

[Ali925]

Roberta, sorry can’t get anything clearer, if I can I will upload.. Thankfully it’s in “hiding” for now.

LHMike, I appreciate your gracious offer

Thanks Hazel, I’ll keep it in mind..

[Ali925]

NewBunnyOwner, Thanks so much I appreciate your response. I’m in New Castle County… So far I haven’t had any luck with calling around. Like you said they don’t care about the cats, only dogs… I couldn’t get anyone on the phone, just kept leaving messages around. The only organizations I found were ones that would charge a serious fee to trap and release elsewhere. I would rather not pay money! I’m so creeped out that it’s living right outside my door Thank God my bunnies don’t leave the house!

I have not given anything, no food, no water..etc. Not to be cruel but I just don’t want to encourage it to stay. I have a neighbor bringing her dog over later to try and chase it out..don’t worry I will not be physically harming this cat. I just want to send a message. I hope it works I don’t want my bunnies living under constant stress as they are…one eye is always open. They are a little more at ease for the moment thankfully. But I’m also not keen on walking onto my deck to be greeted by a stray cat

[LBJ10]

Does the health department lend out traps? Where I live, you can borrow a live trap to catch and relocate problem animals.

[BinkyBunny]

I found this group that services New Castle County http://www.purringpals.org/AboutUs.htm

Even if they are unable to take in the cats at this time, they might have suggestions and other resources to refer you to.

[Ali925]

Thanks BB !! And LBJ! Sorry I didn’t respond, I know it’s nice to hear follow up when someone is asking for help. Thankfully the next day after I first posted my question, I noticed that the cat must have moved on! Thank goodness!! I sort of thought that eventually it would leave since I wasn’t providing food/water. I guess I was right. I’m just hoping it got the message and will be gone for good! The bun buns are back to their normal crazy selves which makes me happy. FYI like NewBunnyOwner mentioned, the resources I called weren’t helpful at all. One trap and release group I contacted had an answering machine saying they may take up to two weeks to call you back…and they also charge. What a pain. Thanks everyone for your help!!

[Stickerbunny]

You can buy bottled predator urine online (ahh, the internet, you can buy anything) and put some of that around your deck as well, it might make the cat think twice about lingering if it comes back. I did that for discouraging certain critters.

You could also try putting some potted plants on your deck such as Coleus canina, lavender, pennyroyal. Don’t use pepper if he comes back, it actually hurts them and that is why it’s a good repellant, but it’s kinda mean to burn the poor kitty’s feet and eyes (when he grooms).

[Sydney's Mom]

I’m sorry to revive and old post, but was this ever resolved? I LOVE cats. Had a cat since I was 12 and I’m 30 now. For the first time in my life, after my cat of 19yr passed away.

It breaks my heart because many of the people responding sound like they know NOTHING of cats. Excluding Roberta, who sounds wonderful.

That cat doesn’t seem feral. To be sure you were close to enough for the cat to see you to take the picture. Feral cats do NOT like human contact. He may just be a skittish stray. The ferals that I feed, the few time i have seen them from a distance, slink unto my back porch late at night keeping very low to the ground. Any sudden noise and they take off. Just to clear up, a feral is a cat that has NEVER been socialized around people. A stray is an abandoned or lost cat, that has has human contact at some point- they may not trust people 100% but that they are familiar with them. This kitty is awfully close to you house to be a feral.

In the small case he/she is feral you cannot catch and release him somewhere else. Ferals live in colonies. Would you like it if someone took you from you house, drove you somewhere you have never been and left you? The cat would have no known places to seek shelter or food. And if he/she is someone else’s roaming cat, then you have just taken them from their home and it’s kind of a death sentence.

The cat hasn’t harmed your buns, I hope you wouldn’t call animal control to have it put down. You don’t seem like a cruel person.

Cat’s dislike the smell of lemon, spray some lemon around the area maybe.

[Sarita]

Yes, we do ask that you do not bring up old posts so I am going to lock this post. It is very confusing for members when old posts are brought up.

[Author]

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