Tag Archives: feral cat removal

Get Rid of Feral Cats

feral cat removal

My owner just has to understand she needs to get rid of feral cats.  If I’m going to be labeled an “outside cat,” then I gotta be safe.  I gotta make sure my food bowl belongs just to me, not to any old cat that wanders by.  I need to stay healthy, which means these mangy feral cats shouldn’t infect me with their nasty little mites and ticks and other tiny creepy crawlies.  And, my bed.  Oh, my bed is mine.  But half the time I have to chase one of these wild cats away from my own bed, and I’ve gotten scratched and bit more than once.  Imagine, my precious, silky fur and skin marred by a wild cat’s scratch.  Yep, my owner has got to get rid of feral cats.

The day my owner decided enough was enough and made me an “outdoor cat” came as a complete shock to me.  So what if I scratched up her new leather couch?  Isn’t that why she bought it, so I could keep my claws nice and sharp?  And, I really did think the litter box was optional.  Sometimes that corner on the carpet, right by the fireplace, was the most convenient and comfortable place to relieve myself.  She let me get away with all of that for a while, and then HE came.  Some complete stranger that made her get all lovey-dovey.  He would be fine over at our house for a while, until he started sneezing and wheezing and sniffling and chuffing.  What was his problem, anyway?

One day, after an innocent little “marking” incident in her closet, my owner just set me out.  I guess she just can’t take it.  She set me up pretty nicely, though.  As an outdoor cat, I get a little more freedom, she got me a nice cozy and secure bed, and she makes sure to set food out for me twice a day.  I miss curling up on her slippers, or the warmth of the bed, or jumping up on the kitchen counters.  But, the outside life isn’t so bad.  That is, except for the neighbors.  We have just got to figure out a way to get rid of feral cats so I can enjoy my territory without fear of finding one of them curled up in my bed or chomping on my food.

I thought I could get rid of feral cats on my own.  I marked the perimeter of my territory, and spent several nights fighting with them to scare them off.  But, there are a couple of them that keep showing up.  It’s annoying to fight them off of my food dish or out of my sleeping box, but I’m afraid I’m going to end up really sick or injured one of these days.

It’s definitely time my owner get Allstate Animal Control to get rid of feral cats.  Then, I can go back to destroying, I mean enjoying, my owner’s home all by myself.

Feral Cat Control

feral cat removal

There’s a reason I wear thick jeans when I go to work as a feral cat control officer.  Some people prefer loose-fitting khakis with lots of pockets, or shorts when the weather gets really hot.  I didn’t normally discuss the fashion choices available to feral cat control officers, until the incident.  Now, I bring it up with all the new guys, just so they know what could happen to them.

The day of the incident was an extremely hot day, but our washer had broken down and my shorts and khakis were both in the wash, so I was stuck with wearing thick jeans with the brown animal control shirt my company has issued to us.  Grumbling, I headed into the office, grabbed a cold soda out of the machine and picked up my assignments for the day.  It was going to be a pretty easy morning, it looked like.  I had a nice, air-conditioned drive ahead of me out to a more remote area where someone wanted feral cat control to trap a stray cat that had been spotted in the neighborhood.

So, I stopped grumbling, hopped in the truck and headed out.  It was an hour and a half drive, and I was relaxed and in a good mood when I finally pulled up to the client’s house.  He explained that the reason he’d called for feral cat control is because a white cat had been roaming the neighborhood, getting into people’s garages, attacking people’s pets, and using his own backyard as its personal toilet.  He’d had enough and wanted feral cat control to get rid of the cat.

I went about setting up a trap in an area the client pointed out to me.  Apparently the cat preferred living in and around a wood pile in his backyard.  Fortunately, as soon as I started setting up the trap, I spotted the cat watching me.  Slowly, I reached my gloved hand out, making soft mewling sounds, and the cat immediately approached me, sniffing my hand.  Quickly, I snapped it up and held it in the crook of my arm to secure it while I grabbed a collar and leash that I carry with me.  I was surprised at how easily I got the collar and leash on it, and even more surprised that the cat started to purr and exposed its neck so I could pet it.  It was very sweet, and I wondered if it truly was a feral cat, or if it had been a domestic cat dumped out here.

