Help! How Do We Get Rid of It?

Updated on April 22, 2008
A.C. asks from Keller, TX
7 answers

We just moved to this house about 6 or 7 weeks ago. During that time we thought our cat's appetite had shot up because we were feeding her twice as much. Then we started realizing there's no way she could eat that much and not gain a pound. We started keeping an eye out, and last night we found it: some tomcat from the neighborhood is coming into our enclosed backporch through the doggy door and eating the food! My husband scared it off last night, but it sprayed! We have a new house! We don't want it stinking of animal spray! It's a concrete floor and possibly the threshold of the door coming into the "real" house. Does anyone know what we can do to get rid of it? (The cat AND the spray, lol)

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

We don't live near the woods (are there any around here? lol) so I'm not thinking about wildlife. When we bought the house, we had the yard AND house treated with child/pet friendly stuff (can't remember what: it was a professional company) so that we wouldn't have fleas in the grass or any kind of bugs that I wouldn't want around my son. We did that, painted, cleaned, and childproofed it during the week BEFORE we moved in. We have no bugs, thank you. When we first moved here, we left the garage open (because we were carrying boxes and furniture in) and this specific cat just walked right in then, too. He's just a pain. My husband scared him off by hissing at him, lol. I have started locking the 2nd door in at night when we head for bed, but leaving the 1st one open so our cat can sit on a table and have the fresh air (screened in) and feel like she's "outside". It makes her happy. I've borrowed some solumel from a neighbor after reading the suggestion here. It seems to be a great product.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Dallas on

do not use Clorox on concrete!!! Vinegar should do the trick wipe the wall and the base board with it. Normally you would mix half and half but I wouldnt dilute it. Pour some on a rag and wipe it down You may even go as far as to use some touch up paint on the baseboards one it can act as a stain blocker and two prevent the smell, so your cat doesnt become territorial and spray over the tom cats. I would pick up the food not only from the cats but other creepy crawlys such as roaches. I know vinegar isnt really refreshing but it is a neautralizer.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.O.

answers from Dallas on

A.,
I think you must have a very different pet living system than I do, so I'm not sure I can help you but here's what I thought.

Why is the cat door unlocked at night? I would lock it. I wouldn't let my cats go out at night (and if you have a dog, he can hold it 8 hours or more before he must go potty, mine do. But letting a cat out at night with owls, coyotes, other cats that fight on the prowl would scare me... so why not keep yours locked? And why leave food out? My cats eat at their meal time and then it's gone.

Food is too strong a temptation for all kinds of critters..I can't imagine what else is coming onto your porch that you don't know about.....

As far as the floor, thank goodness it's concrete. I don't know if bleach will work, but I'd try it. At least concrete is forgiving and you can try lots of cleansing agents on there to get it out with little rish of damage.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I have dogs and I never leave a food bowl out. They eat at feeding time. If I had a doggy door, I would lock it at night. I take my dogs out around 10 and they are fine until 6am.

We back up to woods (YES, WOODS!!) We are in West Allen/Far North Plano and my home backs up to an 85 acre heavily wooded park. We see BEAUTIFUL wildlife and SCARY wildlife such as routine sightings of bobcats, raccoons, coyotes, copperhead snakes etc and I would not want one of those creeping into my house through a doggy door. That is precisely why we chose NOT to have a doggy door.

Most cats that go outside in my neighborhood, never come home.

As for cleaning, I don't know what is "right" but I am a clorox freak because it kills germs. I use Clorox all the time. I also use Vinegar for some things but I just feel if I want germs to get out, Clorox will do it.

Good luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.M.

answers from Dallas on

A.,

I am not sure how to keep the cat out except to lock the door at night.

As for the mess use Sol-U-Mel and Tough & Tender! This will get rid of the spots! Using bleach will leave unhealthy fumes and residue behind for your pets and your little boy! Take a look at this website. www.tx.parentsunited.com be sure to watch the news clip under environmental wellness. Email me with any questions.

H. M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.O.

answers from Amarillo on

Try using ammonia on the spray. You may have to go over it a few times but it will get rid of it. As for the cat, I don't know what to tell you. Some cats are just dominant like that but I hope you figure it out!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.E.

answers from Dallas on

Yes to the melaleuca products, but there are also specific enzymes for removing animal urine.

When we lived in Dallas, we had raccoons and possums coming up to the front porch to eat.

If the cat is feral you would be doing a great kindness to catch it in a live trap and having it neutered. There are services that have free neuter/release programs available. You would have to look for specific in your area.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Dallas on

I back up uhe the Sol U Mel and Tough N Tender. Awesome cleaners that do not use the harsh chemicals from clorax or ruin your surface. Send me an email if you want to know where and how to get it. Thanks

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions