Dear Crazy Cat Lady

[Bluerobin]

Keep your FN cat outta my yard.  I see you got a new one, and it seems to think my yard is her yard.  Previously, my dogs got several of your darned cats, and even though the Beckster is old, this one's days are numbered.  This time, I will throw the body on your porch, instead of just putting it in the garbage. 

It's your choice.  But I and Beckster are not going to tolerate this creature.  BTW, Beckster got a skunk a few weeks ago, without getting sprayed, so a cat is NO problem.

Anyone have any ideas on keeping this critter out of my yard?

[Tennesseer]

Feb 22, 2020 13:18:12 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Keep your FN cat outta my yard.  I see you got a new one, and it seems to think my yard is her yard.  Previously, my dogs got several of you darned cats, and even though the Beckster is old, this one's days are numbered.  This time, I will throw the body on your porch, instead of just putting it in the garbage. 

It's your choice.  But I and Beckster are not going to tolerate this creature.  BTW, Beckster got a skunk a few weeks ago, without getting sprayed, so a cat is NO problem.

Anyone have any ideas on keeping this critter out of my yard?

Do you also make sure Beckster kills birds in your backyard too? How about children?

[laterbloomer]

Why do you hate cats?

[Bluerobin]

Tenn, Beckster likes kids and birds. 

Later, why don't you hate cats?  Bottom line, your pet doesn't belong in my yard.  If it comes in, it will leave in a bag someday.

The darned cat should crap in her own yard.  If I have to keep Beckster constrained, so should cat owners have to constrain their pets. 

[TheOtherMe]

Cats living in cities should be indoor only cats, imo.  I've never let me cats roam but they have been accused of doing things they didn't do because they were not outdoors.

However, I've never lived anywhere where I had to keep my cat out of the neighbor's yards by law.  

If the cat ends up in a bag, as you say, you are the crazy one, not your neighbor.

Ever try talking to your neighbor about the problem?

[laterbloomer]

Feb 22, 2020 17:22:09 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Tenn, Beckster likes kids and birds. 

Later, why don't you hate cats?  Bottom line, your pet doesn't belong in my yard.  If it comes in, it will leave in a bag someday.

The darned cat should crap in her own yard.  If I have to keep Beckster constrained, so should cat owners have to constrain their pets. 

I've never noticed cat crap in my yard, dog crap on the other hand is huge and disgusting. And I have 2 dogs.

I've never seen a dog actually kill a cat. Maybe because I've never seen a dog catch a cat. I would never be able to cuddle a dog that had killed a cat though. It's too violent for me and I wouldn't trust them.

[Tennesseer]

Feb 22, 2020 21:50:04 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Feb 22, 2020 17:22:09 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Tenn, Beckster likes kids and birds. 

Later, why don't you hate cats?  Bottom line, your pet doesn't belong in my yard.  If it comes in, it will leave in a bag someday.

The darned cat should crap in her own yard.  If I have to keep Beckster constrained, so should cat owners have to constrain their pets. 

I've never noticed cat crap in my yard, dog crap on the other hand is huge and disgusting. And I have 2 dogs.

I've never seen a dog actually kill a cat. Maybe because I've never seen a dog catch a cat. I would never be able to cuddle a dog that had killed a cat though. It's too violent for me and I wouldn't trust them.

I have. In January 2019. Two large stray dogs pinned down a cat which was napping by my front door. They played tug of war with her body. It was not pretty. Those same two dogs later killed three more cats that month. I called animal control. Never saw the dogs again. Hopefully they were caught by animal control and euthanized.

[weltschmerz]

Feb 22, 2020 13:18:12 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Keep your FN cat outta my yard.  I see you got a new one, and it seems to think my yard is her yard.  Previously, my dogs got several of your darned cats, and even though the Beckster is old, this one's days are numbered.  This time, I will throw the body on your porch, instead of just putting it in the garbage. 

It's your choice.  But I and Beckster are not going to tolerate this creature.  BTW, Beckster got a skunk a few weeks ago, without getting sprayed, so a cat is NO problem.

Anyone have any ideas on keeping this critter out of my yard?

What's wrong with you?

[Tiny]

I don't know what you can do Blue Robin.   My family with dogs (that will go after/kill the wild critters in the yard) usually survey the yard before they let the dogs out - when it's light out. To solve some of the problem at night = they have set up "spot lights" that illuminate the yard.  They turn on the lights a bit before letting out the dogs.  it gives the critters some warning and let's the humans get a look at what's in the yard.   It doesn't work all the time, but it helps.     

TBH, I don't think you can do anything about the cats or wild critters in your yard.  Even if it's fenced.   I'm assuming your yard is fenced in some way.   You might be able to make your yard less appealing to wildlife (and the cat(s)) by not having alot of vegetation that's good for hiding in or behind.  I know that might not be feasible.   Are the critters using a pass thru thru your yard?  Maybe making that less appealing will deter the wildlife (and the cat(s) who may be in your yard because of the wildlife).       

You can't control the neighbor's cat(s) anymore than you can control the wildlife that goes thru your yard.  It's unfortunate.    I'm assuming your dog doesn't go looking for the cat(s) on the neighbor's property.  I live in the land of fenced back yards... I know it's not like that everywhere.   I also know dog owners sometimes have to deal with the critters their dogs catch/kill/maim.   sometimes it's a cat.    

