Feral cats taking over my yard...?

We bought our new house in november just down the street from the home we lived in prior. In november the lady that lives behind us excitedly showed me the family of little black kittens living in the pile of lawn furnature behind her shed which backs up to our fence line. It is now the end of March and the cats survived the cold winter. My neigbor feeds them although they live outside and are not allowed in her home. There are a total of seven cats at this point not including her personal cats numbering four. These cats are taking over my yard, they use my gardens as their bathroom and torment my dog. They even sit outside of my patio door right on the step and stare at us while we eat dinner. But worst of all I have three small children who love to play outdoors and I am afraid they will get biten or scratched by one of these cats. Does anyone have any advice on how to keep these animals away from my yard? My township will not come pick them up.

Feral cats taking over my yard...?
I am a cat lover and have several cats. Your neighbor is not doing these cats a favor. If animal control will not come get them, Find out if the will give/lend you traps so you can bring them in. Those cute kittens will grow up and have kittens of their own by the end of the summer. Now you problem has expanded 5 fold.

I would also speak to your neighbor, I understand she has a kind heart but she is creating this problem. If she is going to continue to feed them she should make sure they can't reproduce. The kittens may be very adoptable now, but the older they get while living feral the less chance they can be domesticated.
Reply:Since the cats donnot belong to anyone, I would call animal control to have them taken away when they are in your yard. The neighbor will be upset, but maybe you can warn him/her before you do it so they can take steps to adopt the cats if they want to
Reply:Check with the local humane society to see about their policy. They often have advice on live-trapping the cats. They will take the cats, spay or neuter them, and put them up for adoption. You have to act rather quickly, though. If the cats are truly feral, the older they get the less likely they are to ever adapt to people. Good luck!
Reply:Try calling the Humane Society and see if they will come pick up the cats. If the cats seem to be afraid of people, it's unlikely that they will scratch your children, but I can understand the concern. Also, maybe try talking to the neighbor and see if she will stop feeding them, because I imagine that's what keeps them around.
Reply:Backyards play host to a variety of animals, including cats. All animals fill important roles in our environment, but if you want to keep cats out of your yard, there are many humane ways to deter them. Keep in mind that what may work for one cat may not work for another, so it helps to be willing to try more than one solution.



Cats dislike the smell of citrus: Try putting Orange and Lemon Peelings out; spraying the area with citrus-scented sprays; or sprinkling with an orange-scented pet bedding like Citra-fresh.

Spray cat repellent (available at pet supply stores) around the perimeter of your yard and along the top of the fences.

Sprinkle cayenne pepper in the area you want to keep the cat away from.

Scatter coffee grounds or pipe tobacco in the area.

Try growing the herb Rue- cats dislike the smell. You may also be able to buy it dried in health food stores.

A motion activated sprinkler that sprays intruding animals with water is manufactured by Contech (800-767-8658).

If the cats belong to your neighbors, talk to them and try to work things out amicably.



If the cats are feral (also called "wild", "Barn", or "Alley" cats), these are animals previously abandoned or born wild who are not accustomed to humans. Since feral cats are not tame or socialized, they cannot be placed in homes and are routinely killed if taken to the animal shelter.
Reply:Alley Cat Allies is a great resource for advice on how to handle feral cat colonies.

Check out their website at the link below:
Reply:Call the ASPCA , humane society or animal shelter out of those 3 someone should be able to help you when you explain the circumstances.
Reply:Here are some ways to help that will discourage them from coming into your yard.



http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/cat_libra...



and another article of interest:



http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:EyUD...

vacuum deodorizer

cosmetic products