Dealing with Cats

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Just lie!

Tell the neighbour that you've had a skunk sniffing around your yard, and that you'll be trying to trap it, and that for the cat's own safetly it'd be best to keep them inside untill the skunk situation is resolved. Then on a weekly basis, make sure you offhandedly mention how persistent and clerver thos skunks are....but you're feeling lucky this week, and you're sure it'll all be over soon.

Rather than have an on going story you could tell them you bought a kill trap for the skunk(s), and they better mind their cats, otherwise you can't be held responsible if Fluffy has her neck broke.

[IliketoPuck]

Call the humane society or the spca.

If I ever found out that someone had left a kill trap, or anti freeze or something along those lines out and my cat got into it and died....well I would do everything I could to make your life an absolute living hell. If you left out antifreeze, I would make damn sure the authorities got involved. If it was a kill trap, well then I guess your car tires might get a little low, or maybe some nice acid burns might accidently make it all over your lawn.

Call the spca, then the owners are forced to deal with it in a humane way. Nothing but bad blood comes of you deliberatly killing the cats.

[lucky1]

The SPCA will refer the OP to the city bylaw officers, unless the cats are abandoned, they will have zero interest in coming out to pick up licensed cats.

[Clever_Iggy]

If a tuna-antifreeze casserole is to strong for you, a humane trap and a drive to your nearest Vietnamese restaurant or 30 miles out of the city is the next best action.

I hate cats. Cats that roam outside of their owners' property are no different than vermin and should be treated as much.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Get a dog. Borrow one on occasion from a friend.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Call the humane society or the spca.

If I ever found out that someone had left a kill trap, or anti freeze or something along those lines out and my cat got into it and died....well I would do everything I could to make your life an absolute living hell. If you left out antifreeze, I would make damn sure the authorities got involved. If it was a kill trap, well then I guess your car tires might get a little low, or maybe some nice acid burns might accidently make it all over your lawn.

Call the spca, then the owners are forced to deal with it in a humane way. Nothing but bad blood comes of you deliberatly killing the cats.

Not to get into it with you, but wouldnt the simple solution be to keep them indoors or on a leash in the yard? I would never willfully kill someones pet, (I suggested saying theres a kill trap but you wouldnt even need to put one out) but there are plenty of people who would. I remember reading somewhere that cats kept indoors live much longer healthier lives than outdoor cats.

[Burninator]

So the cat owners let their cats roam free and they are causing problems and the neighbors complain so the cat owners block their cars in? What a bunch of dinks.

Cats or any other animals won't go somewhere they are scared. You don't need to poison them, hurt them or anything like that. They just need to know that they aren't welcome in that particular yard. And if they are too much of a wussy to stand up to a little cat then buy a dog.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

If I ever found out that someone had left a kill trap, or anti freeze or something along those lines out and my cat got into it and died....well I would do everything I could to make your life an absolute living hell. If you left out antifreeze, I would make damn sure the authorities got involved. If it was a kill trap, well then I guess your car tires might get a little low, or maybe some nice acid burns might accidently make it all over your lawn.

If you've been so irresponsible with your cats that your neighbours have to plot ways to take care of them then you get what you deserve. If it's a one time thing, there's no way your neighbours are going to be doing that sort of stuff. But if you don't respect your neighbours' property by taking care of your cats then why should your neighbours respect your property, namely your cats?

[JustAnotherGuy]

We have cats on our property on occasion. I don't mind because they haven't made any messes and I know there are mice around that the cats are keeping under control.

[Flashpoint]

Hard to believe Calgary doesn't have any by-laws about cats wandering into your yard.

I mean, everyone is just supposed to tolerate roaming cats?

[Ducay]

I'd try some one the chemical deterrents listed in this thread. I've heard Cayenne pepper works well, as do a number of other spice/chemical mixes.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

If you've been so irresponsible with your cats that your neighbours have to plot ways to take care of them then you get what you deserve. If it's a one time thing, there's no way your neighbours are going to be doing that sort of stuff. But if you don't respect your neighbours' property by taking care of your cats then why should your neighbours respect your property, namely your cats?

Both of my cats are indoor cats, and are never let outside.

However a neighbour a few hosues down lets their cats outside.

Say people get upset, and decide to leave some antifreeze out for those cats, but instead one of my cats sneaks out of the house somehow and not knowing any better because they have never been outside, end up drinking the antifreeze and dying.

Why should I have any respect for someone who willfully kills another persons pet? If I found out which neighbour left out the antifreeze, I would be out for blood.

I respect my neighbours property, but if I had a cat problem it would be a quick call to the city bylaw officers or the spca, NOT a JACK A$$ move like you are implying.

