Blasted cats and daily murders

John Mason

Can anyone help.

A neighbours cat has start stalking and killing birds in our garden. beside the absolute grossness of having to pick up dead birds every day so my 13 month doesnt play\aareakkeat them. the murder starts at about 5am every morning, the crows and the magpies are making their feelings known.

this in turn is waking said 13 month old, we are all shattered, disturbed and grossed out.

how can i get this cat to kill birds in it own garden?

Pumpkinseeds

You could try talking to the neighbour and explain the situation. Cats hunt most at dusk and dawn. Perhaps ask if they can keep the cat in til later in the morning.:)

John Mason

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

You could try talking to the neighbour and explain the situation. Cats hunt most at dusk and dawn. Perhaps ask if they can keep the cat in til later in the morning.:)

i dont know who owns the cat. i absolutely hate cats, i just need something to keep it out off our garden

Capercaillie

Trap it bring it to nearest animal shelter.

saabsaab

You could try cat repellent around your garden borders. Cats don't respect borders.

Dtp1979

Get a dog

DBB

Capercaillie wrote: »

Trap it bring it to nearest animal shelter.

You mean, steal their cat?
This is not appropriate advice. I think a chat with the neighbours should surely be the openning gambit, rather than potentially be accused of knowingly stealing their property.

To all posters, this is a topic that almost always goes haywire due to people advocating illegal acts, acts of cruelty etc.
Please don't be the one who gets inevtiably banned from this forum for the above or other breaches of the forum charter.
Thanks,
DBB

Capercaillie

DBB wrote: »

You mean, steal their cat?
This is not appropriate advice. I think a chat with the neighbours should surely be the openning gambit, rather than potentially be accused of knowingly stealing their property.

To all posters, this is a topic that almost always goes haywire due to people advocating illegal acts, acts of cruelty etc.
Please don't be the one who gets inevtiably banned from this forum for the above or other breaches of the forum charter.
Thanks,
DBB

I know a friend who did the same thing. Trapped the cat and brought to shelter. Informed the owner of cat if he saw the cat out again he would do the same again, unless he got a collar with bells for the cat. The owner of the cat kept the cat in and it's killing spree was stopped.

DBB

Capercaillie wrote: »

I know a friend who did the same thing. Trapped the cat and brought to shelter. Informed the owner of cat if he saw the cat out again he would do the same again, unless he got a collar with bells for the cat. The owner of the cat kept the cat in and it's killing spree was stopped.

Capercaillie,
You're around long enough to know that replying to mod warnings on-thread is a non-runner.
Neither is your reiteration of an illegal act.
Please don't post in this thread again.
And, I should not have to say this, do not reply to this post on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB

Qualitymark

May I suggest that you catch the cat if possible and put a cat collar on it with one of those little ID drums; put a note in the drum with your phone number and "please call me". If you can't do this - and it may not be easy if you "absolutely hate cats" (odd!) maybe you could ask other neighbours until you find the cat's owners. I had neighbours track me down a few years back when my cat was beating up theirs.

As for keeping the cat out of the garden, the best suggestion I can make is to instal a couple of motion-triggered sprinklers http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orbit-62100-Yard-Enforcer/dp/B009F1R0GC/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1434349811&sr=1-2&keywords=motion-sensing+sprinkler - cats hate sudden water.

MrWalsh

Speak to the owners but the cat may refuse to wear a collar (neither of mine will wear them) and the cat may not care about water for a motion sprinkler - our second cat happily scampers about in water and doesnt care (our first acts like its acid).

Id be asking the owners to keep the cat in more often.

sillysmiles

Do you know what the cat's route into your garden is? There is a plant that you can get that keeps them away, you could try leaving the plant, in the pot, along it's entrance route.

ganmo

how are you ment to know who owns the cat?

Pumpkinseeds

ganmo wrote: »

how are you ment to know who owns the cat?

