OK to trap cat and take to shelter?

[Anonymous]

I have a nice backyard and front yard and porch. There is a neighborhood cat that hangs out in my yard and porch about 8-10 hours a day. It is not a stray, it is friendly, I do not feed it and occasionally squirt it with water. It has no collar. No one on my neighborhood list serve has claimed it.

It is not a bad cat, but I am allergic and I don't want to share my yard and porch with a cat all the time. Is it OK to take it to an animal shelter so it doesn't continue to live it my yard. I'm sure it goes somewhere to be fed, but I have even seen it looking in the basement windows after dark.

If I wanted a cat, I would get a cat. It is very friendly, and I would have no problem catching it and putting it in a carrier which I will borrow.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't but just because I know the chances of it being put down would likely be high and I'd honestly not sleep well at night knowing I caused an animal to die because I didn't like it lounging on my porch. And yes, I'm very allergic to cats.

[Anonymous]

Op...do you live in northern VA?

[Anonymous]

If I were you I probably would (I'm a cat lover personally, so I personally wouldn't, but if I were allergic like you are, hell yes). the enjoyment of your own home is pretty important.

Take it to a no-kill shelter so you don't have to worry about that.

[Anonymous]

I hate cats and tried to do that, but in LA you need a permit to trap a cat or else the shelter won't take it.

[Anonymous]

If it is actually (not just theoretically) impacting your enjoyment of your porch, I'd send a last email to the neighborhood listserv indicating that this is a last call -- you intend to take the cat to a particular no-kill (please) shelter on X day if nobody lays claim to it.

[Anonymous]

At the very least trap it to take to the vet to get it spayed or fixed.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried any kind of deterrents besides occasionally spraying it with water? I'd try some deterrent sprays and spray it with water every single time it comes near.

Its possible it is a neighbors cat who is not on the list-serve.

[Anonymous]

Get a dog.

[Anonymous]

Why not post some "found" signs around the neighborhood?

See if you can find the owner.

Also, try spraying water, etc. If it seems healthy and friendly, it probably belongs to someone.

[Anonymous]

I hate cats and don't think you should trap it. Cats climb and go into people's yards, that's just what they do.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would love a "neighborhood cat" to visit my yard that often but I don't have to feed or otherwise care for. They are very good for pest/rodent contriol. I have tons of annoying squirrels and chipmunks and bet a cat would really deter them.

[Anonymous]

If the cat's being fed elsewhere it will be very difficult to trap. Much easier said than done. Plus, you're an evil person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the cat's being fed elsewhere it will be very difficult to trap. Much easier said than done. Plus, you're an evil person.

+ 1

Maybe use this experience to be a nicer person toward an animal that seems to like you.

[Anonymous]

I love cats, but the strays don't help anyone, especially the bird population. If you catch it, take it to a shelter without any guilt. Please don't lie and claim it is a house cat though, because then someone will adopt it, and that really won't work out.