Stray/feral cat
I would like suggestions please :o) There is a stray/feral (has ear tipped) that started sleeping in my garage.......so I have been feeding him and put a heated blanket there for him to sleep on. I have been noticing a horrible smell and discovered that he has been pooping in the wood chips right outside my garage.....not covering it up. I have inside cats and their litter box has never smelled so horrible. I noticed he must have also been going next to my neighbors garage also because they put mothballs there. I of course cleaned it up of course. I really want to continue to give this cat food and shelter but this is horrible. I did put a litter box in my garage today but so far he has not used it. Does anybody know of any other way to get them to stop defacating somewhere? Anything OTC that works?
Crazy Cat Lady 
A temporary solution would be to crumble up some tin foil and place it in and around your wood chips - cats hate those sorts of noises, and he'll avoid that spot. A squirt of lemon juice will have a similar effect, but please do not use cayenne peppers or anything of the sort - although this is a popular suggestion, the cat will be in pain once he/she licks their paws afterward.
Good luck!
Someoneno I def wont use anything to hurt the cat........and where would someone buy dried fox urine? :o) does it smell to humans? I'm guessing no since its dried?
Nope, it doesn't smell. You should be able to pick some up at hardware or gardening stores. It could be expensive, though I don't recall the cost. Also, thanks for helping the cat :)
OMG....some people have WWWAAAYYYY too much time on thier hands. if you dont have something nice to say...........damm
cmj I think we can all surely say --- man is the most dangerous animal of all.
God Bless the compassionate people that love and help animals.
While Woodsman's post seems a bit over the top, there are very real concerns about feral cats and the risks they pose to wildlife and humans. If you intend to "keep" this cat, at a minimum get it spayed or neutered and some basic shots. The fetid smell is likely from the combination of food you gave it and the trash it is foraging and maybe some internal parasites or diseases the cat is likely to have.
Feral cats should be handled very carefully, they will bite and scratch and fight to get away. Use a trap and do not remove it from the trap to bring it to the vet. Cover with a towel or sheet, and wear thick leather gloves while handling the trap.
A life outside for a feral cat can be quite miserable, Personally if the cat cannot be redeemed and made adoptable, I think that you should consider putting it down. That of course will offend lots of you, but it is sensible advice none the less. You are risking your own cats health ans well as a wide variety of other animals by leaving a feral cat outdoors.
Agust Woodsman you need psychological help. You are the only one that made the assumption that 'crazy cat lady' removed moth balls from her neighbors yard. The rest of us sane, normal readers understood that she cleaned up the cat poop and was just looking for advice on how to deal with the cat. You owe 'crazy cat lady' an apology. Your post was uncalled for and was a personal attack against her.
Wow Woodsman....lighten up. We get it, you're an animal hater. Crazy Cat Lady, I have never used it, but people have recommended bitter apple. Just read the label before. I took in a feral a few years ago, kept her separated from my cat until I was able to tame her. We were able to initially get her to the vet and she tested negative for feline leukemia and feline aids. She is great now. Part of the family with the rest of my dogs and other cat. Good luck.
Woodsman is probably still asleep this morning. it must have taken a LOT of energy for that rant last night. Way too much information.
Martha Agust - if the cat has an ear tipped, it has already been spayed or neutered. The life of an outdoor cat, especially one who is being given supplemental food and shelter of a garage, can be wonderful. Not "miserable."
"This is why all TNR'ed cats are now being shot or trapped & drowned everywhere they are found." - Woodsman I don't know where you get your info, Woodsman. Seriously. Did you know that every animal on Earth harbors diseases and parasites that can be spread to other animals of the same species and also other species? Would you suggest we wipe out life on Earth?
Cat Lady (not Crazy in my opinion!) you appear to be doing the right thing - keeping this feral cat separate from your cats. Getting the feral to trust you and accept your food and shelter. Keep it up. Your compassion for another being is IMHO what makes an enlightened human.