In any neighbourhood people would recognise many of their neighbours pets and kids. You'd see them out and about hanging around a house. I couldn't put names to most of my neighbours but I do know whose pets are whose.

sillysmiles

Generally any kids in the area will know who's pets are whos, especially in an estate because they are in and out of each others houses all the time. That's how I found the owner to a stray pet rabbit that was in our front garden and at risk of being hit by a car.

ganmo

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

In any neighbourhood people would recognise many of their neighbours pets and kids. You'd see them out and about hanging around a house. I couldn't put names to most of my neighbours but I do know whose pets are whose.

a kid that falls over and hurts its knee bawlin its eyes out can still point and say thats my house
what portion of pet(non feral) cats have collars + ID

Pumpkinseeds

ganmo wrote: »

a kid that falls over and hurts its knee bawlin its eyes out can still point and say thats my house
what portion of pet(non feral) cats have collars + ID

Is it really worth arguing the point? It doesn't hurt to ask around and as another poster said the local kids are usually the best people to ask about this sort of thing. Feral cats are terrified of humans so they'll flee as soon as they see us.:)

ganmo

they all run away from me, so they're all feral?

I'm not arguing the point, I asked a question that hasn't been answered. from what I glean from your response is that cat owners don't make any effort to identify their cats and leave it to their neighbours to be observant.

MrWalsh

ganmo wrote: »

I asked a question that hasn't been answered. from what I glean from your response is that cat owners don't make any effort to identify their cats and leave it to their neighbours to be observant.

How do you expect the cat to be identifiable? Even wearing a collar is not going to tell you the house number? And even if they had identifying information on a collar, if you cant get near the cats then thats not going to help you?

What exactly are you expecting?

Usually you know who owns what cat because thats the property it hangs around outside.

Capercaillie

ganmo wrote: »

they all run away from me, so they're all feral?

I'm not arguing the point, I asked a question that hasn't been answered. from what I glean from your response is that cat owners don't make any effort to identify their cats and leave it to their neighbours to be observant.

I think all pet dogs legally have to have microchips now. Perhaps something similar for pet cats would be useful. If a cat was causing trouble to you (killing birds etc) you could catch and check by vet to see if it had a microchip. You could then see who exactly owned the cat.

DBB

DBB wrote: »

Capercaillie,
...
Please don't post in this thread again.

Capercaillie,
Only 3 days ago I asked you not to post in this thread again.
I'm afraid I'm left with no option but to issue a card.
Thanks,
DBB

John Mason

i have no idea who owns the cat, I live in a terraced house and all the cats just walk up and down the fences.

There are no kids on my road bar mine. I am afraid to put any kind of replant down because of the boy.

Getting a dog is not an option as we both work.

It is so annoying if this was a dog terrorising us, everyone would be up in arms. Bloody irresponsible cat owners

MrWalsh

John Mason wrote: »

i have no idea who owns the cat, I live in a terraced house and all the cats just walk up and down the fences.

Why dont you ask around?

stereo_steve

Qualitymark wrote: »

if you "absolutely hate cats" (odd!)

Honestly its not. My garden which I spent time and effort to be a nice place is used as a toilet. I loath my neighbours cat.

I've asked other cat owners for advice to stop this. Most answers seem to be to get my own cat as they will do their business in other gardens and protect my own. :mad:

I'd love a solution like the OP to resolve this. How people like these killing machines that poop everywhere surprises me

DBB

stereo_steve wrote: »

How people like these killing machines that poop everywhere surprises me

Stereo_steve,
Whilst I understand your frustration, comments such as this in the Animals & Pets forum are highly inflammatory. You may not like cats, but there are plenty here who do, and plenty who do not allow their cats to roam either.

To all posters: please do not respond to this part of stereo_steve's post, or this thread is going to go down the pipes along with all the other roaming cat threads.

Do not reply to this post on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB

stereo_steve

I thought I showed restraint. I didn't advocate violence or theft like others.