I didn’t have to wonder long, though.  Suddenly, without any warning, the cat leaped up onto my shoulder, and then clawed its way down my back.  I twisted around to let it jump safely to the ground, holding tightly onto the leash so I could regain control of this wild cat.  It went up on its hind legs, hissing and spitting and clawing at the leash holding it captive.  But, when it finally realized it wasn’t going anywhere, it went on the offensive.  It ran around my leg three times, shortening its leash as it did so, and then grabbed my denim-clad leg, clawing its way up, up, up until its claws sunk into my thigh far too close to my unmentionables.  It hung there, tenacious, as I gasped and grappled with this wild animal.  Finally, I was able to tear it off my leg and get it into the trap and then into the truck.  I had to sit in the truck for about ten minutes until I regained enough composure to let the client know I had gotten rid of the wild cat.

And, that is why thick jeans are now an official part of my feral cat control uniform.  I will never wear anything else.

Feral Cat Removal

feral cat removal

I am a self-proclaimed cat lover, even though some people really don’t understand my efforts at feral cat removal.  I don’t actually have any pets of my own since my last cat passed away a year ago, but I love animals of all kinds, especially cats.  It’s why I have undertaken feral cat removal.

Let’s be clear, feral cats are not strays.  They are not sweet domestic cats that have lost their way.  They are wild animals, wild cats, that have learned to take advantage of living near humans.  But, they need to be taken care of just like any other wild animal.

So, I set up a feeding station on my large property.  I live in a normal rural neighborhood, in the outskirts of a large city, and we have a lot of feral cats in the area.  I just flip a big plastic bin over on its side and set some water and cat food dishes inside.  Then, I set up a small camera to record the cats that come for shelter and food.  I keep track of the cats and which times they come to feed.  That’s when we set up feral cat traps.

The feral cats are removed from off of my property and taken to the local shelter, where they receive medical treatment and are spayed or neutered.  The people at the shelter know me and help me in my feral cat removal efforts.  After they determine the cats are indeed wild, and do not belong to anyone, they get fixed.  The shelter in my area allows them to be released afterwards, which means I get to enjoy watching them.  But, I know they won’t be breeding and creating an even bigger feral cat problem in my neighborhood.

I keep the camera out by the feeding station, and keep track of the animals that come to feed.  I’ve named all of the feral cats I’ve had removed and fixed, and they often bring other cats to the feeding station.  Those feral cats get removed, receive medical treatment, and are also fixed.

It’s to be expected that other wild animals are also attracted to the feeding station.  With my camera, I’ve caught skunks, raccoons and opossums who took advantage of my hospitality.  I have traps set for those wild animals, too.

My goal is not to attract more wildlife to my neighborhood, but to remove the feral cats long enough to be treated correctly.  Not all of my neighbors are happy with my efforts, but I’m hoping they’ll all notice a serious decline in the feral cat population around here.  Then, maybe they’ll understand that feral cat removal can be handled in a humane and successful way.

How To Get Rid Of Feral Cats

“John, we’ve got to get someone who knows how to get rid of feral cats out here as soon as possible if we’re going to have any chance of selling the house.”

“I just wish your Dad never fed them.  They just keep coming back and breeding right there on the property.”

“I know, I know.  I keep telling him, but he swears they’re all his pets.”

“His pets?  But there’s got to be at least twenty of them.  The neighbors say they’re out there yowling day and night and one of them clawed its way into their crawlspace the other night.  They kind of hinted that we pay for the damage.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, John.  It was hard enough to get him to agree to move out of the house and into the condo we got him in the senior community close by.  It’s just killing me to see him going through this, especially so soon after Mom passed away.”

“But, he seems like he’s enjoying himself there.  There’s so much less for him to have to take care of.  He can just be himself, work on his birdhouses, and not have to worry about mowing or weeding or anything else.  But, hon, I know this is hard on you, too.  You’ve been a champion handling everything.”

