This is a link talking about the decline in Songbirds:
http://library.fws.gov/Bird_Publications/songbrd.html#Cat

In one of my moms books it says to mix oil with garlic and spread it around and that should keep them away.

they are not vampires.

See though, Val313, that's coming from you not liking cats. Which is totally understandable! Dogs are different because are more often more dangerous that cats. They're bigger, and can cause a lot more damage. I haven't heard of non-rabid cats attacking people.

I love birds too. Adore them. But I recognize nature's way. Cats eat birds. Just life.

BUT! Besides that, I do agree with you. As I said, they are dissrupting your life activities. You have a right to cease that.

Let us know what you do! I hope it works out best for you and the cats.

Bingo. To me it's not a case of liking cats or not liking cats; it's a case of one neighbor's pets wreaking havoc on another neighbor's health & garden.

The neighbor obviously doesn't plan to change her ways, and I don't see any alternative, Val, but to be very assertive about the situation. In addition to animal control, does your town have some sort of ombudsman or dispute mediator? In my opinion, you should use whatever resources you have at hand; germy cat poop in your yard and dead wild birds are issues that should be taken seriously by "the powers that be" in your town.

had a similar prob. called animal control and they went and had a little chat. same thing the second time. thitd time, had the cat picked u

Well, I see it this way. If you can't use your yard because of the cat feces, then I would call animal control. I love cats, but if I had one routinely using my garden as a litter box, it would make me mad. Their urine and feces have an overwhelming odor and can carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis.

I would not chase the cat, but I would photograph it pooping and hunting on your property, as many times as you can. Then you have a little ammo, and it isn't just your word versus the neighbors'.

If it's the wild cats, I would bait a "Have a heart" humane trap with some wet cat food, catch it, and take it to an animal shelter. (They don't normally adopt out feral cats, though, just so you know. They are ususally euthanized. So, maybe a no-kill shelter for the wild cats if that bothers you.)

Anyway, those are my suggestions.

Good luck!

My cats love garlic with oil! I give them a little oil, mixed with Red Star Yeast and garic and they just love it. Not all books are accurate.

One thing I know for sure works: Get a pitcher of cold water and throw that on the cat. Even if you do not get any on the cat, it will deter it from coming back soon.

i know they arn, it says to mix garlic an tobasco sause together an spray it ware you dont want them. so when they clean themselves they'll eat the spray