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Feral cat problem.

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As mentioned, problem with relocating or euthanizing feral cat colonies is that more just come in to fill the viod (or existing cats breed more).TNR is a work around, but costly both in time and vet bills (most vets will work with you on the cost if you explain they're feral). Most animal control laws are based on the dog model, not really appropriate for the cats.

Animal cruelty laws apply equally to feral and domestic animals (some areas have nuisance laws). In a recent case a man had his dogs attack several wild animals (squirrel, snake, and the highest life form was an oppossum), posted it on YouTube, and got 5 years in prison.

Chances are your only real relocation option is trapping and taking them to the humane society to be euthanised. Last year my mom took in a couple of ferals, they put up a sign saying that they would not accept any more, so even that might be a problem. We're working to stabilize her colony, fortunately or unfortunately distemper is running though it in the warmer months so most of the kittens die. Just pulling in kittens she's found homes for over 50 of them over the past few years.
 
amdhunter said:
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.
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you have rat shit in your car? 3 shootings in the new year already. dude get the fuck out of the ghetto!
 
waffleironhead said:
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.
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edro said:
Contact your local Chinese restaurant.
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Hugo Drax said:
Urinate around your vehicle, that will keep them at bay. do it every other day to keep the smell fresh.
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ShawnD1 said:
You could always catch them and relocate them to the river
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*yawn*
 
Barbituate overdose or gassing with CO is what the shelter will do.


I've always thought it rather odd that something humane for say, foxes and coyotes (say... shooting), isn't humane for feral 'pets'. There's some sort of disconnect there.
 
A couple guard dogs would really force the colony to relocate, but you mentioned it's an open parking lot? :\
 
Better yet, and more seriously, how large is this cat colony? They are obviously limited to available food / water supplies. Limiting those will force them to relocate. Is a neighbor feeding them?

As for limiting their access to something in particular, you could try scat mats to scare them off. Make sure you do not bend, only roll the mat. Also, medium setting is more than enough. Test it on yourself to see, just a static discharge from a small battery. *note for indoor use only
 
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Jaskalas said:
Better yet, and more seriously, how large is this cat colony? They are obviously limited to available food / water supplies. Limiting those will force them to relocate. Is a neighbor feeding them?

As for limiting their access to something in particular, you could try scat mats to scare them off. Make sure you do not bend, only roll the mat. Also, medium setting is more than enough. Test it on yourself to see, just a static discharge from a small battery. *note for indoor use only
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There's a lot of garbage in the area. They must be rummaging or living off the mice in the area. I think they are attracted to the warmth when the car stops every day.

My problem is with the kittens though. The bigger cats don't seem to be doing anything, but I've seen kittens climbing up the wheel wells of vehicles (or even blatantly sleeping on tires.)
 
Plain old cheap ammonia with a little water will work. That is what make urine smell so bad, the urine being converted to ammonia. Ammonia mixed strong enough will over power any scent they may spray and run them off.
 
Call the animal control office of your municipality.

There is no other way to legally deal with it properly, period.
 
SampSon said:
Call the animal control office of your municipality.

There is no other way to legally deal with it properly, period.
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This. I love cats, but I don't think they should be running around and becoming a pest problem. One of the reasons why I dislike it when people end up with outdoor cats.
 
The main problem is people think cats belong outdoors. It's illegal in most if not all areas to let any pet roam.

As a side note, many of these outdoor cats never get shots or see a vet except when they are injured.

When I worked for a vet, most outdoor cats if x-rayed would be riddled with BB's and the owner's had no idea.
 
alkemyst said:
The main problem is people think cats belong outdoors. It's illegal in most if not all areas to let any pet roam.

As a side note, many of these outdoor cats never get shots or see a vet except when they are injured.

When I worked for a vet, most outdoor cats if x-rayed would be riddled with BB's and the owner's had no idea.
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Belong outdoors? Why? I've lived most of my life with indoor cats, whose only outside time was on a 10-15ft long leash that was staked into the ground. They had clean water nearby and shade to sit in...but they NEVER ran free, and were quite content.

The problem I see with people anymore is shelters claim you need to have TWO cats, so they aren't lonely...and then the cats fight and one of them gets put outside. People need to realize that unless the cats are from the same litter, they are likely not going to get along, and putting the cat outside is no answer. And shelters need to stop forcing you to take two...the only reason they do it, I suspect, is to get rid of cats they have faster so they have more space/less cost.
 
RampantAndroid said:
Belong outdoors? Why? I've lived most of my life with indoor cats, whose only outside time was on a 10-15ft long leash that was staked into the ground. They had clean water nearby and shade to sit in...but they NEVER ran free, and were quite content.
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I am not agreeing with it...people feel that way.

RampantAndroid said:
The problem I see with people anymore is shelters claim you need to have TWO cats, so they aren't lonely...and then the cats fight and one of them gets put outside. People need to realize that unless the cats are from the same litter, they are likely not going to get along, and putting the cat outside is no answer. And shelters need to stop forcing you to take two...the only reason they do it, I suspect, is to get rid of cats they have faster so they have more space/less cost.
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Any animal gets lonely alone. I have 3 siblings who are 8 years old, we adopted a new cat 2 years ago that was 1 years old and just picked up another kitten about 6-8 months old. No one fights. That is a socialization problem.
 
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