Feral cat problem.

[amdhunter]

Let's get this straight, I love animals. I don't wish harm on anyone's pet, or torture of animals, but I have a HUGE problem.

I have a family of cats that made a home in my engine bay, and they are pissing everything up, and are pulling all the fluff off of the firewall and any other areas with cotton.

HOW THE HELL do I get them to go elsewhere? I can't start my car in the morning without a huge cat piss smell, and I am afraid of electrical damage. (I had similar incidents with my Jetta that cost me $400 twice.)

What's the legality of dealing with feral kittens? I don't want to harm them, but it's costing me money out of my pocket, and making my vehicle unusable. The stink of piss is killing me.

 

[Rage187]

Get a dog or put out no kill traps and call the SPCA.

 

[waffleironhead]

better mark all that territory yourself. Once you do they'll know you mean business and move onto another unsuspecting victim.
or,

call the local humane shelter and see if they have live traps you can borrow.

 

[amdhunter]

Get a dog or put out no kill traps and call the SPCA.

I forgot to mention it's a parking lot, and no real room for traps. Is there something I can spray into the engine bay?

I can physically catch them if I tried in the mornings (probably) but I wouldn't know what to do with them then (that wouldn't be considered cruel.)

 

[edro]

Contact your local Chinese restaurant.

 

[AreaCode707]

I forgot to mention it's a parking lot, and no real room for traps. Is there something I can spray into the engine bay?

I can physically catch them if I tried in the mornings (probably) but I wouldn't know what to do with them then (that wouldn't be considered cruel.)

Take them to the humane society.

It probably wouldn't be hard to live trap them. Just set the traps under your car at night with bait, check in the morning.

 

[randomrogue]

I've had this problem with rats. I feel your pain, and my rat problem cost me $1500 so it's definitely not funny, but the fact that it's cats is slightly amusing.

Just live bait them and hand them over to the humane society.

 

[Hugo Drax]

Urinate around your vehicle, that will keep them at bay. do it every other day to keep the smell fresh.

 

[Ichinisan]

Wow. Still finding appropriate places to post this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbkLjjlMV8

 

[davmat787]

If the guys in this vid can steal meat from a pack of lions, surely some kitty's shouldn't be too hard to handle. Watch the video for inspiration and ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBpu4DAvwI8

 

[alkemyst]

Take them to the humane society.

It probably wouldn't be hard to live trap them. Just set the traps under your car at night with bait, check in the morning.

Almost all shelters euthanize ferals.

 

[AreaCode707]

Almost all shelters euthanize ferals.

After a chance at adoption usually, but true. Sadly, that's because there are more cats than homes. I hate it say it but better euthanized than feral producing more kittens who will be feral and produce more kittens, etc.

 

[pcgeek11]

Moth Balls in a mesh bag.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball

 

[gorobei]

cats hate citrus smell, there are some sprays in pet stores that use orange oil to mark places you dont want cats to go. should be enough to spray around your car and engine bay.


homemade versions
http://www.gardenguides.com/88066-homemade-citrus-spray-cat-deterrent.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/homemade-cat-repellent.html

 

[amdhunter]

Moth Balls in a mesh bag.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball

Going to buy some tomorrow and see if this helps.

 

[ShawnD1]

Almost all shelters euthanize ferals.

que?

I was going to suggest spraying pesticide under the hood, then I realize that would probably kill you since you're complaining about smells coming through the vents.


I have an idea. Find something cats like to eat. Inject it with eye drops. The stuff in eye drops is astoundingly poisonous.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrozoline





How did I know that in this sort of thread I would find at least one poster who would advocate poisoning cats to get rid of them?

Your post is despicable

See you when you get back from your vacation.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[shortylickens]

Retracted.


Responding to an infraction is also probably infraction worthy, at least when you're me. Cant risk their wrath any more.

 

[DrPizza]

Are you sure they're cats? Or just assuming they're cats? I was with you until you mentioned pulling the fluff out of the firewall - sounds a lot more like the behavior of rats. I've got cats all over the place and can't recall them doing that type of damage. Rats or mice - that's one of the first signs of their presence. Close examination afterward reveals droppings.

 

[alkemyst]

After a chance at adoption usually, but true. Sadly, that's because there are more cats than homes. I hate it say it but better euthanized than feral producing more kittens who will be feral and produce more kittens, etc.

I don't think you understand this at all.

Most shelters don't even have room for 'pet' kittens. Ferals are usually put to sleep immediately because there no economical way to make sure they have not contracted FIP/FELV already. Most ferals also require major socialization.

You argument for euthanization is retarded when spay/neuter and release is the more humane choice.

The problem though is in many areas the 'feral' problem is caused by 'pets'...constantly removing the ferals will still have many litters of cats being born due to people who shouldn't own cats.

 

[amdhunter]

Are you sure they're cats? Or just assuming they're cats? I was with you until you mentioned pulling the fluff out of the firewall - sounds a lot more like the behavior of rats. I've got cats all over the place and can't recall them doing that type of damage. Rats or mice - that's one of the first signs of their presence. Close examination afterward reveals droppings.

It could be both. The cat piss smell is undeniable. And I've found rat droppings in the past with my Jetta. I washed everything with windshield wiper fluid, and I've ordered a new filter for my AC. I hope to find some mothballs tomorrow and find a few areas to stick them in.

 

[randomrogue]

Rat urine is pretty grotesque. What you're describing sounds more like rats. I thought you'd seen the cats or something.

Check the wiring and look for droppings. Then place traps.

 

[Nintendesert]

Well if the problem is really rats getting rid of the cats won't help.

 

[AreaCode707]

I don't think you understand this at all.

Most shelters don't even have room for 'pet' kittens. Ferals are usually put to sleep immediately because there no economical way to make sure they have not contracted FIP/FELV already. Most ferals also require major socialization.

You argument for euthanization is retarded when spay/neuter and release is the more humane choice.

The problem though is in many areas the 'feral' problem is caused by 'pets'...constantly removing the ferals will still have many litters of cats being born due to people who shouldn't own cats.

Hello.

While I appreciate your straw man that I am "arguing for euthanization" I actually recommended taking them to a shelter (while acknowledging the reality that includes the possibility of euthanization.)

Spay and neuter costs money and does not fix the OP's problem. He asked for a solution to his issue, specifically about what he would do with the cats if he caught them. Spay and neuter does not answer that question.

 

[Bryf50]

Yea feral cats are completely op right now. They do a ton of damage and can throw out instant cyclones. Not to mention they can go bear form and be impossible to kill.

 

[natto fire]

It could be both. The cat piss smell is undeniable. And I've found rat droppings in the past with my Jetta. I washed everything with windshield wiper fluid, and I've ordered a new filter for my AC. I hope to find some mothballs tomorrow and find a few areas to stick them in.

This is a true story, of cats and mice. Picked to live under the hood of amdhunters car, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens, when people stop being polite, and start getting real.