Cats taking up residency under my shed.

[dawn27]

For the life of me I will never understand why some people have to take their love for every GD stray cats in the neighborhood and force their neighbors to suffer because they want to feed them. Than make excuses for why I shouldn't trap them since there's been other wild animals living under MY shed for years now. (according to her a fox, ground hog, opossum) Ok, sure I get that and I never knew of any of that IF that is true except an opossum. Which we trapped and took to the woods and released but that does not give them the right to feed these strays under the fence and in my yard. It's really starting to piss me off. Don't get me wrong I dont hate cats, I just am sick of cleaning up after them and not being able to enjoy a trip outside without smelling cat piss. I can't even keep my windows open on a hot day due to the smell.

So now after having two polite conversations about the situation with her the same women who I"ve known for 25 yrs I'm the bad guy. Because the mamma cat got caught in one of my traps. Which was the whole point. She knocked on the door told me she was trapped and says "now what". She goes around back onto my property and released her and is now even more pissed off at me. Seriously ?? She says that she's keeping the mom, she even named her and she will let her pick her up so hello? If she want the damn cat than why not take her and keep her in the house with the rest of her dumpster cats. The kittens will have no other choice than to come out. But if she keeps feeding them under my fence and right on the other side on her side they will have no reason to leave, hell they've got it made. (Breakfast, lunch and diner) served to them. They don't even have to leave their den and that dont' fly with me. Hell they probably would have left already if not for her feeding them.

And get this, she heard gun shots a few nights ago and mom cat didn't show up for a few days after and she actually accused us of shooting the mother. WOW ! Than during a phone conversation she said "I can't stop you from filling in the hole, hell suffocate them if you want." Damn, we want the cats gone not dead. She asked "What is your damn hurry?" Honestly I didn't need to answer but she has just entered my yard and passed me on her way out and didn't speak to me so I answered and I let her have it.....

My response was blunt and to the point and I really don't regret it:

"If you would quit feeding them and putting food under the F** fence they would have a reason to come out. But you keep doing it. Plus Scott is on vacation starting Sunday and we need time to figure out how to block the hole."

So yeah . . this is how my week has gone. So what the heck am I suppose to do. We want to prevent all animals from living under our shed.

[dawn27]

And my night just got even more crazy !

The police just showed up at my door because the women called saying that she is concerned for the well fair of the cats. She told them I was going to filling the hole with stone with the cats under the shed . . .

I am now beyond pissed !! Now this crazy women has accused me for the third time of trying to kill these cats. My god has she lost her mind, I've never nor would I ever harm an animal.

[Kerryn915]

Get the cats out and place them in a box and leave them on her door step to take them in. Then fill in the hole under the shed... How many cats? If they stay too long they will all multiply and you will have a serious problem.

[matese]

lol I have the same issue,cats under my deck, but these are now feral cats, cats that ppl left when they moved. What I cannot understand is WHY do ppl let their cats out of the house? My concern is for the safety of my dog.My now passed girl would bark if she smelled or saw one under the deck, she would not go after it, this gave me time to chase the cat out from under the deck and it would jump over the fence. Now with city boy Cody he would go after it,more so now since one time at my vet they have cats roaming the waiting room when I was leaving from our visit one cat sneaked up behind Cody and smacked the heck out of Cody's butt lol, now Cody wants to battle any cat he sees. I use the water hose to get them out, and then BLAST them with water until they jump over the fence. Cats not liking water I pray they will remember this if they decide to come back.I also closed off the underside of my deck with chicken wire. It's almost invisible,just hope cats won't dig a hole under the wire lol. That is one crazy lady to accuse you of trying to kill cats that she has no right to be feeding them on YOUR PROPERTY. I would turn on the water hose to get them out from under your shed and soaked them good when they come out, this may scare them from coming back and it won't hurt them, just wet them lol. Good luck

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by Kerryn915

Get the cats out and place them in a box and leave them on her door step to take them in. Then fill in the hole under the shed... How many cats? If they stay too long they will all multiply and you will have a serious problem.

Exactly !! Which is why we need to do something about it before it gets to that point. There are 4 right now. Two young ones including mom. She looks to be under a year and 2 5-6 week old kittens.

