Conference misery::feline_v1

    I would contact my local humane society and get their recommendation.
    In most towns, there are no laws governing cats since they are
    predatory animals, but this kitty really sounds like a public menace!
    You might find that the humane society has the ear of the local
    animal control officer, who might ordinarily turn down your appeal
    for help.  I know from experience that the Nashua Humane Society
    has appealed to one of Nashua's ACO's when I had a similar problem.
    Perhaps if the ACO called on the cat's owners, they might do something
    to control the animal better.
    
    As for deterents, I have several stray cats that live/feed in my
    yard.  As I also have birds and opposums that I feed, I found the
    best way to keep the cats from eating the birds is to feed the
    cats as well.  Unless this is an unusually aggressive cat, he may
    find it easier to have lunch from a bowl of cat food than from the
    local bird crop.  By the way, it's most amusing to watch my stray
    cats and the local blue jays sitting on my deck having lunch together.
    
    By the way, these cats are more wild than stray.  They were born
    in the wild and have never been touched by a human, so their hunting
    instincts are quite strong.  They still prefer cat food to anything
    they have to work for!
    
    Mary
    

    Eating what it kills is entirely natural.  As a general rule, normal
    cats kill things and often eat them.
    
    There is a spray-on substance made by Harz called "Outdoor No."
    I haven't tried it, but the weaker version, "Indoor No," effectively
    repelled my cats from the furniture I didn't want scratched.  You
    could try buying a can of Outdoor No and spraying it around your
    porch.  That way, the cat might still hunt and kill in your yard,
    but at least it wouldn't leave the leftovers on your doorstep.
                                        
    To drive it away entirely will take more work.  I would recommend
    lying in wait, then jumping out with a quart or so of lukewarm water
    which you throw over it.  You could drive the lesson home with
    something harmless but disagreeablly smelly in it.  Any suggestions 
    for the added ingredient?
    
    Earl Wajenberg

    One precaution: what ever you do, be careful around the cat.  A
    cat which kills and eats wild things is exposed to lots of
    germs.  If you get scratched or bitten by the cat, you may
    be exposed to whatever it has.
    
    You might try further discussion with the owner, telling him/her
    the above information (in terms of the cat's welfare, otherwise
    the owner is likely to tell you to just stay away from the cat).
    If this does not work, bring the remains over (wrapped - don't
    touch them) and give them personally to the cat owner.
    
    If you can approach the cat without danger of being clawed, you
    might try catching it, putting it in a heavy weight box, and
    taking it down to your local animal control person.  The animal
    control people might be reluctant to come and fetch it themselves,
    but what can they do if you bring it over and leave it there?  You
    can tell them who it belongs to, and let them take it from there.
    But this is a rather drastic solution, since (1)you've gotta be
    very careful, (2)the animal control people might not call the owner
    and the cat might get destroyed before the owners realize that it's
    been taken there and (3) it won't improve your neighborhood relations.
    
    The idea in .2 about the "Outdoor No" might work - you've got to
    remember to reapply the stuff after each rain.
    
    This sort of thing angers me - why should you have to go all this
    trouble/expense when the owner should have the responsibility to
    deal with the problem?  I love cats, but there are some cat owners
    out there who should be brought down to the animal control officer
    and put into cages!
    
    --Louise

    Thank you everyone!  I'll look for the "outdoor no" and give that
    a try - if that fails I'll try the water method.  I really like
    cats as a rule (can't own one because of husband's allergies), but
    this guy is a terror!
    
    Also, please forgive the fact that I wrote my note in all caps the
    last time.  I have been informed that writing in all caps on notes
    is considered shouting.  My apologies.
    
    Regards.
    
    
    Ann

    News Flash!  Last night's prize was a bird...all I found were the
    beak, legs, and feathers...thankfully, they were left at the kill
    sight and not on my porch.  Thank you "Outdoor No"!  I'll try it
    along my fence-line next.
    
    Thanks for the info folks!
    
    Ann

    The most effective way of stopping a cat kill in your garden, is 
    to get a cat yourself.  If you have a cat, then that cat will probably
    defend its territory, and keep the other cat out, and even if it
    doesn't, the other cat will not leave it's kill on another cat's
    territory.  (Of course you'll have to teach your cat not to kill
    things!)
    
    Cat's can be great fun, and a dog and a cat can be great friends.
    
    I've go two cats and a dog, and they have great fun playing together. 

    Jessica
           

    There is a discussion in ASKNET that describes several other animal
    repellants. (Part of it digressed into suggestions about shooting
    the animal which should be shipped.)

        See also RAINBW::ASKENET, topic 302.

    Ann,
    
    I hate to tell you this, but this cat may be an admirer of yours.
    When a cat likes you, and/or wants to do something *nice* for you,
    he will either present his entire kill to you (I guess after ringing
    your doorbell), or tastefully leave "parts" on your doorstep.  I
    had a cat who used to do this all the time.  After weeks of throwing
    the remains away, and swearing about it, I caught the cat as he
    was leaving me one of his trophies.  I told him  he was a good boy,
    and thanks, but no thanks.  Would you believe it never happened
    again??
    
    It's an idea!
    
    (:^) )
    
    Jane