It seems like only pro cat discussions are tolerated in here. I will leave ...

degsie

At the risk of getting a warning from an over moderated thread, I also have a problem with cats killing and pooping on my property. I have identified the culprits and spoken to owners who just shrug shoulders. Our dog now handles this problem in the main, if only I could keep one in the front garden!

DBB

stereo_steve wrote: »

I thought I showed restraint. I didn't advocate violence or theft like others.

It seems like only pro cat discussions are tolerated in here. I will leave ...

That's your choice, but the fact is that there are multiple rules in the forum and site-wide, some people have broken some of them, and you have broken another by posting about cats in an inflammatory manner. Blaming other people for other misdemeanours does not fly. Furthermore, a quick search will show you that you're wrong in your assertion that only pro-anything discussion is allowed here.
You've actually broken two rules, as you've nowargued with my post despite my clearly asking you not to.
Thanks,
DBB

DBB

degsie wrote: »

At the risk of getting a warning from an over moderated thread, I also have a problem with cats killing and pooping on my property. I have identified the culprits and spoken to owners who just shrug shoulders. Our dog now handles this problem in the main, if only I could keep one in the front garden!

There is no problem with what you've said, other than you discussing the moderation, which is something you need to take up with the Cat Mods, or to the feedback forum rather than on-thread. Again, it says so clearly in the charter.

There is a problem when people break rules, there were multiple examples of this in this thread, hence the moderation. That's why we're here.
Do not reply to this post on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB

sillysmiles

OP do you have a bird table or anything in your garden?

ganmo

John Mason wrote: »

i have no idea who owns the cat, I live in a terraced house and all the cats just walk up and down the fences.

There are no kids on my road bar mine. I am afraid to put any kind of replant down because of the boy.

Getting a dog is not an option as we both work.

It is so annoying if this was a dog terrorising us, everyone would be up in arms. Bloody irresponsible cat owners

So is it actually owned locally?
By the sounds of it you're not alone in your anger at cat owners.

If you can't find the owner(and it's feral) then there is nothing stopping you getting professionals(vets/<snip>) involved.
But I've known unowned cats suddenly get owners when such things are mentioned

John Mason

How would I know if it is feral. I really don't see what difference that makes. I just want it out of my garden.

MrWalsh

John Mason wrote: »

How would I know if it is feral. I really don't see what difference that makes. I just want it out of my garden.

Once again Ill ask:

Why dont you ask around to find out who owns it?

sillysmiles

If it is feral, there are trap neuter release programs (through rescues I think).
If it is owned you can't trap it, as that is stealing.

That's what difference it

ganmo

sillysmiles wrote: »

If it is feral, there are trap neuter release programs (through rescues I think).
If it is owned you can't trap it, as that is stealing.

That's what difference it

If you trap and release you still have a cat hanging around. So op would still have a problem.

If it's owned you can trap it, you have to give it back to it's owner after it's caught.

endacl

DBB wrote: »

[B]Cat Mods

Do not reply to this post on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB[/B]

Sorry. I had to. I'm sure you'll understand why!

the_syco

http://www.primrose.co.uk/pestbye-jet-spray-repeller-p-1907.html

Just remember to turn it off before you or the kid walks in front of it.

It sprays water when it detects movement.

Dozen Wicked Words

the_syco wrote: »

http://www.primrose.co.uk/pestbye-jet-spray-repeller-p-1907.html

Just remember to turn it off before you or the kid walks in front of it.

It sprays water when it detects movement.

That is a nifty bit of kit! I want one, despite not getting any cats at all in our garden.

Ashbx

MrWalsh wrote: »

Once again Ill ask:

Why dont you ask around to find out who owns it?

To be honest, the OP shouldn't have to knock around to doors in his estate to find out who the cat belongs to! I know I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. Responsible cat owners should have collars on their cats with details just like dog owners do. And before anyone comes back saying their cat doesn't like their collar, my dog didn't like hers at first but she is forced to wear it.

I have lived in my house for 5 years and regularly see two cats in my estate! I have absolutely no idea who owns these cats. So no, its not as easy as the OP just knocking on doors. The cats owner should not be allowing this to happen...end of!

