Conference misery::feline

    Are the neighbor cats (and yours) altered?  If not, that will help
    a lot.  Your rug has to be treated to remove the urine smell to
    a level that the cat (as opposed to humans who don't smell as well
    as cats) can't smell it, or it is an invitation to him to reuse the
    rug.  There are a lot of things you can do about bird feeders
    to make them somewhat less of a cat attractant -- move them away from
    overhanging shrubs, groundcover where cats can hide, etc. so that the
    cats can't catch the birds.  However, basically you have placed a 
    "cat magnet" in your yard with the feeders.  Even if you modify
    the feeders, I find it hard to imagine that any cat is going
    to be able to ignore them.  
    

>>    Are the neighbor cats (and yours) altered?  

Ours were done at 6-8 months old...responsible parents that we are :-)
As for their cats, I don't know about all of them, but one just had a
litter of kittens.  Its one of the questions I'm going to ask them.

>>Your rug has to be treated to remove the urine smell to a level that 
>>the cat (as opposed to humans who don't smell as well as cats) can't 
>>smell it, or it is an invitation to him to reuse the rug.  

I have been using (I forget the name) one of the enzyme (?) based products
from the Pet Supply Depot, treating it twice, then with white vinegar to
make sure.  Every time, since this started in the spring.

>> However, basically you have placed a "cat magnet" in your yard with the 
>>feeders.  

We have been putting feeders up for 8 years. (The cats came on the scene
7 months ago).  It is something that my husband enjoys and helps the birds 
thru the winter.  To take them down would be giving in to their cats, asking 
my husband to give up a hobby of his, and the birds would have it that much
harder....why should we?

As I said, I realize both my cats and theirs are doing "what comes naturally".
(One of the neighbors' sons made the comment to me last week that "Yeah, 
they've killed everything in our yard.")

What I need is advise on how to keep them out of my yard.  Do you have any
ideas?  

Thanks,
Sue

    
    You could try talking to a gardening center to find
    a cat repellent and put that in your yard. I don't know 
    how effective, but it is worth a phone call. By law,
    cats should be restrained (by a leash), but most
    places do not enforce that, since cats do not usually
    attack people (unless rabid). You could call your 
    town animal control officer to check your options.
    There are lots of things you can do with your feeder,
    the most important is to make sure no bird feed falls
    on the ground. Since cats can't fly, if there is no
    reason for a bird to sit on the ground, cats can't
    get to birds. Neutering your cats at this point will
    not stop the spraying, but will help with the smell. 
    Both of my tom cats, neutered at 6 months, spray(ed) 
    outdoors to mark the turf (one used to spray the inside 
    too ;-(, didn't smell bad though), since there are a lot 
    of cats in the hood. 
    
    I understand your frustration, but that's what cats are
    like!
    
    
    Eva
    

    Sue,

    What kind of feeders did you put up ?  I ask because we've got them
    in our yard and the neighborhood cats pretty much leave them alone -
    the *squirrel* on the other hand, still tries to get at the food !!
    The kind we got is a multiple perch (metal)/feeding holes on a long 
    cilindrical (sp?) tube and they (3 of them) hang from a tall metal pole -
    you should *see* the birds we get !!!

    as far as keeping the neighborhood cats out of the yard, I wish I could
    help but I haven't found a way (yet) - thankfully, they (the neighbors'
    outdoor cats) spend most of their time in the "way-back" but I have
    had them actually come up onto the back deck too !!  Thankfully, I
    haven't had any negative reaction from my own cats, but I can't for the
    life of me figure out what I have/haven't done for that !

    Are you using Nature's Miracle on the rug ?

    good luck !
    Debbi

    I just saw an ad in the Jackson&Perkins mail order rose
    catalog this morning for a product to repel cats from the garden.
    It was $9-something.  The customer service person didn't know
    what was in it, but it is "supposed to be safe to the cats."
    I'm sure J&P has a phone number you could get from 800 information
    if not, email me and I'll dig it up.  You might sprinkle this
    stuff around near your house and perhaps the cats would stay
    far enough away so that they wouldn't bother your cats.  After
    awhile, you might not have to use it.
    
    I used to have bird feeders, then I changed over to planting
    shrubs, etc. that provide food and shelter.  That attracts
    more diverse types of birds, is easier (no lugging home sacks
    of bird seed) and makes a great yard.  The National Wildlife
    Federation has info on how to do this, plus there are various
    books at your local garden store.
    

    Thank you all...I will phone the animal control officer to check 
    out the rules in town.  
    
    In the spring we put down a pellet-form repellant that we bought at
    Agway.  It was $16 to do just around our foundation.  You need to do 
    it every week & it needs to be laid down in a continuous "stream" not 
    sprinkeled around like grass seed.  So, it got a little expensive & 
    once the stuff got washed into the ground byt the rain, the cats came 
    back.  Another advantage is that, while it's safe for the cats, you 
    can't walk on it.  Now, I don't know about you, but when spring comes
    I don't want to have to worry about running out the back door barefoot.
    I like the grass under my toes!!  :-)
    
    So, it sounds like I've tried everything except talking to the animal
    control officer, which I'll do.  And talk to the neighbors - they 
    probably don't even realize the trouble we're having.
    
    Thanks,
    Sue
                                  

    
    There are a few notes in GARDENING conference that deal
    with cats in yards. Moth balls, dog hair (in nylon), ground
    chili pepper, and other sorts like electric fence. YOu
    may want to check them out.
    
    
    Eva

    Oooh..thank you...I will!!
    
    Sue

    I had a problem with a cat stalking Robins in the spring, I used a
    water pistol a few times and he now goes around our yard.
    It takes a few shots before they get the message but I am convinced it
    works.