If a feral cat is seen with an ear tipped, it not only means it was neutered or spayed -------> it also means it was checked for Feline AIDS and Leukemia. The cat tested NEGATIVE, and was therefore re-released. Of course, it may have contracted these diseases in the interim, Cat Lady, so you'll need to get the cat re-tested if you ever want to introduce him/her to your cats.
Every feral cat is an individual. Every situation is different, and actions should be taken on a case-by-case basis!
We had one feral cat coming around 3 years ago. I fed him, got him to trust me, and really grew to like him. I was soon able to get him into a carrier, and took him immediately to the vet. He tested positive for Feline Leukemia. The vet showed me sores under his fur that I couldn't see -- he was covered in them, and really seemed to be in bad shape. My vet, whose advice and knowledge I trust, was very adamant that this cat should be euthanized. I was devastated. Very, very reluctantly, and feeling beyond guilty that I had gotten this cat to trust me, brought him here to be taken care of... now I felt like his executioner, I agreed after bawling my head off for 10 minutes, that she could euthanize the cat. I knew it was the right decision, but it was awful.
Then another feral cat came around. Same start of the story, but now with a happier ending. Tiki tested negative for any diseases, and is now a wonderful addition to our family! So loving and affectionate, you'd never know he was once a stray.
Crazy Cat Lady, can you tell me the color of the feral cat as I am looking for one. Or can you put up a picture.
4paws A few yrs ago we picked up an abandoned cat at a barn. Sweetest little girl in the world. Makes me sick that someone would ever think about killing her. This is directed at crazed Woodsman.
Verysure 4paws......he is black with yellow eyes, but in the sun he fur seems to have a brown tint around his head neck area.
My cats are inside cats so he is separate.....I did originally write stray/feral because I really don't know. He has never hissed at me...is very calm.His ear is def tipped so I know he is neutered. We really don't have a lot of strays around here at all......years ago we had one or 2 but I even commented how I never see loose cats and then he showed up :o) I was told that there is a person in my neighborhood that traps any loose cats he or she finds and gets them spayed or neutered.....which is great. But this person may also be a 'hoarder' which is not so good :o/
If I get too close he will go under the car. He can come in the garage and go at will......he usually sleeps during the day and sometimes he sits outside in the sun. Has food and water and a heated bed. His life is anything but miserable since he's been by me. As he gets more used to me I certainly will bring him to my vet and am planning on talking to him about this soon to get his opinion on things I can do now. Wormer that can be put in his food, etc. He is actually very mellow and a little hard of hearing so I wonder if he is older?
Verysure, I know of a family that was going to bring 2 kittens to a barn......made me furious....that they think the cats can just be dumped at a barn.....and then they will reproduce. I took the kittens and easily found a home for them-together which was nice. Such ignorance in this world sometimes it makes me sick. I know there are mostly animal lovers on this forum - I'll ignore those that are not LOL (or try to)
He also is now using the litter pan I have in the garage :o)
There is a litter that they sell in Pet Valu. I think that it's called Cat Attract. I'm sure in other places also. It is highly recommended and my client's that use it said that it's a life saver. NOT cheap and it's a small bag. There are some type of pheramones in this litter that actually attract the cat to the litter box. You may want to try this. Also, Tickners and Home Depot sell big bags of deer pellets (I don't exactly know what it's used for) but different rescue groups use this for cat litter boxes. They sell it in a 40 lb bag for $6 or so. Good luck and bless you for taking care of that sweet cat. Most importantly...HE thanks you and will forever.
just the facts maam Hopefully this is an easy fix for you......why not try putting some wood chips in the litter box with the cat litter and see if the cat will start using it. You could mix them in with the litter and spread a few on top to see if the cat gets used to it. I know that my vet (Hackettstown Animal Hospital) plus some of the cat magazines tell you to always mix the old type litter with the new type litter when transitioning from one to another......hope this helps!
Rudy just the facts maam~ the deer pellets.....what is it normally used for? I'll have to check it out.....so far so good.......he is using the reg litter we have out there.
