I have a loving, sweet cat. She used to be our "mouser" when we had a barn. Brought her to TN with us and she sleeps in the garage, has a heated bed, etc. Loves to join us on the patio and sometimes I bring her into the laundry room at night when it gets real cold.

I leave the garage door cracked so she can go outside and hunt but now, there are two cats that are making themselves at home and my poor cat is sleeping on the front porch while one stray sleeps in her heated bed! The strays run off when I open the door. There are times I can close the door but others, she's out hunting so I have to leave the door cracked so she can get back in.

A big problem is...these strays are spraying things in the garage. My car for one! The garage is beginning to smell.

We talked about maybe installing a pet door and teaching her how to use it. Help! I'm not a cat person, although I love this cat so I'm at a loss.

I can't make her an indoor cat or Sammie the Parrot would become dinner.

Someone, please give me an answer. I'm desperate! Why do cats "spray?" My cat has been nuetered.

Well first thanks for the confidence you have in me. My experience with cats is somewhat limited. When I lived in Maryland during a particularily cold winter I noticed a golden color cat sitting on my patio trying to stay warm on my way to work one morning. I brought home some food and litter that evening and opened my door a crack, I put the food near the door. The cat came in very slowly and I never moved a muscle, she began to eat and look around the place. Soon she was rubbing up against my leg. I still remained very still and she hopped into my lap and nudged my hand. I pet her and after awhile she left. This same thing happened for about a week and then one night she didn't leave. I shut the door and went to bed and she followed. I would let her out when I went to work and she would be there when I got home. One night I had the door ajar a crack as uaual and there she was only this time she brought 3 friends. It was marvelous, they all followed her around as if she were showing them her home. They all ate and left but she came back to sleep. One night she wasn't there and I never saw her again. There had been a huge trapping of ferals to be spayed and neutered and I guess she was one of the ones they got. Pet door is a bad idea for the obvious reason stated by Brenda. The Humane groups will lend you traps or come and set them for you and take the nuisance cats away. OR what I would do is clorox the garage it'll kill the odor and germs and then hang a room freshner or two. Now keep your cat inside. NO cat needs to roam. As long as she has food and water and a safe, warm place inside and some attention she does not need to be outdoors at all. She may carry on a bit at first but will be just fine. This will end the problem....

Maybe I've missed the message. My cat doesn't need to roam and hunt or the stray doesn't need to...Not sure what you mean. And..catch a stray cat...oh sure. How do I do that? And, this stray cat is so cute. All black with a white mustache. I feel sorry for it because I see it headed for the hill behind our our house, probably it's home, which really isn't a home at all. I'm so torn. I love animals and don't want to see any of them go hungry or suffer.

My cat used to get into "fights" with other cats and I'd have to take her to the vet but she never needed stiches or anything like that. And, ths black and white stray and my cat don't fight. I don't want to take a stray to the humane society because I'm afraid they'll put it down. It can't help it. I'm just so torn because I love animals.

So, I remove my cats food dish after I feed it and even if another cat...a stray comes in, it might want her warm, heated, bed, which I can't blame it. I would too!

It makes me sad. I'm an animal lover and don't want to see any animal, put down or...whatever. And, I don't think my cat does either.

[ February 22, 2005, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Dianne ]

You could probably catch the stray cat in a 'have a heart trap' (about $60) I have one with which I catch raccoons. Animal Control comes and gets them and hauls them to another neighborhood and eventually they come back. Drives me nuts.
I guess if they get the stray cat, he might be history. ??
smile

Cats spray to 'mark' territory. Even girl cats do it sometimes. But not as much. You can catch cats sometimes with the Havahart traps, but then, what to do with them? I know how you feel - I wouldn't want to take them to the shelter to be put down either. Do you know any folks out in the country that could use a cat or two?

Reread my message. I said NO cat thats well fed at home needs to roam and hunt. If you are leaving your garage door open so your own cat can wonder outdoors then don't. Keep it closed and the other wild cats can't get in....If you are worried about these wild ones then put food out for them away from your home because once they've eaten somewhere they will return there again and again. Maybe I misunderstood the problem. Do you or do you not want to end the spraying on your car etc? Thats the only way...by keeping these cats out of there. They spray for territorial reasons. The Humane society can give you traps/cages to catch these cats in and most Humane Societys are "no kill" but you can ask first. Now Dianne if you stop feeding the strays and keep your garage door closed they will eventually leave. If you feel bad for the strays don't do anything and suddenly you'll have alot of cats to feed and keep warm. Look what happened to me, now I foster all kinds of animals. Kiss Sammie for me will ya?

Okay. Got it. I don't want to be the neighborhood cat lady.

Hi,

My understanding from a cat behavior specialist that I've interviewed for several articles is that cats will still spray even after neutered because it's how they mark territory.

Also, they still have the hunting instinct even if they get enough to eat at home. It does not necessarily have to do with hunger. They have that stalk/hunt instinct which is one of their strongest urges according to this specialist.

Cats are social critters and they go visit other kitties. When they get together they have to establish their heirarchy just like people. So basically you've got a kitty party going on!

You can go to the website www.catclinicofroswell.com and see if they have any more info under their FAQ section.

Kelly

You are right. Fixed cats can still spray. Even females - I've seen it. The hunt thing is true, too. Sometimes they do it for fun; the victim gets to "walk" away, sometimes the cats are just too rough -- oh oh. But you have to remember that the ones they catch are the 'slow' ones - not making excuses - that's just the way it is. Nature's been operating that way for waaay longer than humans have been intervening.