A wandering or stray outdoor pet may wear a collar and sometimes will be notably sociable with people.

Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and cover trash scraps securely to deny unwelcome cats an easy meal.

Do not add any meat scraps to a compost pile.

Brown and gray feral cat sitting on cement next to garden lawn

The Spruce / Steven Merkel

Keep grills and barbecue pits clean to avoid enticing smells.

Keep Unaltered Females Indoors

Unaltered males will be attracted to any female cats in heat.

Pet owners who spay their female cats are less likely to attract wandering males.

Crushed eggshells on dirt ground to deter feral cats closeup

The Spruce / Steven Merkel

Unaltered females should be kept indoors during their heat cycles.

Commercial repellents such as Shake Away Cat Repellent powder work by using odors cats find unpleasant as a deterrent.

Some commercial repellents will use the scent ofpredators like coyotesto keep cats away.

Motion-activated sprinklers with water shooting out to scare feral cats

The Spruce / Steven Merkel

Reapply repellents after heavy rains or long periods for the best effectiveness.

Remember to reapply repellents after heavy rains.

Use Motion-Activated Ultrasonic Sirens

Old-fashioned scare tactics can discourage cats from visiting a yard regularly.

Spring-loaded metal humane trap to catch feral cats with blue bowl of cat food

The Spruce / Steven Merkel

Add Fence Deterrents

If cats are jumping on a fence in one area, add fence deterrents.

One option is an empty coffee can filled with marbles.

Install Cat-Proof Fencing

Cat-proof fencing is a pop in of barrier specifically made to deter cats.

Be reasonable but firm about the problems their pet causes in your yard.

Pet owners have a responsibility to control their animals, and most owners will respect this.

The degree of involvement varies depending on your community.

Place traps in areas where the cats frequent and bait them with appropriate food or appetizing scents.

Be aware, though, that you may trap a different creature, such as a raccoon or opossum.

Work With Neighbors

A feral cat’s territory usually extends well beyond a single yard.

Neighborhoods that work together generally have fewer problems with feral cats.

What Causes Stray Cats?

Stray cats are drawn to yards where the creature is able to find food, water, and shelter.

It is important to use several techniques to keep feral and stray cats out of your yard.

A stray cat’s visit to your yard may be very sporadic.

If it’s a domestic cat that wanders, you may see it only rarely.

Cats hate the smell of vinegar, so continuing to spray it around your yard may help.

9, p. 617.

  1. doi:10.3390/ani9090617

How to Keep Frustrating Felines out of the Garden.

Oregon State University

,A Closer Look at Community Cats.ASPCA