“And you’ve been wonderful and so supportive.  It’s just so hard to be packing up his house, all the memories, all the stuff.  And, then to have to deal with this, these feral cats.  I keep going out there and trying to scare them off myself.  I’d hoped that they’d just go away since I convinced Dad to stop feeding them.  It’s just no good.  Lisa suggested we try playing really loud music to try to get them to leave, but you know how my sister is.  Can you imagine what Dad’s neighbors would say then?”

“Yes, well, Lisa’s not here, is she?  Probably a good thing.”

“Ha!  I’ll say!  Well, I think we can probably have the house packed up in another few days, and then I’ll clean it.  I’ll feel better showing the house when it’s cleaned and . . . “

“And if we just got rid of those feral cats?”

“Exactly.  I haven’t been out to the shed yet, but I’m afraid they may have really done some damage in there, or to the shed itself.  There’s an awful smell coming from there.”

“Tell you what, hon.  You’ve got enough on your mind.  Let me worry about the shed.  In fact, let me make the phone call and get a professional out here who knows how to get rid of feral cats.”

“That would be such a help!  Then, I can call the realtor and we can put the house on the  market.  It’s hard enough, I can’t wait for this all to be over.”

“I know, but you’ve been handling it great.  We’ll do it together.  And, it helps to know you’re doing the best for your Dad, right?”

“Thanks for that.  Yes, he even said he’s got a date tonight.  Can you believe that?  Already!”

“Really?  Does she like cats?”

Shooting Feral Cats

The recent controversy over shooting feral cats in Utah has recently attracted national attention.  Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield sponsored a bill which has now been dubbed the “feral cat bill”.  Rep. Oda has said the bill is intended to allow farmers and ranchers to protect their crops or livestock by controlling feral animal populations, without fear of being charged with animal cruelty.  The controversy reached a boiling point when Oda received several death threats, which are now being investigated by federal authorities.

Utah is just the latest of states to face controversy surrounding the control of feral cat populations.  Wisconsin firefighter Mark Smith also received death threats in 2005 over a plan he proposed to legalize wild cat hunting in his state.  Several states already allow wild cats to be shot.

Opponents of plans and bills such as these cite many reasons they should be defeated.  Some fear it will result in domestic animals being shot, such as owned-cats that are allowed to roam free, or lost animals.  Some think it provides perverse people a loophole – they can shoot a neighbor’s cat or dog and just say “I thought it was feral.”  Still others feel there are many alternatives to reducing the feral cat population, such as TNR, or trap-neuter-release, which other states have put into place.

The controversy over feral cats hits close to home for many people.  One person will actively feed the wild cats in the area and even provide shelter for them, while their neighbor will do anything to get rid of feral cats.  One farmer will encourage feral cats on his property to keep the rodent population down, while the farmer down the road wants to shoot feral cats on his property.

Whether you support or oppose laws or plans like these, no one can dispute there is a serious feral cat problem.  It is estimated there are tens of millions of feral cats in the United States.  They are one of the common carriers of the rabies virus and they are susceptible to parasites such as ticks, fleas, mites and worms.  They can infest your home or business with their parasites, attack pets and livestock, defecate into children’s play areas, and cause property damage.  Feral cats can decimate local populations of native species of birds or other wild life, and compete with other native predators for food.

If you have problems with feral cats in and around your property, the best course of action is to hire a professional nuisance wildlife removal company.  The wildlife control technician knows the local laws governing removal of feral cats, is trained at handling them safely, and can advise you on ways to discourage feral cats from returning to your property.

Feral Cat Removal

My husband and I love to travel, and one thing we’ve noticed is there is a huge need for feral cat removal all around the world.

We’re not your standard American tourists, who stick to bus tours, museums, gift shops and well-known monuments.  We love to walk off the beaten track, strolling into neighborhoods and going where the locals like to hang out.  In our opinion, it’s the best way to see the world, see how someone else lives.