[lucky1]

lets say your neighbours car developed a leak and some coolant was spilled on the ground (happens all the time, loose hose clamp, leaking rad etc) and your cat 'sneaks' out and partakes in some antifreeze....whose to blame? your neighbour for having a leak, or you for not watching your cat?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Both of my cats are indoor cats, and are never let outside.

However a neighbour a few hosues down lets their cats outside.

Say people get upset, and decide to leave some antifreeze out for those cats, but instead one of my cats sneaks out of the house somehow and not knowing any better because they have never been outside, end up drinking the antifreeze and dying.

Why should I have any respect for someone who willfully kills another persons pet? If I found out which neighbour left out the antifreeze, I would be out for blood.

I respect my neighbours property, but if I had a cat problem it would be a quick call to the city bylaw officers or the spca, NOT a JACK A$$ move like you are implying.

Pretty unlikely scenario you're painting there. If your cat gets out accidentally and dies, it's an accident regardless of how it happens unless your neighbour intentionally and directly kills it. As in shooting it, not by leaving something out that kills the cat.

You'd actually be more responsible for your cat's death than your neighbour in your scenario since you're the one who's responsible for keeping it out of an environment it isn't equipped to handle.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Pretty unlikely scenario you're painting there. If your cat gets out accidentally and dies, it's an accident regardless of how it happens unless your neighbour intentionally and directly kills it. As in shooting it, not by leaving something out that kills the cat.

You'd actually be more responsible for your cat's death than your neighbour in your scenario since you're the one who's responsible for keeping it out of an environment it isn't equipped to handle.

So accidently backing into a little girl on her bike and "accidently" killing her is the same thing right? I'm not really responsible for it because her parents should have kept a closer eye on her and not let her out of their sight.

Your argument is completely false. There is zero difference between deliberately leaving antifreeze outside to kill a cat, and shooting it. The only difference is that by shooting it at least the cat dies instantly and not from an agonizing poisoning.

Give your head a shake, I can't believe you are actually endorsing or supporting the side of killing a cat vs just having a bylaw officer or the spca deal with it.

Wow. Just wow.....

[Jackpot_Smooth]

You can get humane traps from the city animal bylaw place and capture them, bring them back to animal services (in inglewood) and the owners will have to pay a fee to get them back. i think there is some sort of bylaw pertaining to cats being a nuisance to neighbors. not sure if there is a charge for the cage rental though.

http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+H...erest/Cats.htm

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by lucky1

lets say your neighbours car developed a leak and some coolant was spilled on the ground (happens all the time, loose hose clamp, leaking rad etc) and your cat 'sneaks' out and partakes in some antifreeze....whose to blame? your neighbour for having a leak, or you for not watching your cat?

Completely different situation.

If my cat gets out, and drinks antifreeze that was accidently spilt on the ground from a car leak, then that is a tragedy and definitely my fault.

While still my fault if the cat gets out and drinks from a kill trap, the situation is one of pre-meditation, which is what I am talking about.

Make an argument that actually has a basis. I'm not an unreasonable person, I am just shocked that people actually don't mind the idea of killing a cat instead of just letting the spca/bylaw officers deal with it.

[GrrlGoalie33]

As stated in the OP, Animal Services will not do a thing about the cats unless they are brought in - they will not discipline the owners in anyway for having outdoor cats.

These cats are outside all of the time - why anyone would (in the city) want a pet they don't really spend any time with is beyond me.

I'm going to recommend to the neighbors the humane trap thing. The Critter Ridder stuff isn't a bad idea, especially since it's safe for the animal, but it needs to be reapplied after every rainfall. That'd be pretty expensive this time of year.

Any other humane ideas you guys have would be great. Our neighbors are at their wits end, and don't know what to do next.

[IliketoPuck]

My cats hate tinfoil, anything sticky, citrus, and water

Not sure if that helps at all, but whenever our cats do something bad we spray them with a water bottle and it works well.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

So accidently backing into a little girl on her bike and "accidently" killing her is the same thing right?

Yes. Although I'm not sure why you have the quotes.

I'm not really responsible for it because her parents should have kept a closer eye on her and not let her out of their sight.

Do you really think that humans and cats are equivalent?

Your argument is completely false. There is zero difference between deliberately leaving antifreeze outside to kill a cat, and shooting it. The only difference is that by shooting it at least the cat dies instantly and not from an agonizing poisoning.

There's a difference when someone doesn't expect YOUR cat to be the one trespassing.

Give your head a shake, I can't believe you are actually endorsing or supporting the side of killing a cat vs just having a bylaw officer or the spca deal with it.

Wow. Just wow.....

I like to fight my own battles instead of having the nanny state do it for me.