Originally Posted by matese

lol I have the same issue,cats under my deck, but these are now feral cats, cats that ppl left when they moved. What I cannot understand is WHY do ppl let their cats out of the house? My concern is for the safety of my dog.My now passed girl would bark if she smelled or saw one under the deck, she would not go after it, this gave me time to chase the cat out from under the deck and it would jump over the fence. Now with city boy Cody he would go after it,more so now since one time at my vet they have cats roaming the waiting room when I was leaving from our visit one cat sneaked up behind Cody and smacked the heck out of Cody's butt lol, now Cody wants to battle any cat he sees. I use the water hose to get them out, and then BLAST them with water until they jump over the fence. Cats not liking water I pray they will remember this if they decide to come back.I also closed off the underside of my deck with chicken wire. It's almost invisible,just hope cats won't dig a hole under the wire lol. That is one crazy lady to accuse you of trying to kill cats that she has no right to be feeding them on YOUR PROPERTY. I would turn on the water hose to get them out from under your shed and soaked them good when they come out, this may scare them from coming back and it won't hurt them, just wet them lol. Good luck

We blocked off our deck two yrs ago because the cats were living under there. There was lattice but it was a wide grid so we replaced it with one with smaller holes.

My pups are the same way, Quincy is the worst. He just turned 14 on the 6th and he goes nuts trying to get to them. The shed boarders the dog run and he comes in all out of breath and exhausted from the heat and overworked from barking and pacing. I refuse to let my pups health be effected by this innocence.

Action rid my home of stray cats is in effect starting today. They have officially gotten their eviction notice to vacate the premises. If she wants them she better find a way to get them. I have a plan and I am hoping that it works. If I trap the female again, I'll call her to come get her or maybe I won't after what she did. Never would I have imagine that this women who I've now for 25 yrs and had been cordial with and a friendly relationship would call the police on me over some stupid ass cats. ON my own property !!

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh gosh. I truly felt a stab in my heart when you called them "GD stray cats" and then in your later post "stupid ass cats" . I realize they're annoying you, but I wish you didn't feel so angry toward them....they are innocent creatures in this situation.

If I were you, I'd be searching for a TNR group in your area and see if they can help.

And please take a breath when you're getting super pissed off about this, and remind yourself that these poor stray animals are just trying to survive here, and they are innocent. They don't/can't know that they're an "annoyance". Be patient and find a solution that works for them and for you.

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[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Oh gosh. I truly felt a stab in my heart when you called them "GD stray cats" and then in your later post "stupid ass cats" . I realize they're annoying you, but I wish you didn't feel so angry toward them....they are innocent creatures in this situation.

If I were you, I'd be searching for a TNR group in your area and see if they can help.

And please take a breath when you're getting super pissed off about this, and remind yourself that these poor stray animals are just trying to survive here, and they are innocent. They don't/can't know that they're an "annoyance". Be patient and find a solution that works for them and for you.

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Excellent advice!

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Oh gosh. I truly felt a stab in my heart when you called them "GD stray cats" and then in your later post "stupid ass cats" . I realize they're annoying you, but I wish you didn't feel so angry toward them....they are innocent creatures in this situation.

If I were you, I'd be searching for a TNR group in your area and see if they can help.

And please take a breath when you're getting super pissed off about this, and remind yourself that these poor stray animals are just trying to survive here, and they are innocent. They don't/can't know that they're an "annoyance". Be patient and find a solution that works for them and for you.

Save

I realize that it is really more the situation that angers me. I was taking my frustrations out on the cats when I should be angered by the careless idiots who dump them in our neighborhood or the people who get them, dont' have them fixed and than let them our to reproduce and use our yards as their personal litter box. So yeah, it's not really the cats. Plus, I've never shown any anger toward them or my neighbor when speaking with my neighbor. I politely asked her to stop putting food under out fence and to move the food away from out property line/fence. I offered to trap them on her side where they are getting in at so that she can take them, that was until. . . . she called the police on me and accused me of trying to harm them. That just made me angry and the more I thought about it I was more upset that she would think that.

I help with rescues and my sister and I have FB page to re home pets. For her to assume that I or my husband would harm them is just crazy!!

There are rescues that I can reach out to if I need to.

