| What to do if You Encounter a Stray Cat | | | | food and secure all outside waste containers. |
| 1. Feral Cats | | | | * Seal up any spaces that a feral cat may see as an |
| Do not approach it - though rare, stray and feral cats | | | | attractive 'nesting' area. Some of their favorite places |
| can spread diseases with a simple scratch. If you get | | | | to make homes are underneath decks, sheds, |
| bitten or scratched by a stray or feral cat, try to | | | | foundations, and barns. |
| capture the feline and bring it to the doctor with you | | | | * Contact your local animal control center and have |
| so it can be tested for rabies and you can be tested | | | | them catch and remove the feline from your |
| and immunized for other diseases. | | | | property. |
| If you've already made contact with the cat in | | | | * Purchase a trap and capture the cat yourself. You |
| question and it is friendly - you should take it to the | | | | can then drop it off at a shelter or release it far (at |
| vet to get it tested for disease, immunized, and | | | | least 10 miles) away from your home. Be VERY |
| spayed or neutered (if you plan on making it your | | | | careful when dealing with a trapped feral cat as they |
| own). I would also recommend you visit your local | | | | can be VERY nasty! Please also note that releasing |
| library and pick out a good book on domesticating | | | | the cat elsewhere will not solve the problem - only |
| strays. | | | | move it... |
| 2. Getting Rid of Stray Cats | | | | * Extract the oil of a few dozen of the hottest |
| Garden centers often carry products that claim to | | | | peppers you can find (or use pepper spray), and |
| keep stray cats off of your property. Sprays, | | | | apply it liberally to the areas that the cats frequent |
| predator urine, ultrasonic devices... you can spend | | | | the most. The idea is to let the cats come into |
| your money on these things and give them a try, but | | | | contact with the spicy formula so when they go to |
| the vast majority of people who have used these | | | | groom themselves they will get a spicy surprise. |
| things say that they do not work. Here is a list of | | | | After a few tastes they will begin to stay away - |
| some of the most commonly touted successful | | | | this may need to be repeated often before the |
| methods of ridding your property of stray cats. | | | | results are lasting. |
| * stray cat eating | | | | * Get a dog large enough to discourage any cats |
| This probably goes without saying but I'm going to | | | | from venturing near your property. If you go this |
| say it anyway. Don't feed them. Look around your | | | | route, make sure you get the pooch immunized just |
| neighborhood and make sure none of your neighbors | | | | in case he gets into a fight! |
| are feeding them. Remove any obvious sources of | | | | |