alley cat question

[Anonymous]

We have several alley cats (Blue Collar Cats) that patrol the neighborhood, fed by a neighbor. The cats have decided to make their home turf our backyard, and are pooping all over my garden and lawn, and I'm getting really tired of it. My question is, if I set up a litter box for them outside, would they use it instead of my garden? And would more than one cat use the same litter box?

[Anonymous]

No, outdoor cats generally will not be more attracted to a litter box than your garden. A motion activated sprinkler will probably deter them, though. Just put them in the areas that you want the cats to avoid. They will probably figure it out.

[Anonymous]

That's too bad they're using your lawn too. No litter box won't work.

I had new neighbors cat decide my flower bed was its litterbox and it was so frustrating & disgusting plus wrecking my plants. I tried so many things, and finally what worked was standing thin sticks/branches in the open areas, about 4" apart, so that the cat couldn't turn around. I also complained to the neighbor (bylaw where I live is no free roaming pets including cats) who kept her cat in for a week then let it back out again. I moved and there are zero free roaming cats and I love it.

Water will probably work but if neighbor is feeding them you will need it long term. I couldn't live with them doing that in my yard all the time and would look into more permanent solutions via animal control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, outdoor cats generally will not be more attracted to a litter box than your garden. A motion activated sprinkler will probably deter them, though. Just put them in the areas that you want the cats to avoid. They will probably figure it out.

For a mere several hundred dollars (guessing here, my sprinkler system cost thousands), OP can solve the stray cat problem in her yard. Yay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have several alley cats (Blue Collar Cats) that patrol the neighborhood, fed by a neighbor. The cats have decided to make their home turf our backyard, and are pooping all over my garden and lawn, and I'm getting really tired of it. My question is, if I set up a litter box for them outside, would they use it instead of my garden? And would more than one cat use the same litter box?

Complain to the local humane society and maybe your city council rep. They get lobbied heavily by the TNR and colony people, and they need to hear the other side of the story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have several alley cats (Blue Collar Cats) that patrol the neighborhood, fed by a neighbor. The cats have decided to make their home turf our backyard, and are pooping all over my garden and lawn, and I'm getting really tired of it. My question is, if I set up a litter box for them outside, would they use it instead of my garden? And would more than one cat use the same litter box?

Trap them and drop off at the shelter. Your neighbor never needs to know.

[Anonymous]

Wolf piss - spray the border of your lot once every 10 wks.

[Anonymous]

Maybe a littler box with Dr Elsey's cat attract litter? Wouldn't hurt to try, but will be a mess to clean up with so many cats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, outdoor cats generally will not be more attracted to a litter box than your garden. A motion activated sprinkler will probably deter them, though. Just put them in the areas that you want the cats to avoid. They will probably figure it out.

For a mere several hundred dollars (guessing here, my sprinkler system cost thousands), OP can solve the stray cat problem in her yard. Yay?

https://www.amazon.com/Havahart-5277-Motion-Activated-Repellent-Sprinkler/dp/B078HK12H8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3NEK3WXEJO0OM&keywords=motion+activated+sprinkler&qid=1648758141&sprefix=motion+ac%2Caps%2C644&sr=8-4

$46 and what is a hose, like $10? If you want the cats out of the yard, yeah you're going to need to use some kind of deterrent. Less expensive than changing the landscaping and less gross than large predator urine. I'm sure that whoever suggested that meant well, but a yard that stinks of piss is jist as bad as a yard full of shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, outdoor cats generally will not be more attracted to a litter box than your garden. A motion activated sprinkler will probably deter them, though. Just put them in the areas that you want the cats to avoid. They will probably figure it out.

For a mere several hundred dollars (guessing here, my sprinkler system cost thousands), OP can solve the stray cat problem in her yard. Yay?

https://www.amazon.com/Havahart-5277-Motion-Activated-Repellent-Sprinkler/dp/B078HK12H8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3NEK3WXEJO0OM&keywords=motion+activated+sprinkler&qid=1648758141&sprefix=motion+ac%2Caps%2C644&sr=8-4

$46 and what is a hose, like $10? If you want the cats out of the yard, yeah you're going to need to use some kind of deterrent. Less expensive than changing the landscaping and less gross than large predator urine. I'm sure that whoever suggested that meant well, but a yard that stinks of piss is jist as bad as a yard full of shit.

You’ll need several, and several hoses (which start at $20-30). Yes, better than wolf piss. But the have-a-heart traps are probably a better long-term solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wolf piss - spray the border of your lot once every 10 wks.

Gross.

Where’s the accountability for the neighbor who feeds these cats? That’s the person who needs to be buying wolf piss or multiple sprinklers and hoses. That’s the person who needs to spend her time going around to her neighbors’ homes to spray wolf piss every 10 weeks, or to install and maintain the sprinklers.

[Anonymous]

OP, cat feces spread toxoplasmosis. You don’t want it, especially if you’re pregnant or immune-compromised.

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html

[Anonymous]

OP, all these suggestions—motion-activated sprinklers, wolf piss (shudder)—just drive the cats into your neighbors’ yards. They aren’t solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, all these suggestions—motion-activated sprinklers, wolf piss (shudder)—just drive the cats into your neighbors’ yards. They aren’t solutions.

Well...they are for OP depending on how much she cares about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, all these suggestions—motion-activated sprinklers, wolf piss (shudder)—just drive the cats into your neighbors’ yards. They aren’t solutions.

Well...they are for OP depending on how much she cares about that!

That seems to encapsulate the TNR attitude—cats trump people and wildlife and human health concerns.

And, please explain why OP should be dropping $200 on multiple sprinklers and hoses, or spraying her yard and with stinky wolf piss every 10 weeks, or why her neighbors should be doing this, when none of them created the problem.

The woman with the cat colony made this problem and should be paying for her neighbors’ sprinklers.