Would a feral so quickly use a litter box? maybe the poor thing did have a home at one time......
that's good he is using the litter pan. Maybe someone was feeding him and stopped. I agree on the kittens. So many people think a cat can survive on it's own, but that is not always true. The stray I am feeding could care less about the birds, just keep that food bowl full please. He needs to be trapped and taken to the vet also. He has been here since June of last yr.
The cat I am looking for is a ear tipped torti, with the most beautiful blue eyes. The other cat chased her off. I just hope she has found someone that will feed her and that she has shelter. She had that here and she was getting friendlier.
Good luck with this one and thanks for caring.
Ferals are not always living miserable lives. Mine come running when they hear my car or my voice and pick their tails up. They have their shots. If they are ill iIput liquid clavamox in their food and I stay to make sure the sick one gets it all. The ones I can touch get frontline and they get drontal in their food as needed. I have kept a detailed journal over the years of which cat had what kittens, where they were found and when, name and address of adopters etc. I have one that showed up full grown over 16 years ago, and he is still hanging in there. He had to spend a month confined and was terrified and miserable. As soon as he was able to be returned his tail went up again and he rubbed against the others. They only want food and shelter and do not bother the birds. It is very funny to watch the jays, cardinals ,catbirds and starlings sit 18 inches over the cats as they eat, and come down to eat as soon as the cats are done. Cats just sit and watch.
Ingrid 'woodsman' you are such an extreme wacko......there are no words! LOL stay in your 'woods' and keep doing your 'research' on your extreme over the top hatred of cats.........do you really think anybody is looking at all of your 'links' and seeing if any of your 'facts' are legit? you REALLY need some help LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Crazy Cat Lady...I don't know what the deer pellets are nomally used for. All I know is that some rescue groups grab up these bags at Tickners or Home Depot because it's cheat litter. Run over to Tickners and ask Kim about it. She sold me a couple of bags for an elderly friend of mine whom I shop for. Sounds as though youre having good luck with your own litter though. Good luck with your tortie. :)
Woodsman...You're "too much". A real "kill-joy".
Woodsman You need to go back on your meds. You are more dangerous then anything. But you wackiness did make me laugh and smile at how totally nutty and over the top your fear and hatred of cats is.
mona woodsman, I read a lot of your sites you put up. Very interesting, but I knew most of it. You forgot to mention all the airborne diseases that you can bring in on your clothes and shoes and pass on to your pet.
I hope you don't live in this area. Do you take your shoes off when you come in your house because they are probably carrying a lot of germs, you may have even walked where a cat walked.
Calico696 
GC woodsman You are a very scarry individual. Is there anything else besides cats , and all the destruction to nature and humanity they are responsible for, we should be concerned about. I really really really hope you dont live near me and I am not aware of it because your mentality really concerns me.
I WILL look at Posters name before reading their comments. I dont think I am going to make anymore comments to woodsman,or even read his or her comments, because this person does not sound mentally stable ,and it sounds like now he or she is going to deliberately take their anger out on the next cat feral or not, they see . I hope Woodsman finds peace and goodwill and tries to think good thoughts.
Can a moderator report these posts & IP addy to the proper authorities?
This poster is clearly a danger to the community.
MikeL Thankfully, he-who-shoots-cats doesn't live near you. Or me. Or anywhere near Hackettstown, apparently.
He's posting on here from about 1000 miles away.
We can all sleep a little easier tonight.
I'd sleep even better if I knew he were posting from a prison cell about 1000 miles away.
cbel Happy girl -
A simple search showed that a certain person was a troll posting all over the internet about shooting cats.
I don't think we need his kind of nonsense here.
We have enough of our own brand. ;-)
Yeah Enough was enough to strange of a poster for me. thanks Rebecka, Crazy Cat Lady( such a sweetheart), Happy girl, 4paws, Ingrid and all other positive people. Have a great day!
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