Getting Rid of Stray Cats: 5 Foolproof Tips
Stray and Feral Cats
Stray and feral cats are a huge problem in the United States.
Strays are simply cats that have wandered off, but feral cats may
have bred for a generation of more in the wild and know how to
survive without the care of humans. The problem is that they may
carry diseases, fight with house cats and spread those diseases.
Left uncontrolled they breed more and more cats. They can however
perform a useful roll in local rodent and pest control.
Don’t walk up and try to pet it. Strays are not always friendly
or immunized so there the possibility that they man carry rabies.
If you do get bitten, either the cat gets trapped and tested for
rabies or you will need a full series of rabies shots, which are
not pleasant. A bite or scratch from a feral cat should have you on
your way to the doctor immediately.
If the cat happens to be friendly, do it favor and take it to
the vet. Get it immunized, spayed or neutered and try to find it a
good home if you don’t want to keep it yourself. You should also
read up on how to deal with cats that have behavioral problems.
Getting Rid of Stray Cats
Most of the products for sale that claim to keep stray and feral
cats away don’t work at all. It couldn’t hurt to try them if you
have the money to spend, but there are many tried and true methods
below.
- Don’t feed the kitties and remove any food sources that you can
find. Leaving food out can also attract other animals such as
skunks.
- Block entryways to places feral cats like to live. The get
under homes, decks and into shed. Make sure you do not have a haven
for feral cats next to your home.
- Call you local animal control center and see if they will come
out and catch them or let you borrow or rent a trap to catch the
cats.
- Buy your own trap and catch the cat yourself. Take it in to the
closest animal control. Releasing elsewhere is just condemning it
to a worse life. Take care though – this isn’t a tamed cat, but a
snarling scratching ball of menace.
- Use pepper spray liberally in the areas the cats frequent. It
will bother their sensitive noses and the cats may stay
away.
If you’ve got a heart of gold, trap the cat, take it the vet and
have it immunized then spayed or neutered. Release back on to your
property and provide it with food. Perhaps you could use a great
mouser? Regardless, the important thing is that the stray doesn’t
continue to breed.
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