Meant to add, I know one of my relatives created a fenced in dog run to help limit the yearly carnage.   Their patio doors opened out on to a raised deck.  The deck had stairs going to the back yard and then a separate set of stairs going to the dog run.   There were "gates" on each set of steps.   At night the gate to the yard would be closed and the gate to the dog run open.  They could turn on the lights and let the dogs out with the only place for the dogs to go was the dog run.     My SIL absolutely hated when her dogs got a critter and she had a few dogs that would go after whatever was moving in the yard.  The dog run helped.       

 

[Tiny]

This is just a general comment about "poop" that appears in one's yard... all the wild critters (possums, raccoons, and skunks) all make poop.  It can look a lot like pet poop.   I live in an urban area - houses with little fenced in yards.  I had a neighbor complaining that someone was letting their dog into the neighbor's yard to poop.    I think the neighbor was just seeing possum or raccoon poop.  I had spotted some in my yard too.   No one was opening up their gate (or my gate), letting their dog loose in the yard, and then reclaiming their dog.    

(I just like saying "poop" cause I have a 3 year old grand nephew who has discovered the joy of saying "poop"  and I agree with him - it's fun!). 

[TheOtherMe]

If I was your neighbor and the cat ended up as a dead body on the porch, I would be calling animal control on you and reporting that you encouraged your dog to kill my cat.

I don't have dogs or a fence.  Nobody in my neighborhood has fences.  I find dog poop all the time.  Should I be calling animal control?

I also smell skunk and I've seen raccoons and rabbits in my yard.

Critters can't be controlled.

You do realize it isn't the cat's fault the neighbor lets it roam.  Just like with dogs who have reputations for being bad breeds, it's a human problem, not animal problem.

[busymom]

There are different brands of cat repellant on the market.  I'd try using one to see if it helps.  I've caught a neighbor's cat pooping in the backyard of our new home, which I don't appreciate.  With all of the predators down here, I'm surprised at the number of people who let their cats roam.



If the Beckster is in his own yard, there's not much you can do.  Bad Boy Puppy didn't hear a word I said once he spotted something, like a rabbit, that he considered to be prey.  He was fast & quiet as he zoomed towards whatever he went after.  I felt badly for the critters that he caught.  He was in our own fenced-in yard, so it's not like he was roaming the neighborhood.  I wish more people kept their cats indoors.  I didn't appreciate it when songbirds were killed by cats in my fenced-in yard.  (I'd had a bluebird house at our former residence for years.)

[Bluerobin]

Busy, thanks.  I will have to look for repellent at the pet store. 

Beckster doesn't mind the squirrels, birds or other critters.  Just the cats and the skunks. 

Welts, people who own cats and don't keep them on their own property.  It is NOT a pleasure to have your cat poop buried in my yard. 

[thyme4change]

What is an FN cat?

[stillmovingforward]

I love both cats and dogs. But I HATE cat or dog crap in my garden! At least dog owners are expected to clean it up.
What has worked for me....pour a thin line of ammonia around the edge of your yard in kind of a drip. You won't smell it but the animals will. Keeps cats, dogs, skunks, raccoons, etc out. Your dog will adjust.

[weltschmerz]

Feb 23, 2020 10:42:43 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Busy, thanks.  I will have to look for repellent at the pet store. 

Beckster doesn't mind the squirrels, birds or other critters.  Just the cats and the skunks. 

Welts, people who own cats and don't keep them on their own property.  It is NOT a pleasure to have your cat poop buried in my yard. 

How would they do that? Tell the cat not to go into your yard?
I've had my share of dogs going into my yard when I lived in the cottage. Perhaps I should have gone all "stand your ground" and shot them? Or hit them in their heads with a hammer? Or beaten them to death with a shovel?

[thyme4change]

There are lots of ways you can keep a cat out of your own yard....motion activated sprinklers, ammonia, cayenne pepper (if they have a favorite dirt patch in your yard), etc. But, having a dog that hates cats is usually very effective. There must be something enticing about your yard if multiple cats would prefer to habitually deal with a dog who wants to attack them instead of going just about anywhere else. That just doesn't add up to me.

[andi9899]

Feb 23, 2020 12:32:51 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Feb 23, 2020 10:42:43 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Busy, thanks.  I will have to look for repellent at the pet store. 

Beckster doesn't mind the squirrels, birds or other critters.  Just the cats and the skunks. 

Welts, people who own cats and don't keep them on their own property.  It is NOT a pleasure to have your cat poop buried in my yard. 

How would they do that? Tell the cat not to go into your yard?
I've had my share of dogs going into my yard when I lived in the cottage. Perhaps I should have gone all "stand your ground" and shot them? Or hit them in their heads with a hammer? Or beaten them to death with a shovel?

If I'm expected to keep my dogs contained, others should be expected to keep their animals contained their animals as well. An isolated incident of an escape artist and free roaming animals are two different things. I don't condone harming any animal in any way, but they still need to contain their pet. I also don't think I could keep a dog that kills other animals in my house.

[Bluerobin]

Welts, the Beckster is choosy about what she lets in the yard.  If someone is too stupid to restrain their cat, so be it!