Cat Poop Problem

Here is a link to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. They focus on spaying/neutering feral cats that are being fed, which doesn't necessarily help with disease risk. BUT they can probably refer you to an organization that would take the cats in (and not put them to sleep as the humane society will if they are not adopted).

http://www.feralcats.com/

There's this stuff at the vet I used to work at called Feliway that I've heard mostly positive responses with. It's a spray, and it's made to keep cats away from that particular area. We used it for kitties that pee inappropriately in the house. It's inexpensive also.

This might sound a little weird, it works for digging dogs too. Bury a balloon. When they scratch around and the balloon pops... you can bet they will find another favorite spot.

i have had luck with coffee grounds. and you can get them free at starbucks or other coffee places. might check your local drive up stand as well.
~m

Hi, D.,
I don't remember the name of the plant (or plants), but there are one or two out there that repel cats and other animals, so that is something that you could check into. Plus, it is a safer alternative to chemicals for your family.
P.

Most cats do not like citrus, so if you have some lemons, limes, or oranges, try grating/chopping the peels and sprinkling the citrus peels on the lawn. If it's a large area you could try placing the grated peels along the perimeter of the yard to keep them out. Good luck!

Grow mint they don't like it. Get some cheap knock of of Vicks vapor rub & spread it around the perimeter, cats don't like the smell of menthol.
You really should call animal control they have a mobile hospital & will fix or neuter the cats so they won't multiply. That is the least that should be done.

Hi D.,

I feel compelled to respond to your post because I am a veterinarian and therefore a public health officer by default. It drives me crazy when people feed cats but don't properly take care of them. Since they are not neutered, they breed, and create a colony who's home base is next door to you!
This is a huge public health issue, especially since you have a little one at home who wants to play outdoors. Cats and dogs when they are not routinely dewormed and are not on a flea preventative are at a greater risk in harboring diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

Children and the elderly are especially at risk since they have immature/weakened immune systems. Children have the added propensity of contracting diseases/parasites because they put everything in their mouths (like dirt infested with cat poop!) and do not wash their hand frequently enough. They love to use sandboxes as a luxury size litter pan! Yuck!!

According to the CDC, 14% of Americans have parasites contracted from their own pets or feral cats/dogs/wildlife. Parasites can migrate through the skin (barefoot walking, crawling around on the grass is a risk factor), but more frequently is ingested (fecal-oral transmission). Fleas can also be a problem. They are usually species specific, meaning they like to stay on a particular host, but if the host is not available, they will jump on the next warm body that passes by: you!

My recommendation is to speak to your neighbor, maybe she does take good care of them (they are all neutered, and on some sort of parasite prevention program). If she denies these are her cats, I would contact a feral cat trapping organization, and or call the health department.
It's not worth risking your child's health over this.
Off my soap box now.
Good luck.

I'm an animal lover, but if those cats are ferile (unclaimed), they are likely also unvaccinated, unspayed/not-neutered, and not on any worming, flea/tick control medication, etc. They will carry any number of diseases potentially, not to mention the bacteria in their poop being deposited into your yard or the infection that can be transferred by scratches or bites. You should call animal control/humane services because it needs to be addressed. There is a good reason we have animal control and "Cat Ladies", as big as their hearts may be, are being completely irresponsible toward those animals and their neighbors.

We have had luck providing an outdoor C. litter box that we empty out once every couple of weeks...
there are also motion detecting sprinklers, but you will get wet too

If left to their own, these stray cats will breed and create more strays. Get some live traps and take the cats to your local cat rescue where they can be put in a real home.

I would call animal control. Tell them you don't think these cats actually have homes and they are becoming a nusance. They will set traps for them (live traps) and pick them up or capture them some how and take them in. If she does own them she will have to pay a stiff fine to get them back and animal control might require them to be fixed etc.

Have you thought about getting a big dog?

I was going to buy a motion-activated hose-thing: senses movement and shoots water 15 feet, hard.

Ended up, though, that I just started watching the back yard (our problem spot) and (while I was still disabled) hucking rocks near enough to drive the cats off and (when I was no longer disabled) leaping out the back door and chasing the cats ... for a while I did it to all cats entering the yard for any reason, but now I only chase off a cat settling down for a poop. Now there are about seven neighborhood cats that hang out in my yard (we have a cat-feeding neighbor, too), but none of them poop there.

(I also trained my in-house cat to not barf on the carpets, which surprised me, by similar tactic, of keeping an ear out for telltale hacking and moving her to a hard (easy to clean) floor surface to complete the task. Apparently, cats can be trained ;). )

I used to have the same problem. I got something from the pet store that if I remember correctly it was called Not In My Garden. It looks like jello and does have an odor but it worked!!

Hi D....The cats in my neighborhood seemed to LOVE the kids sandbox...someone said I might try aromatic cedar chips. So I spread them around the outside of the sandbox for about 3 to 4 feet and it has worked so far...
also suggested was moth ball flakes sprinkled on the ground around the property edges, 3 to 4 foot wide strip, that might deter them.

Good Luck...
C.

Call the humane society or visit their website. They will give you the real thing. They might also come and visit the site because it is not healthy to have that many cats in your yard or neighborhood unvaccinated. Especially if you have young children, toddlers or if you work in your yard a lot.

Do not grow mint... there are some kinds of mint--like cat mint that they absolutely love unless you have done your homework. Call the humane society. That is what they are there for.

You really should check out a motion sensor sprinkler. They make them to keep the raccoons out of peoples ponds and away from their fish. The cost of sprays really add up, plus take time to apply daily. Cat shelters are full so if the cats do get picked up by Animal Control they likely will be put down or others will be put down to make room for them. As much as I would love to tell you to adapt a dog to keep them away, you will just be swapping little dooky for larger dooky (from a dog who most likely will think all the cat waste is like going to its favorite buffet). Good luck

chips and pine cones also will help

Tell her you are going to contact animal control...then DO it! Most cities have "leash laws", even for cats. They are not to be roaming. What if a bunch of dogs were pooping in your yard? Gross! Either the cat lady needs to claim these cats and take care of them and keep them inside, or have reality check about the strays and have them removed. Sounds harsh, but these cats could be spreading parasites in your yard, where your daughter probably plays, and she could get ingest them and get infected! It's a public health risk and nuisance!
In the end, the only way to keep the cats from pooping in your yard is to get rid of the cats.
Good luck!

We had this same problem with our side yard-right where I parked. First clean up all the poop and wash the area as best you can. Try to keep up on the poop removal daily. Cats like to claim one spot in a neighborhood and all will poop there. Once you break the routine, and if it doesn't smell like poop, they will go elsewhere. Also, cats don't like to step on or in weird stuff, so the jello product and coffee grounds sound like good ideas. I used a spray deterant product, but you have to spray daily, and only works on cement or other hard surfaces. Chasing them away whenever you can is helpful, too. Anyway, it requires a multi-tactic approach. Good luck!