And, we have seen how feral cats are a big problem wherever you live.  Some places have worse problems than others.  Maui has a large feral cat population.  They love to hang out in alleys behind restaurants, munching on free food and the rodents that come to rummage in the trash.  In Tunisia, it’s crazy.  Wild cats roam around the streets, nosing through garbage, tracking disease and fleas and ticks wherever they go.  It seems odd that no one seems to think of feral cat removal in some places.

After a long trip, we love coming home.  Our bed just seems softer, our home more cozy.  We unpack our suitcases, exhausted and ready for a long night’s rest.  Then, in the middle of the night, we’re awakened by a nerve-jarring “rawrrrr-rawrrrrr-hisss.”  Apparently, we have a feral cat problem right in our own neighborhood, and they’re out there fighting and hissing and tracking disease and all over our own subdivision.   We love our neighbors, but can they be serious, setting out food and shelter for the wild cats roaming our streets?  We love cats as much as they do, but if you don’t provide food and shelter, the wild ones will find it somewhere else!

What’s worse, they love to leave their garage door open just a little, just to give the wild cats a warm place to sleep and have their litters.  When the kittens are born, they’re just allowed to wander in and out of their garage.  The cats make a toilet out of our garden, and spray our walls to mark their territory.

We desperately wish our neighbors would at least have the courtesy to trap and neuter or spay the wild cats they feed and house.  That way, the problem would be reduced.  We are seriously considering calling a feral cat removal service ourselves, asking them to be discreet in their efforts at trapping.  We’d hate ending up in a fight with our neighbors over cats that don’t even belong to us, but we’ve seen how bad the issue can be in cities all over the world.  Please don’t let it happen here!

Get Rid of Feral Cats

get rid of feral cats
Getting rid of a feral cat is not something usually attempted by a homeowner, but one couple was at the end of their rope.

            Like many pet owners, they had a doggie door, to allow their dog access in and out of the home to “take care of its business” without waking them up late at night or first thing every morning.  It was extremely frustrating, then, when they were awakened in the middle of the night by crashes coming from the kitchen.  The husband grabbed up a golf club and the wife followed him as he ran out of their bedroom to see what was going on in their home.  Grabbing for the light switch, they saw what had caused the ruckus:  a feral cat.

            They’d seen this cat roaming around the neighborhood.  None of their neighbors claimed it was theirs, and no one seemed to be leaving food out for it.  Someone had seen it rooting around in their garbage one night, but it was quickly chased off.  Now, though, it had found access to their house, and was stealing the dog’s food and making a horrific mess.

            They had successfully chased it out of the house that night and thought it was a one-time adventure.  Unfortunately, the cat had other ideas.  For three nights in a row, it came in and made a nuisance of itself.  It would meow, hiss at the dog, help itself to food, knock over dishes, and spraying the walls.  Night after night, they would chase it away.  And day after day, they would clean up after it.  The wife tried not to think too much about where that cat had been, how filthy it must be, and what kind of parasites it was bringing into the house.  Each day, they would come up with another way to scare it off, but nothing worked.  They just had to get rid of this feral cat. 

            On the third night, they trapped it, but it escaped.  A new trap was purchased, and the husband devised a makeshift “catcher.”  He got a long tube and pushed a loop of extension cord through it.  That fourth night, it was fairly quiet, but they were sure the cat was still in the kitchen by the morning.  Sure enough, a low growl and a hiss came from behind the refrigerator. 

            Grabbing up the stiff cardboard tube and extension cord, the husband left a loop of it hanging out of one end and held the other end tight.  The extra cord just snaked behind him.  First, he had to get the cat to come out from behind the refrigerator, so he banged one side until the cat streaked out the other side, leaping onto the counter.  After several careful approaches, cutting off all escape routes, and ignoring the broken dishes, he was finally able to get rid of the feral cat by throwing the looped extension cord around its neck, pulling it just tight enough to keep the cat from escaping, and carrying it across the room to deposit the cat in a trap. 

            Now, all they had to do was find out what the laws said they could do with this wild creature.  Until then, the cat sat there in their kitchen, snug in its wire cage and far away from the dog food or kitchen appliances.