..and then the Cat Turned Around and Grinned at Me
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
April 3, 2013 5:50pm CST
I have a problem with wild cats where I live. And before you ask, the Property Manager is refusing to do anything and we do not have a Society that would come and catch them. They are wild and not easily scared. And yes, I need sliding screens which would cost an arm and a leg as it would be three walls that would need to be screened.
They come into my dining room and sleep on the table or chairs and definitely try to get in when it is raining. They will come through the kitchen window looking for food and trust me, these are well fed cats because a man down the road leaves out food daily for them. So why don't they go to him if they get peckish instead of successfully attempting home invasions with me? Go to who feeds you. They are fat well fed cats who are making my life hell.
No food can be left out as they will find a way in and take it. Even hot food.
So just a while ago, I saw two of them making for the dining room (probably for a love session because that too has happened) to come in through the grills and I grabbed a tea towel and when they got close I leapt into action.
I rushed into the dining room and made loud shooshing noises and flapped the tea towel against the grills to scare them away. And this is where I went wrong.
Because with the flapping of the tea towel I hit my right hand on the grill and now the knuckles of two fingers hurt like heck anbd brought tears to my eyes and made me yell out loud. Were they frightened? No.
They walked away. Yes, walked not running as they are not scared of diddly squat. And when I yelled out in pain, one of them actually turned around and grinned at me. Seriously, he really looked like he was grinning at me.
Should I plan my revenge?
Because with the flapping of the tea towel I hit my right hand on the grill and now the knuckles of two fingers hurt like heck anbd brought tears to my eyes and made me yell out loud. Were they frightened? No.
They walked away. Yes, walked not running as they are not scared of diddly squat. And when I yelled out in pain, one of them actually turned around and grinned at me. Seriously, he really looked like he was grinning at me.
Should I plan my revenge?4 people like this
16 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
3 Apr 13
No cat rescues there, eh? Seems to me a lot of feral cats on an island would play havoc with the birds, and although I'm a cat lover, that's a problem that needs to be dealt with. People deal with it here with catch, spay/neuter and release programs.
Now planeturine.com has some lovely electric devices that cats don't like that would help keep them away (sonic things).
But as far as revenge, plan it on the people who brought cats there and released them. it's their fault...
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
Of course it is people's fault. They moved away and did not take their cats so the babies are wild. We do have a programme that would neuter cats and some people come from the US yearly to do this in our area. But it is to catch them. I am going to look at the device as I need something. I am scared of the diseases they may carry too. Birds we have plenty of but of course they do keep the rat population down in the bush so some good is being done. Dawn - I did not mean revenge like killing them or something. Would never do that
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Apr 13
Oh, I know you wouldn't.... And yes, catching them is the hard part. I saw a chart somewhere about how many cats an unneutered pair and their offspring could produce in 5 years. it was mind boggling.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
This is the saddest part as the kittens are wild too as they do not have them anywhere near my home.\You just see them preganant and then then again after they have had them
1 person likes this
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
Can you give them away? Maybe someone will take them form you.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
Sweetie - I am not going to run down wild cats at my age with two open heart surgeries behind me
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
we need to get someone over there to help you then. Ill be over there soon. Have the coffee ready for us.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
Oh man, maybe give them a can of tuna. They go wild over that. Then maybe you can catch them. Good luck.
I hope you figure something out. I would probably freak out if I walked into a room to find a cat I did not own sleeping on my table.
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
16 Apr 13
It seems that they do not care at all. They are cat who are looking for home I guess but, they choose the wrong house. Ha ha 
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
I am so sorry that you have a cat issue and your not alone I also have issues with cats they know I have many male cats and mine are free to run around when out side I have had the door open at 3 am and see them come in and belly up to the food dish i don't mind feeding other pets but where is the owner of the pets that cost me a bloody dollar
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
They are such a problem and these are wild so could be full of diseases
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
yes this is true you never know what they may have i know that food maybe a big cost but if there are other cat owners around you maybe you can get together with others buy a bag and rotate and a get a dish a big one set it away from your homes and keep the dish full leave a trail and hope that your pets know that there food is at your homes
@Laurenlynn (715)
• Canada
4 Apr 13
Hi Cynthiann What you call wild cats we call here barn cats however they usually live in the country. We do have a stray here on our streets but my dogs bark and that usually scares it away. Oh I had to laugh when you say that they actually looked like they were grinning at you I believe you they say cats are very intelligent good luck.@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
I have never fed them but they nkeep coming to me to see if any food is left out
@Laurenlynn (715)
• Canada
4 Apr 13
Oh I forgot to mention what ever you do, do not feed them, other wise they will keep coming back.
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
4 Apr 13
Oh that must be frustrating, and I can just see it in my mind's eye. I was going to suggest spray bottles as they are inexpensive and you can have them handy to spray at the kitties. Once in a while you will find one so bull headed that they will brave a water cannon, though.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
Kat suggested spray bittles with vinegar and I will try this. But these guys are so tough and I hate them coming into the house as they probably have fleas etc. I made ujp four spray bottles and placed them around the house. going to be hard to get close enough to spray them though
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Apr 13
Oh Jill. That is another story as dogs are not allowed although a few people do have them BUT we also have a small pack of wild dogs too
@artemeis (4194)
• China
4 Apr 13
I believe your neighbor's kind hearted act is partly responsible for the cats' reliance on humans for their food and board. My concern here would be that these cats might be rabies carriers and as such I would ask that you be careful from getting bitten by them.
