Ridding my property of "outdoor" cats.

[George Liquor]

This morning I woke up to a faint cat piss/spray smell lingering in certain spots in my house. Every night there is two to three neighborhood cats tripping my Ring cameras and I think they have taken to pissing on the outside of my house and the smell is lingering through.

Obviously this is a god awful smell and the main reason that I will never own another cat. But is there any way I can run them off my property without dispatching someone's pet? I'd prefer to do this in a way that doesn't harm the poor animals because it's not their fault the owners are irresponsible. But I can barely stand to be in my home right now.

Any ideas? My mom said to spray the perimeter of my house with a vinegar/water mixture, but that smells awful too, isn't seemingly working and something you have to do every night with the spring rain.

[booger]

Worked with a guy probably 15-20 years ago who had a homemade spring door live trap based off a rectangular type live trap you can buy. The weight of the animal would trip the door to close the trap and of course you place the food on the base plate where they would sit and eat the food. He made this trap from left over large pieces of pvc pipe. Large sized inside diameter probably 4-5”, he never gave the exact dimensions. He capped off one end and drilled holes into various locations along the tube/pipe. He also attached about 20’ of dog chain. The cheap stuff you get for a tie out for small dogs. Used this for opossum for which he hated and had a problem with on his acreage on the edge of town. Also the town he lived right on the outskirts of, their city government didn’t take care of or have a program/policy to deal with nuisance feral animals and people dropped off lots of cats on the gravel road close to his acreage. And down the gravel road from his place there was a small bridge. And a decent sized creek. The drill holes now start to make sense in your mind. He would notice when the trap was closed and go put it in the back of the truck, drive to the creek, light a smoke and toss the trap in the creek. The holes let the water in the trap and allowed it to sink. He would burn another heater and pull the trap back up and dump out the corpse. Then kick it off in the ditch for the scavengers to do their job and dispose of. I asked him what if it was someone’s cat or even their poor little yorkie? He looked at me in a CP Powers Boothe GIF like stare and said oops while shrugging his shoulders

[KCBlitz]

Originally Posted by booger

Worked with a guy probably 15-20 years ago who had a homemade spring door live trap based off a rectangular type live trap you can buy. The weight of the animal would trip the door to close the trap and of course you place the food on the base plate where they would sit and eat the food. He made this trap from left over large pieces of pvc pipe. Large sized inside diameter probably 4-5”, he never gave the exact dimensions. He capped off one end and drilled holes into various locations along the tube/pipe. He also attached about 20’ of dog chain. The cheap stuff you get for a tie out for small dogs. Used this for opossum for which he hated and had a problem with on his acreage on the edge of town. Also the town he lived right on the outskirts of, their city government didn’t take care of or have a program/policy to deal with nuisance feral animals and people dropped off lots of cats on the gravel road close to his acreage. And down the gravel road from his place there was a small bridge. And a decent sized creek. The drill holes now start to make sense in your mind. He would notice when the trap was closed and go put it in the back of the truck, drive to the creek, light a smoke and toss the trap in the creek. The holes let the water in the trap and allowed it to sink. He would burn another heater and pull the trap back up and dump out the corpse. Then kick it off in the ditch for the scavengers to do their job and dispose of. I asked him what if it was someone’s cat or even their poor little yorkie? He looked at me in a CP Powers Boothe GIF like stare and said oops while shrugging his shoulders

‘corpse’? Is this contraption for human?

[notorious]

After the cat problem is taken care of I fully expect a “Ridding my property of mice” thread to pop up.

[George Liquor]

Originally Posted by notorious

After the cat problem is taken care of I fully expect a “Ridding my property of mice” thread to pop up.

I've had 1 mouse. Got his little ass last fall. I dont think these cats are doing anything to prevent a mouse problem.

I was kind of wondering if the smell could be from mice pissing in and around my walls, but I couldn't find any activity or signs that might lead to them being in my house.

[booger]

Originally Posted by KCBlitz

‘corpse’? Is this contraption for human?

No. Probably need steel field tile for that. Culvert. Upgrade to heavy duty log chains. Same blueprint just scale it up to size. Might work for a hobbit depending on size of its feet

[T-post Tom]

Keeping cats off your property can be a bit of a challenge since they are naturally curious animals. But there are a few strategies (ChatGPT) you can try to deter them from coming around. If none of these work, it's time to move:

1. Use Repellents
Commercial Cat Repellents: You can buy sprays or granules designed specifically to deter cats. These often contain scents that cats find unpleasant, like citronella, lavender, or eucalyptus.

Homemade Solutions: You can make your own repellents using ingredients like citrus peels (cats dislike the smell of citrus), coffee grounds, or vinegar. Place these in areas where the cats are coming onto your property.

Essential Oils: Cats generally dislike strong smells like citronella, lavender, or peppermint. Mix a few drops of essential oils with water and spray it around the areas where you want to keep cats away.

2. Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Cats hate getting wet, so installing motion-activated sprinklers can be a very effective way to keep them at bay. When they cross the sensor, they’ll get a quick blast of water, which will teach them to avoid the area.

3. Create Uncomfortable Ground Surfaces
Cats prefer soft, loose dirt or grass for digging or lying down. You can cover areas you want to protect with things they find unpleasant, such as:

Chicken wire or thorny bushes: These create a surface that’s difficult for cats to walk on or dig into.

Pinecones, stones, or mulch: Scatter these in your garden beds to make it uncomfortable for cats to walk around.

4. Fence Off Your Property
You could install a cat-proof fence with a curved or angled top to prevent them from climbing over it. Some people also add a "cat-proof" barrier at the top of their existing fences.

5. Provide Distractions
Sometimes, cats are just looking for a good spot to lounge. If you have outdoor furniture or a deck, you can discourage them by covering these areas with plastic sheeting or using scat mats (these have small spikes that aren’t harmful but are uncomfortable).

6. Ultrasonic Devices
There are ultrasonic repellents that emit a high-pitched sound, which is inaudible to humans but bothersome to cats. These devices can be placed in your yard to deter them from coming near.

7. Block Access Points
If cats are sneaking into your property through small gaps in fences, gates, or under bushes, try to seal off these access points. Use hardware cloth or other materials to block potential entryways.

8. Neighborhood Cooperation
If you're in a neighborhood with multiple people experiencing the same issue, it might be worth talking to your neighbors to see if they have any solutions or if they can keep their cats indoors more often.