problem : feral cat yowlers @ 0300

solution complications:

- sleep with door open (screen door barrier) = can't close door
- semi-suburban area (woods across the roadway, vacant lots around) = no gunfire
- no yard fencing = no dogs
- no killing
- have own cats = no poisons and as above, no killings
- 0300 ? = don't want to spend a lot of sleep time waking up and hunting, or lying in wait

possibilities:
- traps?
- deterrents ? have used Shake Away Shake Away for skunks, possums under the porch with great success
- pellet guns ? remember, no killing and don't want to spend a lot of money
- let nature run its course?

:: there are coyotes in the area and am quite surprised that with the amount of racket these ferals are making that the coyotes haven't solved my problem for me.

what have you had luck with ?

what am i overlooking ?

havahart.com

How about bright outdoor spot light(s) turned on by a motion detector? Might scare them away. . .

Main problem would be to be sure the motion detectors are aimed and sensitive enough to pick the area where you problem cats like to hang out. Point the lights there.

Might help keep the Coyotes away also.

I suggest calling animal control and checking to see if there is a cat rescue organization.

There's a small cat rescue operation in my area committed to trapping alley cats. They are spade and vaccinated (rabies can be a problem with unvaccinated feral cats). If possible they are adopted out but many are released back into their alley environments (where residents often feed them).

A friend and I had our dogs in the park when a 6 week or so old kitty came running across the road and was nearly snagged by a German Shepherd. That's when we learned about the cat rescue.

We bathed that kitten (oh my!), had her vaccinated, de-flead and de-wormed and then placed her with a good home. We also worked with the cat rescue to place, bait and monitor a cage trap to catch littermates and the mama. A cage similar to this:


http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q...IwAg#ps-sellers


We caught and were able to place another kitten (who hit the jackpot and now holidays on Nantucket with her dog and cat housemates).

thanks, ponder, they have some stuff i might try.

that's a great idea, however we have a lot of things that go bump in the night and don't mind the passersby - if they're quiet about it. these are not. and the light would wake us up too.

Control: You can often rent live traps from municipalities, or have animal control take care of that for you.

Deterrent: You could set up a timed or motion-activated sprinkler system. I know that you can buy pre-made units, but I'll bet if you're handy you could rig up your own. If it's tied to a light turning on you can condition the cats to scram whenever the light comes on.

Here's a link to a motion-activated ultrasonic cat repeller. No affiliation. No idea how well it works, but Lee Valley doesn't usually sell junk.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=59764&cat=2,51555&ap=1

good idea - would save me the cost of a trap, and i do know there is at least one rescue organization in the area.

A pellet gun is easily capable of killing a cat given a good (well aimed) shot. A poorly aimed shot will wound, and be more miserable for the animal that a clean kill.

ok. that rules out a pellet gun. thanks!