CATS!!!

How can I persuade them to stay away from my back yard???

Ok dont bash me here - I do love cats BUT it seams that at least two big old tom cats have taken up resdence under our deck. The house we bought was empty for about 7 months so they made themselves at home. I would not mind having cats around now and then but they are leaving a very unpleasant odor . Any experience in this area?

Please don't call anyone that destroys them......

try this shelter. they have a progrma that saves these strays and keeps them safe....

http://www.animalhavenshelter.org/

they promise not to destroy them....I understand about the odor etc. they should be able to help you...or else try North Shore Animal League or ASPCA in your area.

good luck.

mickeys suggestion is a great one...
we have a neighborhood cat that comes around and tends to use the huge planter we have in front of our house ( it has TREES! in it) as their litter box
WE put in some moth balls in there and she doesnt come around as often.

I also know that there are certain herbs you can plant and the smell keeps cats/little animals away

I was also going to suggest mothballs, however i cant imagine you wanting to smell that either.. maybe the herbs that phyl suggested..

or call NSAL.. they have a website www.NSAL.org i think there maybe info on there for you.

Get a dog!!! HA .. no, just kidding! I'll lend you my 'terror' cat - she'll make sure they stay away! No, just kidding again!

I don't really know ... I'll ask my DH if he knows any tricks, since he has had cats all his life!!!

You may consider putting some kind of lattice or screening around the bottom of your deck, after raking it out first

Around here there are a lot of skunks, and they love to hang out under sheds and decks....talk about smell!!!

CIRA THATS HYTERICAL!!! LOL i was thinking of saying get a dog too!! LOL

Petco sells a spray that you can use (non-toxic) and will keep the cats away, but they are probably soooo cold if they have NO home and you should call the shelter. They could freeze living outside. I just feel awful that the poor things are cold.
If they belong to someone in your area, knock on the door and tell those good for nothing people that their animals can die outside in this cold and you will call the ASPCA on their sorry a$$ if they do not take care of their pets.

My mom used moth balls for this problem, not only didn't it work, but the moth balls smelled awful.
Go to a pet store, or ask a vet if there's a product for this.

I called around to the various shelters etc. They all said they will take them if we trap them and bring them in .

I dont want to hurt them just get rid of the smell! I will check at the pet store and see what kind of repellent I can find.

Fran ... Rob says there is something that you can put in the dirt ... I have no clue! Check with the pet stores!!! and Good Luck!!!

Agree with a previous poster:

Petco sells a spray that you can use (non-toxic) and will keep the cats away. This spray actually works as my MIL uses it, she has 2 cats and uses it on unwanted areas of her house. However, with inclement weather they probably are homeless, stray cats... I say contact a shelter for them. Good luck!

I have the same problem....I haven't been out by the deck all winter - god I can imagine it must stink!!

For now I think I'm just gonna leave them...they don't really have any place to go. But once the spring comes around I might try that stuff the others here say works from Petco.