Conference misery::feline_v1

    My mother had much of the same problem with a tom cat 
    visiting around her front door, and other places around
    the house. What she did to discourage him was to place
    mothballs around the house. Maybe you could do something
    similar - maybe putting a few in a cloth bag and leaving near
    your door. - Or perhaps outside the front door where he is
    entering the building. 
    
    As for getting rid of the existing odor - what the people at
    the cat shelter use is Massengil- poured full strength over the
    areas which have been sprayed. I know one person who was transporting 
    a cat in the front seat of her car, and the cat urinated in the
    carrier and onto the car seat.  She said she has used that remedy
    before and it worked (of course her seats were vinyl - not velour). 
    I've been VERY lucky and haven't had that problem with tom cats - yet.
    
    Good luck.          
    Pat
    
    

    Thanks for the ideas.
    
    Did the mothballs REALLY work?  Over the weekend I tried putting
    rosemary oil all over the step and it didn't do a lick of good.
    Rosemary oil (which I had on hand) is a pungent as VICKS.  Mr. Stud
    is immune.  I will try moth balls, though.  I'm sure they are stronger.
    
    That's very amusing about the Massengill.  Massengill is none other
    than vinegar and water, which makes sense.  I'll try vinegar tonight.
    
    I have gotten a few other suggestions, for instance:
    
    - tying a note to his collar suggesting to his owner that if he is
      not kept out of the hallways, he may come home a eunuch!! 
    
    - filling a squirt gun with ammonia and water and ambushing him, 
      Rambo-style. 
    
    - hanging stockings full of dog-hair on the other side of the door
      (accompanied by recorded dog barks).
    
                                                                        
    I'll try anything!!

    Don't use ammonia in the squirt gun, because of possible damage
    to his eyes.  Have you asked around the building to see if anyone
    knows who owns him?  perhaps they could be talked into having him
    neutered, which would be better for him as well.  Rubbing alcohol
    neutralizes the smell of urine, and is cheap.
    

    After I posted reply .3, it occured to me that removing his smell
    will probably cause him to want to reapply the smell, if he is marking
    his territory.  A big male puss used to mark my door like this about
    twice a year, for maybe a week or two.  Perhaps you can just avoid
    breathing when you go in and out the door for awhile :-).  I seem to
    recall that mothballs can be dangerous to cats.  Still think the
    best bet is to try and locate the owner and try some diplomacy about
    neutering.

    My experience with having a little chat with the owners about neutering
    is a futile effort.  People who are irresponsible about neutering
    are rarely responsive to this approach.  It's as if I would have
    had better luck talking to the cat himself!  Besides, that might
    not stop him, anyhow.  I'd try the Rambo approach, but with only
    water.  Ammonia can really hurt him.  Straight water is most
    objectionable to the cat, anyhow.  The mothballs-in-a-bag method
    might work and would probably be safe to leave around, as they wouldn't
    be able to get directly to the mothballs themselves.
    
    That smell is second only to a skunk.....UGHHHHHHH!!!!
    
    Mary

    Thanks everyone...!   I did notice that whenever I wash away his
    deposits, he redeposits.  The last time he sprayed, I did nothing
    (couldn't find the "exact location" anyway) and I notice he hasn't
    been around.  Maybe MAYBE he is finished marking his territory,
    as suggested.  
    
    So, I'll keep my squirt gun loaded with plain water.  I guess 
    I'll put the rubber bands away.  (ONLY KIDDING!!!!!)
    
    Cheers,
    
    Diane
    
    
    
      

    I was somewhat successful discouraging a spraying tomcat by putting
    aluminum foil over the area where he sprayed.  It appears that they
    don't like the sound of urine hitting foil.  Might be worth a try? 

    I agree that the owner probably wouldn't be cooperative re. neutering
    him or that would already have been done.  Amonia might be good
    to wash areas with (straight amonia) but not to spray the poor cat
    with (not his fault his owner isn't recognizing his obligations
    to owning a pet).
    
    Moth balls certainly work re. skunks.  Had one living under shed
    attached to house until I put some moth balls down into the hole
    that went under the shed and outside around that entrance.  Haven't
    seen (nor smelled) that critter since.
    
    Good luck!
    Pat