[lillymae]

I would say that you deff need to reach out to a rescue NOW & not after the mother gets pregnant again AND her kittens will be pregnant before you know it. There are already WAY too many homeless cats in the world & lord knows we don't need more. I am a cat LOVER & have 3 now & my issue with the strays is that they can & often do pass their deadly diseases to peoples pet cats, even those that don't go outside. Intact stray cats are NOT a wait situation , EVER !
It sounds like this woman may have over her legal limit living in her house & IF this is the case you can call animal control on her. Also the next time she asks you "what's your hurry " you need to tell her that you don't want those kittens getting pregnant & bringing more homeless cats into your neighborhood, PISSING in your yard & having more babies under YOUR shed. Tell her that if she wants the cats then keep them in HER yard or you WILL trap them & take them to the shelter. UGH ! I have been through this as well & it took over a year to catch them all & take them to a rescue. There were a couple that were older that my aunt was feeding outside that started the whole thing & those I allowed her to keep but it took a few months to catch them so I could get them altered & vaccinated. By the time we had caught the last kitten I believe we had ended up with 87 cats that we had to find rescues to take, all because she would not catch the 2 or 3 original cats & get them altered. I wish you much luck.

[yorkiefan_]

I hate stray cats. I had one that I kicked the living hell out of when it tried to attack Cookie a few months ago, thankfully I haven't seen that one since. It's really aggressive and I would have killed it if it didn't run away. A few years ago a cat belonging to neighbor down the block decided to have her babies under my house. Minnie killed all five of the kittens and laid them in a line. I always go and save the cat whenever Cookie has one cornered, but I can't lie, I wasn't mad at Minnie at all (though I would have obviously stopped her from killing the kittens had I seen it in time).

[ladyjane]

OK...I have to get off this thread...but feel I must say something before I do unsubscribe and hopefully not see any of this again.

PLEASE everyone stop and think about what you are saying. Most animals when they are strays are afraid of humans and, yes, they can get aggressive. Remember that their teeth and claws are all they have to protect themselves. It is not THEIR fault they are strays...humans have failed them. Do the kindest thing you can and call animal control or a rescue. Beating them and/or killing them is NOT the answer. I feel sick right now.

[yorkiefan_]

That cat was a real problem trying to start fights for months and is twice the size of Cookie. I'm going to protect her from an aggressive animal that would badly hurt her in a fight. Animal Control in my town does absolutely nothing about stray cats.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

OK...I have to get off this thread...but feel I must say something before I do unsubscribe and hopefully not see any of this again.

PLEASE everyone stop and think about what you are saying. Most animals when they are strays are afraid of humans and, yes, they can get aggressive. Remember that their teeth and claws are all they have to protect themselves. It is not THEIR fault they are strays...humans have failed them. Do the kindest thing you can and call animal control or a rescue. Beating them and/or killing them is NOT the answer. I feel sick right now.

Yes, we have utterly failed them, without a doubt. Anytime we humans start getting all species-centric and start viewing non-domestic animals as "nuisances" to our well ordered lives, it means nothing but trouble for those poor stray animals .

For anyone who feels a safety issue when outside from the potential of strays, it's so simple to just buy citronella spray from Amazon and carry it with you whenever you're out with a pet.

We need to stop viewing feral animals as mere "annoyances" and start seeing them as STRAY PETS, even if they were born feral -- bc at the end of the day, that's what they really are - they're animals who should've been pets but were failed by us at some point.

Save

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

OK...I have to get off this thread...but feel I must say something before I do unsubscribe and hopefully not see any of this again.

PLEASE everyone stop and think about what you are saying. Most animals when they are strays are afraid of humans and, yes, they can get aggressive. Remember that their teeth and claws are all they have to protect themselves. It is not THEIR fault they are strays...humans have failed them. Do the kindest thing you can and call animal control or a rescue. Beating them and/or killing them is NOT the answer. I feel sick right now.

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Yes, we have utterly failed them, without a doubt. Anytime we humans start getting all species-centric and start viewing non-domestic animals as "nuisances" to our well ordered lives, it means nothing but trouble for those poor stray animals .

For anyone who feels a safety issue when outside from the potential of strays, it's so simple to just buy citronella spray from Amazon and carry it with you whenever you're out with a pet.

We need to stop viewing feral animals as mere "annoyances" and start seeing them as STRAY PETS, even if they were born feral -- bc at the end of the day, that's what they really are - they're animals who should've been pets but were failed by us at some point.

Save

I agree And if they are annoying to you then do rite by them & trap or catch them & find rescues to take them but DON'T just complain about them & do nothing humane to resolve the situation or you are no better then the person/people that created the problem in the first place.