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I'm probably just venting here, but thought I'd put it out there in case someone has ideas I haven't thought of yet.
One of my neighbors let's his cat(s) roam freely. Even though that's against the law, I mostly don't care. The only problem is he walks all over my wife's and my cars. It leaves cute little paw-prints, that are not that cute after you spend a couple hours on a Sunday to wash and detail your car.
I've thought about talking to them, they are nice enough, but really don't seem to care, and the guy (nice guy) is extremely introverted, so I'm sure it would make him uncomfortable, and possibly go badly.
The same cat will let itself into our garage if we leave the door open for even a minute.
None of this really bothers me that much, but all things considered, I'd rather not have anyone else's pets in my yard or walking on our clean cars. Any thoughts that don't involve a discussion with the neighbor? I am not open to calling animal control, or the police, or anything like that. It's an annoyance, but not big enough to stir the pot.
Like I said, I realize I'm closed to most of the reasonable options, so I'm probably just venting. Feel free to offer suggestions, to discuss, or whatever. :-)
Even if you did want to stir the pot by calling the city or county, they have more important things to look after and I wouldn't expect much. A dangerous dog, a quasi-domesticated bobcat, or a venomous snake (!) would be a different story.
You might get a better reaction from the owner if several neighbors, not just yourself, expressed concern. Or an HOA, if there is one. You could mention that leaving a cat outdoors is tantamount to feeding coyotes. That happened once next door, and the outdoor cat became an indoor cat after. If the owner is really concerned about his animal, he should take that into consideration.
Mothballs around the car, maybe near the windshield wipers.
If you see the cat on your car, press your panic button on the remote from inside the house. After a few days of having the horn going off every time they set foot on the car, they will find another place to hangout.
If you don't have that feature on your car, you can buy a compressed air horn made for scaring bears, etc. that produces the same result. A plus is that it may startle the clueless next door neighbor into finding their own remedy.
Can't seem to find it now, but I've seen a battery powered mat that sends a mild shock though any animal that walks across it. Might buy a couple to toss on your car in strategic locations. They are mighty inviting to lay on, until they aren't.
Fifty years ago almost all pet cats were allowed to go outdoors. Only the fancy purebreds were kept inside. The outdoor cats explored nearby unless they were not neutered whereupon they periodically sought relief. The neutered ones always came home for feeding. They were relatively street and environmentally savvy.
By keeping them always indoors we have created new behaviors. They are desperate to kill little birds or big insects. Once having escaped they are overly fascinated with their outside vacation. If they wander they have no outside smarts. Coyotes interest them. Car movement is tuned out. But food? Sometimes they take a long time to backtrack to their homes. Sorry for those who are now exposed to the consequences of our relationships with these fascinating creatures.
Domesticated cats that roam outdoors are an invasive species. They decimate the local wildlife population and have caused the extinctions of 63 species to date worldwide.
Would you feel the same way if it was a dog roaming around?
Mothballs around the car, maybe near the windshield wipers.
If you see the cat on your car, press your panic button on the remote from inside the house. After a few days of having the horn going off every time they set foot on the car, they will find another place to hangout.
If you don't have that feature on your car, you can buy a compressed air horn made for scaring bears, etc. that produces the same result. A plus is that it may startle the clueless next door neighbor into finding their own remedy.
Can't seem to find it now, but I've seen a battery powered mat that sends a mild shock though any animal that walks across it. Might buy a couple to toss on your car in strategic locations. They are mighty inviting to lay on, until they aren't.
Thanks, these are the types of suggestions I was looking for:
Mothball concerns (NRaleighMom) are noted, I won't go that route
Electric Shock Pad: Not my style
Security Alarm: I will try that. I bet it takes no more than 2-3 times. (Now all I have to do is catch him in the act.)
I love all creatures, just prefer that owners are more responsible with their pets.
Domesticated cats that roam outdoors are an invasive species. They decimate the local wildlife population and have caused the extinctions of 63 species to date worldwide.
Would you feel the same way if it was a dog roaming around?
Humans are an invasive species as well. But we have learned to adjust. Sort of.
My neighbors cats roam around too. I grew up with outdoor cats and now I see how annoying it is when you have a dog LOL. Also, the neighbor's cat goes in my garage and I draw the line there. Now their new dog gets out all the time and jumps our fence ...somehow, this has become our problem....or they want it to be - but I draw the line there. THey were talking today about replacing the fence....it's our fence - I ain't replacing it. THey can if they want. It's probably a $5k job minimum to do their side.
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