Stray and feral cats can become a concern for neighborhoods by damaging property, disturbing wildlife, or creating health and safety risks. If you’ve noticed stray cats around your home or property, there are safe and humane steps you can take to help manage the situation.

Ways to Deter Stray Cats

• Deterrents: Simple tools like bells, brightly colored collars/bibs, or food-based deterrents can help keep cats away from your yard. Motion-activated sprinklers, noise makers, or lights can also be effective in discouraging cats from entering your property.
• Exclusion: Installing net wire fencing with angled hoods or rollers on top of fences can make it harder for cats to access certain areas.
• Habitat Modification: Removing sources of food, water, and shelter is one of the most effective long-term strategies. Be sure to keep garbage in sealed containers, clean up piles of debris, and reduce thick vegetation that may provide hiding spots.
• Repellents: Certain foul-smelling repellents, such as those containing methyl nonyl ketone (sold under EPA-approved products like “Boundary”), may discourage cats from entering treated areas.
  

Humane Control Options

• Spay and Neuter Programs: Supporting or participating in spay/neuter programs helps reduce the overall stray cat population in a humane way.
  
  
• Trapping: Cage traps, foothold traps, and body-gripping traps can be used to safely capture stray cats, but only under proper state and local regulations. Once trapped, cats should be taken to an animal control agency or shelter.
  

What Not to Do

• Toxicants: No poisons or toxicants are legally registered for use against cats in the United States.
  
  
• Shooting or Harm: Lethal control is heavily restricted and requires proper federal, state, and local permits. Residents should never attempt to harm stray cats on their own.

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