Back in the 2008/2009 housing crisis we had a lot of homes in out development default on their mortgages. Investors bought up a bunch of homes to rent out when thing started to stabilize in 2010/2011.

Fast forward to 2018/2019 a lot of the renters were given the opportunity to either buy the house or move out, most moved out because they could not afford the houses.
Since this has been happening we have seen a number of cats that seam to be strays in the neighborhood. I think they were abandoned by their owners.

As of right now just in my block we are dealing with six to seven cats. They seam to be healthy and I know a few of the neighbors are feeding them.
They like to hang out in our back yard for some reason and have never been a problem, until now. At one point we have even had at least two litters of kittens borne behind our shed.

Several times a day/night two or three of them for some reason like to fight in my back yard. As I am typing this I can hear them and it sounds like a child crying. So far today I have I have interrupted them fighting twice.

From what I have read our animal control from the county won't do anything to catch them and bring them to the animal shelter to see if they can be adopted.

So my question is there anything I can do to deter them from fighting in my back yard.

I will not do anything that may involve hurting them or trying to catch them to relocate them.

Thanks

3 words "Motion Controlled Sprinkler"

I apparenlty have a new neighbor that has a couple cats that they let roam freely.
They take up residence on my back deck. I got my wristrocket and jar of ball bearings
out but decided to not use them. I go to my downstairs window and get into a staring contest
with them. I always win. Live and let live.

Locate the information for the agency in your area who spays/neuters feral cats for re-release for a nominal fee. Trap them in have-a-heart or similar. Drop them off. Pick them up. Turn them loose. Make it a neighborhood project before the few become many.

^^^ This.

Pellet gun, end of problem. Most likely they are strays and you have multiple people in the neighborhood feeding them, because of "poor kitty" mentality. I know this isn't the advice you sought, but my $0.02 anyway.

These animals are among us because we put them here, and in this forum, any advice about shooting or otherwise harming stray animals will not be well-received.

If you want to shoot an animal for having the audacity to be on your back porch, keep it to yourself. For as long as I run this forum, the day will not come when such things will be acceptable here.

quote:

Originally posted by MelissaDallas:
Locate the information for the agency in your area who spays/neuters feral cats for re-release for a nominal fee. Trap them in have-a-heart or similar. Drop them off. Pick them up. Turn them loose. Make it a neighborhood project before the few become many.

I second this. Maybe get a local boy scout troop to help out as part of a community project. Just thinking out loud…

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
Pellet gun, end of problem.

35 years ago maybe I could that. Today I couldn't bring
myself to kill anything. Well, maybe a spider

I didnt know it was bad to feed them as I've done this a lot. Even when I couldnt afford to. We have a large yellow van which comes down from Cincinnati once per month, to pick up the kitties people trap. They fix them and bring them back for release. Most of the ones I see nearby are too afraid of people. Cant get to feed them.

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
Pellet gun, ...

I'd rather the cats in my yard than you as a neighbor.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
I didnt know it was bad to feed them ...

It's not, but, it's best to either catch, neuter, and release, or get 'em to a rescue for a chance to be adopted, if possible.

Our latest new rescue was a feral our favorite cat rescue org saved. He's a neat kitty. He's crashed-out on the ottoman at my feet even as I write this

I had the same problem years ago when a girl across the street moved and abandoned her cats, that turned into a litter….I bought a have a heart live trap from tractor supply. And began trapping. Eventually just putting the trap in the bed of my truck with a piece of carpet next to it.
The carpet scrap is to keep them from freaking out while in a moving truck bed…didn’t want them injuring themselves.

Can of tuna at night, next morning, fresh cat, carpet piece goes over it, trip to the animal control office and just walk it inside covered. After the third one the lady finally began asking questions and I told her-I’m doing what your guys won’t do. Fixing my problem.

Took 8 or 9 months to get them all but my flea infestation ended after I removed them all.

Besides that, you can put in a motion detector sprinkler or plant catnip a few houses away

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
3 words "Motion Controlled Sprinkler"

This is a good idea. I wonder if they will freeze in winter?

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
3 words "Motion Controlled Sprinkler"

This is a good idea. I wonder if they will freeze in winter?

OP lives in Florida so only experiences "winter" not actual winter. Might have to unhook it a handful of days each "winter".

Thank you everyone for the ideas.

Until just recently having the cats spend time in my back yard was not a big deal. My wife and I would look on our Ring camera to see who was visiting and at what time. They would just come through our back yard, stop for a while then move on. One cat was having a good time rolling around in the grass on it's back then got up and walked away.

Tonight we caught one of their fights on the camera and when I went outside where they were fighting there was fur on the ground.
The other night we could hear them fighting on the side of the house at around 1am and it was loud.

This is all just recently so I am thinking a new cat must have moved into the area and they are now fighting over territory. Up till now all the cats seamed to get along with no fighting.



I like the motion activated sprinkler idea.

the good thing about outdoor cats is that you don't generally have mouse or related problems


I have 3, all indoor only cats,

wife has adopted 2 more, outside only,
one belongs, in spirit, to the nearest neighbor, and the other to the neighbor thru the woods behind us,

but both hang out at our house since the owners neglect them (fools,,,, but that is another thread) and the wife realized that and does not,

granted as male cats, they roam so we are not the only neighbor that feeds them,


both get a bit pissy with each other, (the dreaded cat-a-walling at whatever time of day) and sometimes a cat brawl,

we also now have a possum and trash panda that visit the food bowls to finish up what the cats do not eat, however, they are good Kitteh's most of the time (one is kinda stupid,,, but likeable) and cause no trouble, so we live and let live


and feed them, and have a nice warm kitty house on the front porch for each if they need it,

Not an immediate solution, but this sounds like a situation where TNR could help the situation. At least it would cut down on the population growth. Their might be a local group that specializes in it.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
These animals are among us because we put them here, and in this forum, any advice about shooting or otherwise harming stray animals will not be well-received.

If you want to shoot an animal for having the audacity to be on your back porch, keep it to yourself. For as long as I run this forum, the day will not come when such things will be acceptable here.

Thank you!!!

@71-Truck - TNR. I have a friend that does it. It has basically become her calling in life. She has saved 100's of cats. She is north of Orlando, so maybe a little too far away if you are south of WDW, but there are many groups in the area. Find one and they will come and TNR all of them that they can catch. That will prevent the population issue from getting too out of hand.

As for the fighting, my guess is that you a correct, a new one has come into the group and they are fighting over territory. Or, the males that previously got along have matured, and are now fighting for mates and / or space. And that would bring things back to TNR and making for a peaceful environment again.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
the good thing about outdoor cats is that you don't generally have mouse or related problems

Or quail.

Someone needs to invent an economical water squirt gun that targets critters like the turret in COD video games. My backyard has so many rabbit turds it looks like a truckload of Cocoa Puffs turned over. The mulch bed in front is frequently raked over the walk from cats using it. I’m not out to hurt either but I can certainly understand wanting a harmless deterrent. Neither care about a dog.