How to Discourage Stray Cats from Coming into Your Yard

I had a most disturbing incident recently. I went outside to find my cat Chance to bring him in for the night. He was walking towards me, about 8 feet away, when, suddenly, out of the shrubs a gray tiger cat appeared. Right before my eyes, the stray cat ran up behind Chance and jumped him! I broke up the fight by giving the offender a swift kick. I then chased it off my property. Chance was shaken, and he only suffered a few scratches. Read this informative article and learn how to discourage stray cats from coming into your yard!

4 Main Reasons Why Stray Cats Visit Your Property
Unless you're lucky enough to have a fenced-in yard, stray cats can be a real problem. I don't mind the neighbors' cats wandering through my property. But when they fight with my cats, then there's a problem.

There are basically 4 main reasons why stray cats will visit your property: 1) They're hunting and looking for food. 2) They are looking for shelter. 3) The cats are Toms, or un-neutered males who are looking for females in heat. 4) They're investigating new territory.

How To Discourage Stray Cats From Coming Into Your Yard

1. Check Your Outside Property and Remove Sources of Food

Since finding food can be a powerful motivator for cats to come into your yard, the first thing I did was to look around my property for food sources. When I had outside cats, I kept bowls of food and water on my deck. But this isn't the case now, so there's no such attraction.

Stray cats may also be attracted to dog food and garbage scraps like meats, poultry, bones, and the like. Be sure to close and secure garbage cans that are set out at the curb.

If there are a lot of mice and other vermin on your property, drifters may be coming into your yard to hunt.

2. Inspect Your Property and Close All Shelter Entrances

At one time, I had several old outbuildings on my property. All types of critters lived in these wooden structures, from stray cats, to mice, to ground hogs, to birds and a snake. Even when the doors and windows were closed, the wildlife simply slipped in through a crack or one of many holes and made themselves at home.