I suggest that you try to place freshly cut up chillies and place them around the house to cause enough irritations to discourage them from selecting your place. You may place the chillies by the doorway, kitchen floor, tables, windows and your bedroom. Keep all edibles in the cabinets or fridge including leftovers. These chillies can also help you keep flies away from your house.
Again, please avoid being bitten by them at all cost.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
I cannot get chillies but we do have a locally grown very hot pepper called Scotch Bonnet so this may do the trick. All food is ut away and all surfaces wiped several times a day. I will just have to warn the twins not to touch the hot peppers that will be scattered around. Thank yhou for this . I have received some positive responses but did not want to pay for sprays to be sent by post from the US - so expensive
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
4 Apr 13
LOL, another one of your adventures. No one can say u live a dull life.
i'm sure all the cat lovers on here & there seems to be alot will not like what i'm going to say but i would get rid of them permanently no matter what.I'm sorry u hurt ur hand. Seems like u always get the bad end no matter what is going on. i would definitely get my revenge on them & it wouldn't make them smile.
i'm sure all the cat lovers on here & there seems to be alot will not like what i'm going to say but i would get rid of them permanently no matter what.I'm sorry u hurt ur hand. Seems like u always get the bad end no matter what is going on. i would definitely get my revenge on them & it wouldn't make them smile.@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
Well I am going to try some of the remedies that have been suggested and see if they work first. Hand is much better thanks. So late in responding but we had a power outage for nearly four hours
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
10 Apr 13
Back when I was in high school, and going to a public school in my small home town, we used to eat our lunches outside of school, in a small privately-owned 'cafeteria' where they also had issues with stray cats. I don't think I was aware of any cat/animal rescues back then, but I remember watching our lunches carefully, as the cats were always ready to pounce on any unattended food. I've always remembered them as menacing.
If only those cats you encountered could talk!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Apr 13
They arev menancing as they are feral. They are ot scared of me or by my spraying them with water. These cats survive hurricanes anything. If only they could talk? I think that they would be saying a heck of a lot against me and probably laughing at my futile efforts to get rid of them too
@allknowing (137552)
• India
4 Apr 13
Cowards I suppose have their own methodology to seek revenge! And therefore I am not even interested to know what your method would be
How about surfing the net to get ideas from there cynthian?
I can say one thing in your favour and that is these cats love you. Why else would they visit you when there is plenty of food available elslewhere?
And therefore I am not even interested to know what your method would be
How about surfing the net to get ideas from there cynthian?
I can say one thing in your favour and that is these cats love you. Why else would they visit you when there is plenty of food available elslewhere?@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
They visit me to make my life he*l. They want to make me a nervous wreck and they slide in and out of the house with an air of entitlement
@NMDesigner (25)
• United States
4 Apr 13
The spray bottles should work. I use one to discipline my cats when they are getting into something they shouldn't. I turn the nozzle so it sprays a fine stream. That can reach across the room. Once they learned what it was for all I have to do is pick it up and point it to get them to find something else to do.
It is a compliment that they picked you, they recognized your gentle spirit and know that you don't wish to harm them.
It was nice of you to put on such an amusing show for them, with you "bird imitation".
Oh, I just thought of one other idea. Are you familiar with plastic runners to protect carpet in high traffic areas? You can probably find some online if your local stores don't carry it. It's clear plastic strips with plastic points on the back to grip your carpet. Some stores sell it in precut lengths and some have it in bulk rolls where you can buy whatever length you want. Get some of this, cut off strips to fit your window sills then use double-sided tape to secure it to the sills with the points up. If they step on it it'll be unpleasant, but do no real harm. They may just jump over it, but some may learn to stay away.
You could also put double-sided tape down so they'd have to step on that to get in. It'll collect dirt and have to be changed though. Maybe fly paper, but if it comes loose they'll have a devil of a time getting it off as it'll get stuck on their fur.
Loosely fastened aluminum foil may help. They don't like the feel of it. I've seen it used to protect corners from being used as sharpening posts.
Good luck.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
You have some wonderful ideas but my dining room has only one third of a wall and thr rest is just grilled. I have awnings that are pulled down at night or when it rains. I just love the breeze in this room. so I don't have window sills - only in the kitchen where I could use the plastic carpet protector or foil. too expensive to use around the three walls of the dining room though. Thank you for your fantastic ideas
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Apr 13
Thery certainly are but I don't want them in my house near my grandchildren in case they carry diseases
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Apr 13
hi cythian yes I noticed the alley cats here are the same way.We are told by our admins not to feed the as they make a big poo mess in the side patio. Now someone has taken a lot of them so there are only a few but they are not scared of anyone or anything either. poor cats people dump them off as its an alley behind the
Vietnamese grocery store.The meat cutters occasionally feed them,.
I think Dawn has given you the best idea.WE had an incidenr last year where one feral cat on our Gold C rest property clawed and injured a woman by passing when she tried to pic k it up. She wanted
to save it but ended up geating hurt and she tried to sue Gold Crest I heard as it was on their property but the cati s not owned by Gold Crest and thus they lost the suit.
s not owned by Gold Crest and thus they lost the suit.
@randomarts09 (1405)
• Indonesia
21 Apr 13
Ah, the ones are wrong are the ones who abandoned them so they have become wild. But of course it’s really annoying to have them always try to go in and steal the foods all the time. Well you can try to put citrus aroma to repel them away. Use sprayed bottle with water to spray them when they come near as they hate to be wet.
