How to dissuade a neighbour's cat from loitering on our property?

I’ve given you a “Great Question” because it was well written. Welcome to Fluther.

That said, mayhaps a bit of foul-smelling substance? Bug spray, bleach, etc. – spray some on the reducers/door jambs. That should deter her from coming back, I expect.

Please do not send poor little Ciara to her death. :(

Have you talked to the neighbor about making her an indoor cat? You can arm yourself with studies about the millions of birds killed each year by domestic cats, articles on shortened life spans of outdoor cats, and increased medical bills of outdoor cats.

Buy an inexpensive safety collar from the local pets store, put a couple jingle bells on it, and slip it on the cat. It won’t eliminate the problem, but it may help cut down on the number of birds killed.

If that fails, contact your local rescue organization and borrow a have-a-heart trap. Trap her and drop her off at the shelter. Since something like 8 million pets are killed in shelters each year, I would recommend leaving an anonymous note on your neighbors door about where the kitty is located. After having to make the trip a few times, they should get the idea.

You really would have no problem killing a cat for… being a cat? I hope that was hyperbole.

Get a dog.

Uh… if you kill that cat, then I hope the karma police get you. It’s not even a stray- it’s your neighbor’s pet. She’s not doing anything wrong. She’s a freaking cat. There’s nothing you can really do other than make the owners responsible. Have you talked to your neighbors at all? You should probably inform them there’s a problem before you execute their pet.

I really think she was being hyperbolic, people

It is absolutely horrible that you are contemplating killing this cat. You do not say whether you have told the neighbor about your issue with the cat.

Tell them now. And tell them how strongly you feel about it, especially if you really would contemplate killing the poor creature who is only doing what cats do-hunting in its territory.

Even if you contemplate the usually estimable’s @syz‘s suggestion of trapping the cat in a humane trap and taking it to a shelter, I do not think you should do that without advance warning to your neighbor that you will do that if they do not keep the cat off your property. Should it come to that, I don’t think the note of the neighbor’s door should be anonymous.

If you are truly concerned about birds, then your care for living things should include the cat as well.

You could try squirting it with a water bottle when it comes over (although this will take several times before the cat stops showing up and it may never deter the cat at all), you could get a dog, as previously suggested. You could also try putting out some cat food and cat toys so the cat has something other than hunting to do when in your backyard! Actually… I’m not a huge cat fan. I’d never want to live with one. But we do have ferril cats at my place that help to keep the mice populations down, and therefore help to save our grain. I like having them around. They are a much appreciated part of our mini-ecosystem! We also have people randomly dump litters of kittens out here in the country. Even though we don’t like cats, we take them into the vet, get them their shots and get their medical conditions treated, then give them to our local humaine society to find a home. Just because you don’t like cats doesn’t mean you need to contemplate killing one… especially when it means a great deal to your neighbor!

Well, from my experience, you may be S.O.L.
There are cats in my neighborhood, and they roam/prowl where they please.

I can’t think of any way to dissuade them either…

That being said, remember that though she may kill the sparrows, she’s probably taking care of rats and other rodents too.

One thought I had was about the cat’s age. How old is she?Is she new to the area?
I ask because if she’s relatively young or new, the sparrows may simply not realize they need to look out for her yet, and I have a feeling they will soon, reducing your numerous ‘chrismas presents’.

Besides that, I have some crazy ideas, but having never owned or been close to a cat, they may not work…

Here is one recommendation for a repellant:

“Coleus canina or the Scaredy Cat plant (also known as the Pee-off plant in Europe) is a hybrid bred in Germany for the particular purpose of deterring one of the domestic gardeners traditional pests – the domestic cat.”

Killing someone’s pet is in no way funny. It’s a cat. It’s being a fuckin’ cat. There are tons of plants you can grow to deter cats. I would give you some other suggestions, but you have seriously pissed me off.

I hope you don’t have any pets.

Yes, killing the cat would be wrong.

Put out a critter trap. The cat will eventually get caught. Let loose on other side of town.

… and deprive a family of their pet! Great idea @ChazMaz !

TY!

Here, in a rural area, there is a six-week waiting list (I am told) to drop off an stray cat at the Animal shelter. It is a terrible problem; people rent for a short time and then move on, without their cat.

Ok, if you do not like the cat trap idea.

How about a sign in the front yard saying no cat loitering.

Try putting old coffee grounds around your yard, that should help deter the cat away. Also if it’s nice weather try leaving soap suds around outside (cats hate them). And talk to the neighbors.

This; or this placed where the cat hides

SuperSoaker

If you live anywhere near a zoo, go an see the man who cleans out the lion cage!.....

Flame-Thrower! lol Sorry I couldn’t resist that one. I actually like cats! Have a good one. Jonathan

@pdworkin & @grisaille – She was not being hyperbolic. I know this person and she is a known cat-killer since she was a child. Someone should report her ISP before she strikes again. Ohhhh, the humanity!!!