feral, stray cats (Aust)

Hiya,

My place has started being frequented by feral/stray cats [and
possums] lately, even to the extent that they are coming in the window/
s that are open for *my* cats. Of course they come to eat my cats
food.

As there are at least four of these cats hanging around the area,
( encouraged my other neighbour who feeds these animals, but doesn't
have any of her own,) I am wondering how I can go about a)
discouraging them from entering my place, or b) basically getting rid
of them.

I have tried closing the windows to prevent access to these animals,
but that doesn't allow my 5 to go in and out, without waking me up
several times a night.

I have thought of a cat flap, but I don't think the landlord would
appreciate it, and it really wouldn't solve anything - just give them
another entry point.

Who would I contact about hiring/getting a cat/possum trap? The local
council, RSPCA or the what ya call ems?...wildlife people...(having a
seniors moment :s)

I am in Tasmania, Australia, so the laws or regulations might be
different.

tia
M&m

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:36:11 +0000, Monique wrote:

> Hiya,
>
> My place has started being frequented by feral/stray cats [and
> possums] lately, even to the extent that they are coming in the window/
> s that are open for *my* cats. Of course they come to eat my cats
> food.
>
> As there are at least four of these cats hanging around the area,
> ( encouraged my other neighbour who feeds these animals, but doesn't
> have any of her own,) I am wondering how I can go about a)
> discouraging them from entering my place, or b) basically getting rid
> of them.
>
> I have tried closing the windows to prevent access to these animals,
> but that doesn't allow my 5 to go in and out, without waking me up
> several times a night.
>
> I have thought of a cat flap, but I don't think the landlord would
> appreciate it, and it really wouldn't solve anything - just give them
> another entry point.
>
> Who would I contact about hiring/getting a cat/possum trap? The local
> council, RSPCA or the what ya call ems?...wildlife people...(having a
> seniors moment :s)
>
> I am in Tasmania, Australia, so the laws or regulations might be
> different.

This is by no means a sure thing, but when I possum-proofed my cat flap,
the ferals, as well as the possums an coons, quit coming in.

I don't know if your possums can leap, and this concept is based on the
fact that American possums and raccoons can't: put the cat flap just above
a shelf that has no part within about a meter of any where a varment can
stand. In your case, I would suggest that you use the window as a place
to put a board of some sort with a cat flap in it and shelves on both
sides - it could be made to fit over the window sill and brace against the
wall on both sides (the landlord should't object to that since it doesn't
require any nail holes or other modification to anything. It would be
necessary to provide the cats with a launch/landing place about a meter
from the edge of the shelf (up, down, diagonal, lateral). All but the
most feeble of my fifteen cats manages mine easily.

--
T.E.D. (tdavis@umr.edu)