Shivi111

The issue with cats and collars is that they take them off, my two cats get through a couple of collars a week!

If the upset is caused by the noise the birds make then it is a really good suggestion that you speak with the owners about not allowing the cats out at dawn and dusk, we keep ours in until a reasonable time in the day as the magpies make a dreadful noise as soon as they see the cats out and about.

I would be very surprised if one cat is responsible for 'daily murders', one of ours is a hunter, we now have a bell on her collar for this reason, but even at her most skilled she would very rarely catch a bird, the odd field mouse, but the birds are actually very difficult for them to catch. If you are finding dead birds daily I would suspect you might have a number of feral cats around?

There are a number of plants you can plant that cats dislike the smell of (check google), also orange peel works really well (we use it to keep the cats away from the christmas tree and it is very effective), cats also have an adversion to pine cones, if you put them in your flower beds it can help (flower beds being the most likely place for them to toilet as they bury their waste, the pine cones make this difficult and they will find somewhere else).

MrWalsh

Ashbx wrote: »

To be honest, the OP shouldn't have to knock around to doors in his estate to find out who the cat belongs to! I know I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. Responsible cat owners should have collars on their cats with details just like dog owners do. And before anyone comes back saying their cat doesn't like their collar, my dog didn't like hers at first but she is forced to wear it.

I have lived in my house for 5 years and regularly see two cats in my estate! I have absolutely no idea who owns these cats. So no, its not as easy as the OP just knocking on doors. The cats owner should not be allowing this to happen...end of!

Oh for Gods sake, the OP is here writing a post about his problem using these words:

John Mason wrote: »

absolute grossness

John Mason wrote: »

the murder starts at about 5am every morning

John Mason wrote: »

we are all shattered, disturbed and grossed out.

Well if its that much of a problem then it seems to me that a quick "hey Johnny, do you know who owns that black and white cat" is quite a small step to be taking to get to a resolution!

Cats take off collars and cats wont always allow a stranger to touch them so a collar is not always an answer.

What solution do you propose or did you reply to run down cat owners and make a non appropriate analogy to dogs for the craic?

ganmo

MrWalsh wrote: »

Oh for Gods sake, the OP is here writing a post about his problem using these words:







Well if its that much of a problem then it seems to me that a quick "hey Johnny, do you know who owns that black and white cat" is quite a small step to be taking to get to a resolution!

Cats take off collars and cats wont always allow a stranger to touch them so a collar is not always an answer.

What solution do you propose or did you reply to run down cat owners and make a non appropriate analogy to dogs for the craic?

so just because collars aren't a catch all it gives cat owners free reign to deny their cat is theirs?

I think OP would have a much better chance of finding the owner if he has the cat trapped, then he can ask the question is this cat yours? much harder to disown the problem then

Ashbx

MrWalsh wrote: »

Oh for Gods sake, the OP is here writing a post about his problem using these words:

Well if its that much of a problem then it seems to me that a quick "hey Johnny, do you know who owns that black and white cat" is quite a small step to be taking to get to a resolution!

Cats take off collars and cats wont always allow a stranger to touch them so a collar is not always an answer.

What solution do you propose or did you reply to run down cat owners and make a non appropriate analogy to dogs for the craic?

My apologies if you think I came on to run down cat owners...that was not my intention. It just seems logical that cat owners (in fact all pet owners who have their pets outside) should use some sort of identification for them. What happens if the cat gets knocked down? As a pet owner, I would like to think that I was informed but sure if you have no ID on the animal, how are you supposed to know who to contact. Off topic I know, but the point I am making is there is more than one reason to ID your cat.

Yes I do agree that it sounds like a simple solution and if its the only choice I had, yes I would knock on all 1000 houses in my estate! However, my point was the OP shouldn't HAVE to do this. If the cat is allowed roam free, the owners should ensure that it does not disturb the other neighbours. Its as simple as that really.

