Lucas Beaumont
In this big world, there are cat people and there are dog people. People who love dogs don’t often have much use for cats of any description. Cat people often adopt and take in large numbers of cats simply because they want them around. But there are also times when people on both sides of the fence want to get rid of a cat that just seems to keep hanging around.
Independent Cats
If you have a cat or two in the home you have probably already made arrangements for feeding it, giving it a place to sleep and a place to use the litter box. A stray cat is another story. These unwanted visitors may steal food from a family pet, tear up property and leave its messes around the yard. The place to start: find out if the stray cat is a lost pet. You may be able to find the owner by contacting veterinarians and animal control agencies in your county. Flyers in the grocery store can work wonders too.
If there is no owner, see if a neighbor wants to adopt the cat. You may have to resort to getting the cat into a carrying cage and taking it away from your home. But make sure you get that stray cat 15 or 20 miles away. Otherwise it will probably just find its way back to your door.
Ignoring a Cat
If you can’t find a shelter or someone to adopt the cat, you may be able to convince it to go away simply by refusing to feed it. This will often work if you simply make sure there are no other sources of food. When doing this, make sure you close off all the possible openings that might give a stray cat a place to call home. If the cat is uncomfortable enough and hungry enough it may just wander away.
You may also have to use traps or some sort of repellant spray. Be very careful with stray cats however. You never really know how healthy they are. Bites and scratches from stray cats can lead to serious health problems. Some people are able to discourage a stray cat simply by having a dog in the home. Dogs may be able to discourage an unwanted cat, even if the dog is very comfortable with a cat that is the family pet.
Finally, you may have to call a professional. This may be the only way to get rid of an unwanted cat. Whatever the method, remember to be civil to stray cats. Sure, they can be aggressive, even dangerous. But you don’t have to be cruel when trying to get rid of a stray cat. In addition to methods for getting rid of a stray cat, you can prevent a cat from developing any sense of comfort by never feeding it or paying attention to it in the first place. Talk with those who have experience getting rid of a cat or visit with a professional. It may save you a lot of time and money.
