I used to have the neighbors gray cat in my yard all the time for the last 2 years but all it bothered was the birds at the feeders so I quit filling them which did sadden me. Whe I put out the special food for the squirrels early this spring I noticed that not only the squirrels were gone but so was the cat, Yes, I did feel bad but I got a house with a privacy fence for a reason, to keep other peoples pets out so I don't feel it was really my fault. A few weeks later I saw a black cat in my back yard all the time and it kept digging up the garden using it as a litter box and even digging up a few plants which were just starting to appear and when more squirrels came I put out more food and both the squirrels and the black cat were gone. Nope, didn't feel bad about that one. The last few days I have had an orange and white cat in the yard and it even dug up a big round bed in the wood chips around the maple tree to lie in. I have chased it out many times. Today I went out to the tree to put in the nasturtiums in the 2 big pots that I have the heliopsis and red zinnias already in. I also had 4 red morning glories planted near the pots to climb the tree. Both big pots had the zinnias dug up and there was cat shi t in them. Also 3 of the 4 morning glories were dug out and dead. Tomorrow I will need to make some more squirrel food just for that cat. I really wish people would keep their cats in the house or on a leash. Here they are not supposed to be running around, just like dogs......Kathy
Do you know whose it is? Can you trap it & release it (far away). What about some moth balls in your garden.
I don't have any pesky cats, but I want to know just what you are feeding those squirrels!!!!
Joanne
I would be devastated if I thought I killed a neighbor's cat, I was freaking out when JB was loose that time and ran after a lady's cat and thank you God it jumped up and got away from him. But I know they can really tear up some beds (had a ton at my old house, woke one morning with my entire little tree with white kittens hanging off of it, it was kinda cute but it was from people who moved off and left these 2 egyptian like cats (wild face on them - real high cheek bones) so I found them all homes. LOL In fact 2 of my single childless friends still have some of them (one just died and she was devastated) I just can't kill things, even the squirrels and the coon I caught in the live trap. I just can't and especially if it was someone's pet, I know if pup got loose and someone poisoned her i'd just never get over it.
-Deloris
Del I know you and others are very much pet lovers and I do like, not love, lol, some pets and I didn't deliberately poison them. The first gray cat has been in the yard for over 2 years and never touched the peanut butter so I didn't think it ever would. I even put it up in the tree so nothing else would get into but cats do climb. This cat now looks like a dirty stray and I even find paw prints all ove the top of my car and I would be pi$$ed if it got into my car because my one window doesn't roll up any more so I don't feel bad about it at all but I am sorry if it does offend some people. Gayle I don't have the time or energy to trap and discard every cat that comes into my yard, lol......Kathy
I'm not telling you what to do or not to do or condemning you for whatever you do, just saying how I can't put poison out, even for the stinking fat *** squirrel or the yucky possum. LOL I just can't intentially kill anything. You do what you need to do, just don't tell me about it though please afterwards, okay. HAHA And yes I had a cat get in my car and spray and I sold it, I could not get that smell out (but now they have Zero Odor and wish I'd had it back then). But it sucks for someone to be so careless and let their cat roam through a city's neighborhood but have to say I've had a few that people left and yep, I did love on them and let them hang around - but my pets I contain but they aren't cats either. My vet told me they carry SO many parasites and if you worm, whatever your cat, if it goes outside and comes back in, its dragging them across all the surfaces of your house so you should vet them and keep them inside because you cannot contain a cat, but I know I couldn't make my dogs stay in 24/7 either if they carry them too. I know lots that don't and I know they say dogs mouths are not clean but I love my kisses from my dogs (not in my mouth but still) so I'll take the germs with those kisses. LOL
This thread is so disturbing to me.
Even if you claim you didn't know the 'food' would kill cats, too, when you used it the first time... you know it now, and you'll still do it?
I'm a nature lover and animal lover, though not the PETA-type. I have a cat, but I keep her indoors. I think it's irresponsible to let one's animals roam at will, and that includes cats. However, I think setting out poison to kill anything that happens upon it is just as irresponsible, IMO.
I lurk here every day, admiring what everyone's doing with their gardens. But I have to admit that they won't all look as pretty to me now. :(
And back to lurkdom, where I'm sure most people will probably wish I'd stayed...
SE Wis Zone 5
Strange as it may seem Martha I agree with you......We took in a stray cat and he was with us for 7 years and became a wonderful pet. His owner had moved away and he returned, and no one knew where she had moved to. We knew his name and how old he was. He lived to be 14 years old. I am also a lover of squirrels. We have several in our yard - all named Squeeky.........A few years ago I saw Squeeky running along the top of the fence with something around her neck and when she got up to the feeder it was a baby squirrel. I also feed crows and magpies.
When I was a young girl I had a Chuihaua that was poisoned by strychnine and it was a terrible death.
Actually, this post kept me awake for a while last night....I usually just ignore disturbing posts, but I just am wondering what this is doing to the wildlife that eats those poisoned squirrels...and how I would feel if someone poisoned my cat....
I really hope you can come up with another solution. Poison is so drastic.
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