Those Cats
Back story: When we first moved into this house, we noticed a couple (i.e. 2) cats who seemed to like our yard. We wondered if they were the previous owner’s and they still liked our yard.
(back back story: the previous owner moved next door. She had owned both houses and sold the bigger of the two)
Four years later, there were far more than 2 cats visiting our yard. Giving birth to litters of kittens occasionally. Using our yard as a litterbox.
(Florida grass is very coarse and though I’ve watched them try to cover up their presents, this grass doesn’t allow it. Which means it looked more like a dog lived here)
(Back-back-back story: I hate cats as a rule. There are a couple I’ve been okay with over the years, but on the whole I find them unpleasant. I need an animal that acts like it needs me. I’m 100% a dog person and always have been. So coming home to the smell of a litterbox is something I resent.)
So after four years, we decided it was time to try something new. We bought solar-powered cat repellers. Not only did they not repel the cats, the beasts were so offended that they peed on them. Both of them.
Time to up the ante: we got a trap. We read all about what you need to do to trap a cat and where to take them.
And over the next few months, we captured cats. As of this moment, we’ve taken 12 cats to Animal Control. It’s set for #13.
The cats who saw this as their property have all been relocated. When we drive home we don’t see the usual 3-4 cats on the street, sidewalk, or under cars. But a house across the street has a mama with two babies, all still the same basic colors as the bulk of the cats we’ve dealt with. We’re still not done.
(a side note: Animal Control is 30 minutes away. Thankfully it was very close to the dance studio, but now that classes are over I can’t combine trips)
It’s worth every single trip. It’s a pain, but we’re seeing more anoles in the yard (I haven’t actually done any research into this, but I’m guessing the cats have been eating them). and that means we should have fewer insects. A bluejay visits our tree. We see birds walk across the wall behind our house, instead of cats on the prowl.
The job isn’t done but I feel like we’ve done a good thing for our neighborhood as well as for ourselves.