How to deal with cats under the house?

Question

Anyone have any strategies as to how to deal with cats living under the house?  I identified the opening but before closing it up would want to get all the cats out of there.

Devin Scott · Answer

1-way doors.  I put them over the openings and allows them to exit but not come back in.  They have them for pets on amazon.

Sam Faas · Answer

Wow!, these are fantastic responses.  Definitely want this to be humane so thanks for all the links to shelters.

Also thanks @Scott Mac for that detailed response

Lisa Wright · Answer

If they are feral contact a shelter for the TNR (Trap, neuter, release).  After you sort out that end (because 6 cats can be 600 next year), then throw a rag with ammonia on it under your home and everyone should leave pretty fast and it will evaporate. When it's empty seal it up.

If you are north, then it will be a gruesome winter so you might want to look into some cat houses and outdoor heaters.  Or wait until spring so they can find new shelter.

It's a sad situation.  Cats under the house are better than rats at least.

Scott Mac · Answer

The problem is not cats are under the houuse.

The problem is the house has openings in the skirting, where the cats come in and out.

So will oposums, who the cats tolerate in there as walk through guests who eat the cockroaches.

Use chicken wire or wood to seal up all but their main enntrance.

Call them out --kity kity kity -- while shaking a bag of purina cat chow -- with a loud shake sound. Then tear it open and dump it on the ground about 10 feet in front of the hole..

wait for them to come out (about 8 or 9 am most will be outside anyway (or back at their owners home).

If its cold, raining, night or afternoon expect them under the house. The other times they wander.

Once you think they are ALLout eating the tasty Purina, put chicken wire over the main entry hole, but get down on your hands and kneesand LOOK under there for straglers or kittens. Use a flashlight for this.

Straglers you might scare out by guiding them with a stick, from another unsealed hole.

Kittens, someone skinny (a child???) will have to slide under and put them in a box for Mom cat to make a new nest. If there is more than 1 set of kittens, put each set in its own box. Do not co-mingle kittens.

Just put the box near the hole, she will come get them.

If you miss even one, it will die under there and the smell of death will come up throgh the foor into the house...so make  sure everyone is out before you seal the last hole...and go back for a couple of days to make sure you didn't seal any cats inside.

The outdoor cats will find another house to play and snooze under.

Good Luck!

PS.  I have done this (there must have been 20 cats under there) , it works, and its Humain... just be sure to check back to make sure no one is left behind to die.

Cost = 1 bag purina. You can be nice and give them a big bowl of water too.

Best time 8am. Much later they seem not as intetested in the food = not all comming out.

Here is a link to no kill shelters, but they are probably the neighbrs outdoor cats, and will find another cat hangout close by if you simply evict them and leave them alone.

https://www.nokillnetwork.org/

William Sing · Answer

I think calling animal control might be the best solution!

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

They are fairly easily trapped and then you take them to a no kill shelter. You can do it yourself or get someone to do it for you. Good luck!

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Contact animal control for your city. They can bring some traps and help set them up to capture the cats, then they will take them to the animal shelter.

How to deal with cats under the house?

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