Being a Responsible Neighbor is Key to Caring for Community Cats
Whether you are the caretaker of one colony or ten, staying on good terms with your neighbors is essential to your success in ensuring the welfare of the cats. After all, creating tension or ill will may result in feelings of frustration or anger taken out on the animals themselves, ultimately defeating your very efforts to try and help them. Furthermore, the cats are likely causing real problems on or damage to your neighbor(s)' property, and their concerns are therefore warranted. We find that it is most helpful to hear them out, and respect their opinions. They will, in turn, be more likely to respect yours.
If you are choosing to be a caretaker of a feral cat colony in Bensalem, you are taking on responsibilities that go beyond the mere feeding of these cats. Local ordinance mandates that you also have a responsibility to your community. It is up to you to help prevent these animals from becoming a nuisance to your neighbors, and to finding solutions to the problems that do arise.
First and foremost, you are required to ensure that all of the cats for which you are caring have been spayed or neutered. All animals that have been previously sterilized are easily identified by a left eartip. If you are a caregiver with the knowledge and resources to trap community cats on your own or with the assistance of other volunteers, you can bring these animals to the Women's Animal Center to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated free of charge. Women's Animal Center also has traps available for rental for a small fee through its Trap Rental Program. Please review the organization's Trap-Neuter Return Policy below before bringing in your trapped cats!
If you are choosing to be a caretaker of a feral cat colony in Bensalem, you are taking on responsibilities that go beyond the mere feeding of these cats. Local ordinance mandates that you also have a responsibility to your community. It is up to you to help prevent these animals from becoming a nuisance to your neighbors, and to finding solutions to the problems that do arise.
First and foremost, you are required to ensure that all of the cats for which you are caring have been spayed or neutered. All animals that have been previously sterilized are easily identified by a left eartip. If you are a caregiver with the knowledge and resources to trap community cats on your own or with the assistance of other volunteers, you can bring these animals to the Women's Animal Center to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated free of charge. Women's Animal Center also has traps available for rental for a small fee through its Trap Rental Program. Please review the organization's Trap-Neuter Return Policy below before bringing in your trapped cats!
Your compassion for cats makes your participation in Bensalem's TNR efforts crucial. TNR will not only help our community's cats live healthier, happier, longer lives, but will also resolve many of the complaints you may be receiving from neighboring residents. Understand that your neighbors, although they may not care for the cats, likely do not want to see harm come to them either. They simply value their property and their peace. So, as a caregiver, it is up to you not only to listen, but to help educate our community about the benefits of TNR, while at the same time offering real solutions to address common complaints. There are relatively easy ways to keeping your neighbors happy while also keeping the cats safe.
Alley Cat Advocates, Kentucky-based TNR advocacy organization, put together a list of some of the most common complaints you may hear from neighbors, as well as fixes you can suggest and/or help to implement to reach a peaceful resolution:
1) Cats are digging in my garden.
Your neighbor can scatter fresh orange or lemon peels in the garden area, which cats don’t like. Other alternatives that deter cats: citrus-scented sprays, coffee grounds, cayenne pepper, vinegar, pipe tobacco, oil of lavender, peppermint oil, lemongrass, citronella and eucalyptus. In the garden, place chicken wire, plastic sheets, or plastic carpet runners spike-side up, covered lightly with soil. Cats will be unable to dig in the dirt. Holes can be cut for plants. These things can be removed later, after cats have stopped visiting. Non-chemical cat and wildlife repellents are available at local stores. Coleus Canina and the herb Rue can be planted in and around gardens. Both plants have an odor that repels cats but does not bother humans. There are also a number of motion-activated animal repellents on the market that release ultrasonic signals inaudible to humans when triggered.
2) Cats are sleeping under my porch or in my shed.
Refer to the list above of natural repellents. Apply these fragrances liberally around the edges of the porch or shed. Place physical barriers or seal the location the cats are entering with chicken wire or lattice. Be sure to check for kittens first! Provide an alternative shelter such as a plastic bin or small doghouse and place it in a secluded area of the yard away from porches and sheds.
3) Cats are getting into my trashcans.
Hungry cats are looking for food. Make sure that trash bags are placed in cans, not sitting outside to be torn open by dogs or raccoons. Make sure lids fit tightly on cans. Feed cats yourself if no one else is feeding them. See section below about cat food and when to feed. If cats have enough to eat, they will leave trash cans alone.
4) Cat food is attracting insects and raccoons.
Always feed cats at the same designated time and place during daylight hours, not at night. Remove leftover food after 30 minutes. Keep it for the next day. Keep feeding area neat and free of leftover food, crumbs and trash.
5) Cats are fighting, yowling, spraying, roaming and having kittens.
These are mating behaviors that are typical of all cats that have not been altered. These problems will stop once the cats are neutered or spayed! For urine odors, spray the area with white vinegar or products that have natural enzymes. A variety of these products can generally be found at local pet supply stores.
Alley Cat Advocates, Kentucky-based TNR advocacy organization, put together a list of some of the most common complaints you may hear from neighbors, as well as fixes you can suggest and/or help to implement to reach a peaceful resolution:
1) Cats are digging in my garden.
Your neighbor can scatter fresh orange or lemon peels in the garden area, which cats don’t like. Other alternatives that deter cats: citrus-scented sprays, coffee grounds, cayenne pepper, vinegar, pipe tobacco, oil of lavender, peppermint oil, lemongrass, citronella and eucalyptus. In the garden, place chicken wire, plastic sheets, or plastic carpet runners spike-side up, covered lightly with soil. Cats will be unable to dig in the dirt. Holes can be cut for plants. These things can be removed later, after cats have stopped visiting. Non-chemical cat and wildlife repellents are available at local stores. Coleus Canina and the herb Rue can be planted in and around gardens. Both plants have an odor that repels cats but does not bother humans. There are also a number of motion-activated animal repellents on the market that release ultrasonic signals inaudible to humans when triggered.
2) Cats are sleeping under my porch or in my shed.
Refer to the list above of natural repellents. Apply these fragrances liberally around the edges of the porch or shed. Place physical barriers or seal the location the cats are entering with chicken wire or lattice. Be sure to check for kittens first! Provide an alternative shelter such as a plastic bin or small doghouse and place it in a secluded area of the yard away from porches and sheds.
3) Cats are getting into my trashcans.
Hungry cats are looking for food. Make sure that trash bags are placed in cans, not sitting outside to be torn open by dogs or raccoons. Make sure lids fit tightly on cans. Feed cats yourself if no one else is feeding them. See section below about cat food and when to feed. If cats have enough to eat, they will leave trash cans alone.
4) Cat food is attracting insects and raccoons.
Always feed cats at the same designated time and place during daylight hours, not at night. Remove leftover food after 30 minutes. Keep it for the next day. Keep feeding area neat and free of leftover food, crumbs and trash.
5) Cats are fighting, yowling, spraying, roaming and having kittens.
These are mating behaviors that are typical of all cats that have not been altered. These problems will stop once the cats are neutered or spayed! For urine odors, spray the area with white vinegar or products that have natural enzymes. A variety of these products can generally be found at local pet supply stores.