Im going to ignore your last (and quite bitchy) comment.

MrWalsh

ganmo wrote: »

so just because collars aren't a catch all it gives cat owners free reign to deny their cat is theirs?

How is the cat owner denying the cat? No one has approached the cat owner?

Ashbx wrote: »

It just seems logical that cat owners (in fact all pet owners who have their pets outside) should use some sort of identification for them. What happens if the cat gets knocked down? As a pet owner, I would like to think that I was informed but sure if you have no ID on the animal, how are you supposed to know who to contact. Off topic I know, but the point I am making is there is more than one reason to ID your cat.

Both my cats refuse to wear collars but both are microchipped so that is their identification. I would hope if they got injured or lost that a responsible person would bring then to have the microchip checked by a local vet as I do if I find a lost cat (last time the cats owner was literally the next street over, how silly did I feel?).

You can try as hard as you want but if a cat doesnt want to wear a collar, the cat will not wear a collar.

Its really not possible for an owner to monitor an outdoor cats every movement, but they might be able to change the times the cat goes out.

thegreatgonzo

OP if this has just recently become a problem it may be just that there are a lot of fledglings around and it's just a particularly good time for bird stalking. You might find the problem goes away by itself when there is less activity around the nests.

Shivi111

MrWalsh wrote: »

How is the cat owner denying the cat? No one has approached the cat owner?


Its really not possible for an owner to monitor an outdoor cats every movement, but they might be able to change the times the cat goes out.

Good point, I would swear to all that my cats cause no problems for anyone, they are allowed out at certain times, they come back when called so I know they do not wander far, they use their litter boxes so I assume do not toilet in neighbours gardens... but certainly some neighbour could be furious with me, and I would only know about it if they told me!

Sometimes I get animals in my garden that I would prefer were not there, I get foxes rooting through my bins (and scaring my cats!), I get my next door neighbours dog who is an escape artist and likes to use my lawn as his toilet, I get birds that nest in my chimney or poop on my clean washing, I get the children next door who kick a ball against the wall for hours on end these things are irritations sure, I would prefer if they didn't happen but I understand that I do not own the great outdoors... a bit of perspective and 'live and let live' goes a long way too I think...

ganmo

MrWalsh wrote: »

How is the cat owner denying the cat? No one has approached the cat owner?

from my experience if the person thinks by denying ownership the problem will go away, they will at every opportunity(the problem here being a neighbour that isn't happy)

of course there are some people that own up but they seem to be 1 in 20

MrWalsh

ganmo wrote: »

from my experience if the person thinks by denying ownership the problem will go away, they will at every opportunity(the problem here being a neighbour that isn't happy)

of course there are some people that own up but they seem to be 1 in 20

I dont understand your point, the owner is unaware that there is a problem because the OP does not know who the owner is to tell them.

ganmo

A neighbour calls to your door asking do you own a black and white cat (your b&w sitting ing your kitchen)
From my experience they either lie and say they don't say yes or they say yes but deny that it could be their cat causing the problem.
If the op has the cat in a cage the neighbour has to own up and can't deny that it's causing a problem

Traps can be bought for less than 50 quid
The rabbit/mink traps on the site linked earlier are suitable to trap cats

MrWalsh

ganmo wrote: »

A neighbour calls to your door asking do you own a black and white cat (your b&w sitting ing your kitchen)
From my experience they either lie and say they don't say yes or they say yes but deny that it could be their cat causing the problem.
If the op has the cat in a cage the neighbour has to own up and can't deny that it's causing a problem

Traps can be bought for less than 50 quid
The rabbit/mink traps on the site linked earlier are suitable to trap cats

You must have bad neighbours, I dont know anyone who would do that tbh.

As for your last comment, totally out of order.

ganmo

MrWalsh wrote: »

You must have bad neighbours, I dont know anyone who would do that tbh.

As for your last comment, totally out of order.

Did I say my neighbours?

Which comment? The price of the trap? I didn't link to the site. I know the price having bought one in the past.