How Can I Rid My Back Porch of Stray Cats?

Feeding stray cats encourages them to linger on your back porch.

Millions of domesticated cats become lost or abandoned and are considered "stray." Since stray cats were previously pets, they are generally relaxed around people. Stray cats roam parking lots, streets and yards searching for food and shelter, oftening wander onto household porches where cat food is left out. While some homeowners enjoy feeding and caring for stray cats, others don't like stray cats nor wish to care for them. Fortunately, there are numerous humane methods for ridding your back porch of stray cats.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh lemon and orange peels
• Lavender
• Geraniums
• Lemon thyme
• Cat-deterrent pellets
• Gloves
• Garden hose

Instructions

1. Move any cat food from your back porch to encourage the stray cats to leave. If you must feed your own cat outdoors, leave the food on the porch for an hour or less per day.

2. Scatter fresh lemon and orange peels around your back porch to discourage the stray cats. Cats hate citrus fragrances.

3. Place potted lavender, geraniums and lemon thyme on your back porch, as cats dislike the scent of these herbs.

4. Sprinkle cat-deterrent pellets onto the porch to repel any remaining strays. Pellets made of lion dung are especially effective as cats assume lions are nearby. Wear gloves when distributing the pellets to prevent contaminating the lion dung odor with human scent.

5. Spray the stray cats with water if they simply refuse to leave your back porch. Cats despise water and will generally scurry away.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your yard and back porch free of feces, as the odor attracts stray cats.

• Lay a bed of pebbles around the edges of the back porch to prevent stray cats from accessing the porch. Cats dislike walking on pebbles.

References

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Feral Cats
• Alley Cat Allies: How to Live With Cats in Your Neighborhood
• Cat Protection Society of NSW: Stray Cats--Your Options