I have had limited success with "Boundary" animal repellent spray.

My previous neighbor was putting food out for the ferals, and we had 4 or 5 that liked my backyard (we didn't have dogs). I placed the repellent at the choke points where they entered and exited the yard. It worked for a couple of weeks, but I think they got used to it. The granules might have worked better.

I wanted to use Predator Pee mountain lion urine, but my wife was worried about attracting the real thing.

http://www.petco.com/product/4580/Lambert-Kay-Boundary-Indoor-Outdoor-Dog-and-Cat-Repellents.aspx

http://www.petco.com/product/6544/Repel-II-Dog-and-Cat-Repellent.aspx?CoreCat=certona-_-ProductList_Cat_1-_-Repel%20II%20Dog%20%26%20Cat%20Repellent-6544

http://www.predatorpee.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LE&Category_Code=MLU

I started chasing them off, but they figured out real quick that when the door opens...run. Getting a clean shot is going to be difficult after a while. If you're really interested in harassing them, consider airsoft. My neighbor has been using them on noisy crows. Otherwise, contact the rescue operation and be prepared for a noisy night when pussy gets caught.

Cat breeding season begins in January and continues until Fall. That's where all the noise is coming from.

Ignoring the problem just helps get you surrounded by more cats.

Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) is probably the easiest way. If you kill 'your' group, more will just move in, and the problem will escalate. True feral cats will never domesticate.

Some groups are very small. They may have some funds for spaying and neutering, and might be able to lend a trap, but you might have to do the trapping and delivery.

Concerned People for Animals, Inc.
PO Box 632, Somis, CA 93066
805-640-6941
Helps with low cost s/n for feral and pet cats living in Ventura County.

Greyfoot Rescue
PO Box 310, Ventura, CA 93002
805-649-4840
This group may have information about low cost or free s/n for cats in Ventura.

People Aiding Feral Cats
1286 Rubicon Ave Ventura, CA 93004
Joan Farber is their registered agent
(805) 659-5145 or pafcats@hotmail.com

Your local animal shelter will probably have a list of groups that can help.

Sue

I would suggest trapping, fattening and then put em on a spit over a hot smoldering applewood fire, glazing lightly with a little balsamic vinegar & bok choy. Just a thought.



Favorite Coyote meal= feral cat, domesticated cat, house cat, barn cat, cat-a-la-mode... last but not least- Cat in a Hat. Coyotes will eliminate the cat problem.

for some reason unknown to me there was no visit last night - so it's quite possible the yotes got 'em.

you got that right! a) they're not lining up, and b) i don't want to get up.
you're the first with the paintball - i like that one, but ok, i'm lazy, i just don't want to get up.

i'll be in touch w/the local rescue folks to see what options or plans they might suggest.

"for some reason unknown to me there was no visit last night - so it's quite possible the yotes got 'em."

Most of the screaming is the boys fighting over the girl. Once the girl conceives, she goes out of heat, and the game is over until the next girl comes into season, then it starts all over again.

January is just the beginning...

Sue

Being this is a survival forum, consider the cats a test case. The largest Havahart live trap will work on everything from small mammals to birds to cats to medium sided dogs.

The catching is not the hard part. Emptying the trap can be a problem. Skunks, for example, are the only animal that demands some thought and planning BEFORE you set the trap! If you set traps for cats, you will catch skunks!

Letting an animal out alive can be quite dangerous without experience. Bobcats are about the most dangerous. Beavers and birds are about the easiest.

With a little practice, the Havahart and a crockpot can be your friend. Add CB caps to the ETS list if you want to be quiet.

...?

Think subsonic .22 short.

Thanks for the clue: I KNEW that, but all I could come up with was an image of a tractor-trailer driver singing along with C.W.McCall's "Convoy."