Homekitchenmagazine.com | How To Get Rid of Cats Safely – companions. However, when they start invading your yard and causing problems like digging up your garden, leaving behind messes, or disturbing the birds, you might find yourself in need of ways to keep them away without causing harm.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share various strategies to effectively deter cats from your property.
The existence of stray cats sometimes makes us as residents of the house restless and quite disturbing. Often they defecate in the corner of the house, destroy flower pots, and even steal food by sneaking into the kitchen.
This deception by the cat is done so that we melt and are forced to accept its arrival. Including putting on a pitiful expression with a mournful meowing sound, of course it makes us unable to bear and feel pity.
You don’t need violence to get rid of it, you can use safer methods so that wild cats leave by themselves. Here are tips for what you can do.
Understanding the Behavior of Cats
Cats’ attraction to yards can be attributed to their natural instincts and preferences. Cats are territorial animals, and they seek out spaces that offer security and comfort. This behavior is rooted in their evolution as solitary hunters.
Your yard, with its various hiding spots, potential prey (such as insects or small rodents), and comfortable resting places, becomes an appealing territory for them.
Additionally, the presence of food sources can be a major draw for cats. If your yard attracts birds, rodents, or insects, cats may see it as a prime hunting ground. Their hunting instincts are often triggered by movement, and your yard might be providing ample opportunities for them to engage in this behavior.
The allure of a new environment is also a factor. Cats are naturally curious creatures, and they enjoy exploring unfamiliar territories. Your yard, with its different scents, textures, and objects, presents a stimulating environment for them to investigate.
Furthermore, cats have a keen sense of smell, and they can detect scents left by other animals. If a cat senses the presence of another cat or wildlife in your yard, they might be inclined to investigate and potentially mark their own territory.
Cats are drawn to yards due to their territorial nature, the availability of potential prey, the opportunity for exploration, and the presence of scents left by other animals. Understanding these behaviors is crucial when devising strategies to deter cats from your yard effectively and humanely.
Effective Methods How To Get Rid of Cats Safely
1. Eliminate food sources
The first way How To Get Rid of Cats is eliminating food sources. The main purpose of wild cats coming to our homes is of course looking for food sources to fill their stomachs. The best solution so that they don’t come again is to hide food sources in certain places.
If you still want to give him food, place the cat food outside the house, such as a field or road in front of the house. Don’t forget to close the trash can tightly and don’t leave it open. If not, then the smell of leftover food will lure wild animals such as raccoons and cats to settle in the house.
2. Cover shed areas and other shelters
The next way how to get rid of cats is cover shed areas and other shelters. Feral cats need a warm and safe place to live. This includes areas of the house such as a shed or garage that are often used to sleep or protect their children.
Therefore, always check and clean outdoor areas, such as warehouses, garages, piles and immediately close tightly so that stray cats cannot hide.
3. Use a pungent aroma
Organic waste such as lime peels and lemon peels can also be used to make cats voluntarily run away from home. A cat’s keen sense of smell and taste makes it sensitive to strong odors. We can deter the presence of stray cats with cat repellent.
You can make your own repellent by making a mixture of coffee grounds, orange peels and camphor and then placing them around the yard. If you don’t want to bother, you can buy repellent spray on pet shop or online shop.
4. Hide pet cats during mating season
The next way how to get rid of cats is hide pet cats during mating season. Apart from food, male feral cats often visit homes because they want to channel their lust to our cats. During mating season, they look for a thousand ways to find a female cat and fertilize her.
To avoid that, hide the female cat when mating season arrives indoors. Make sure your tabby doesn’t roam outside.
5. Call the owner
Feral cats don’t always mean they are cats without a master. If a stray cat that often stays in your house has a collar, it is certain that they are a domestic cat. Usually they visit other people’s homes to play or just ask for food.
Therefore, you should immediately contact the owner and clearly explain the damage caused by the cat.
6. Use scare tactics
The next way how to get rid of cats, you can use a trick to scare the cat. Sounds a bit old-fashioned, but this method is powerful enough to evict stray cats from your residence.
The cat’s sense of hearing is quite sensitive and sensitive to ear piercing sounds. Some things you can do are install showerheads with sensors, ultrasonic sirens, and other sounds. Alternatively, you can fence off the house so that stray cats don’t come.
7. Motion-Activated Devices
Utilizing motion-activated devices can startle cats and discourage them from coming back. Motion-activated sprinklers or noise-emitting devices can be placed in areas where cats frequent, creating an unpleasant surprise whenever they approach.
8. Plant Choices
The next way How To Get Rid of Cats is grow certain palnts. Certain plants are known to repel cats due to their strong scents. These include rue, rosemary, and lavender. By strategically planting these around your yard, you can create a natural deterrent.
9. Water Spraying
Cats often dislike water, so a gentle spray from a hose can send them running. This method not only discourages them but also avoids causing harm.
10. Ultrasonic Devices
The next way How To Get Rid of Cats is using ultrasonic devices. Ultrasonic devices emit high-pitched sounds that are uncomfortable for cats but mostly inaudible to humans. Placing these devices in your yard can deter cats while maintaining a quiet environment for you.
11. Maintain a Clean Yard
Cats are less likely to be attracted to your yard if there’s no readily available food or hiding spots. Make sure to clean up any fallen birdseed or food scraps and keep your yard tidy.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Get Rid of Cats
Are there any scents that cats particularly dislike?
Yes, cats tend to dislike citrus scents, coffee grounds, and lavender oil.
Will these methods harm the cats?
No, the methods mentioned focus on deterring cats without causing harm. They are meant to create discomfort, not injury.
How often do I need to refresh the scents or barriers?
Natural scents might fade over time and need refreshing every few days. Physical barriers can stay in place until the cats stop visiting.
Do ultrasonic devices work on all cats?
Ultrasonic devices can be effective on many cats, but individual reactions might vary.
Can I use these methods for stray or feral cats?
Yes, these methods can be used to deter both stray and feral cats from your yard.
Wrap it Up
Cats, while charming companions, can become a source of inconvenience when they invade your yard, causing disruptions like garden digging, messes, and bird disturbances. In response, you don’t need to resort to harm; safer methods can be employed to encourage wild cats to leave willingly.
This comprehensive guide offers a range of effective strategies, ensuring your property remains cat-free without causing undue distress to these feline visitors. Understanding the behavior of cats is pivotal.
These territorial creatures seek secure spaces and are drawn to environments with potential hiding spots and food sources. Their curiosity drives exploration, while their keen sense of smell detects scents left by other animals.
By grasping these behaviors, you can implement humane methods such as scent deterrents, motion-activated devices, and strategic planting. These approaches, combined with the right preventive measures, ensure a harmonious coexistence with our feline neighbors.
That’s how to get rid of stray cats that often come to the house. Even so, you still love them by providing nutritious food where they usually gather. Like in gardens, fields, empty houses, even on the roadside. You can also suppress the feral cat population with sterile surgery or removal of the reproductive organs.
Hope it is useful!