I am asking whether dogs can get sick from stray cats because we have a terrible neighbor who has a couple of cats she never vaccinated, neutered, or spayed and lets them roam our neighborhood unsupervised.
If you can imagine, those cats have been having litters after litters, and today at least fifteen to twenty cats are terrorizing the neighborhood’s dogs, killing birds, leaving their feces in our yards, and spreading disease to our beloved canines.
Thankfully, my dogs have been through dog training, are well-behaved, and stay in our yard. However, I have caught cats red-handed on my outdoor security cameras in my backyard, on my front porch, and on my deck in the backyard. I have had to pick up their poop, hoping my dogs didn’t already get to other droppings.
According to the University of British Columbia, “A new study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that pet cats allowed to roam outside unsupervised carry infectious diseases at rates comparable to feral cats, even when they receive veterinary care, regular meals and shelter.
The findings challenge a common public health assumption that feral and stray cats are the primary concern for disease transmission. Many owned cats are also allowed to roam freely, creating a potential bridge between wildlife pathogens and humans.
The pathogens include well-known agents such as Toxoplasma gondii, roundworms, Bartonella (the bacterium behind cat-scratch fever) and Leptospira,”.
So far, three other neighbor dogs have been sick from these stray, un-cared for felines. They are a nuisance and a threat to public health and the safety of our well-cared-for pets.
*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional medical or psychological advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a healthcare veterinarian professional should you or a trusted loved one deem it necessary for your animal.
Furthermore, this content is not a replacement for professional legal advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a professional when necessary.
Is it illegal to let your cat roam free
Letting your cat (singular) roam free might be one thing, but this woman has upwards of twenty cats roaming free, creating chaos and wreaking havoc in our neighborhood. It’s a little over the top, don’t you think?
Recently, I shared in another article about our local ordinances stating how this woman is violating laws and ordinances. Here is what I found.
A local township enforces the following ordinances for such situations, declaring that, “Class I Animal: Domesticated household pets weighing less than 150 pounds. Class I animals may be maintained in any zoning district. A maximum of seven (7) Class I animals may be maintained on an individual parcel.
In addition to, and notwithstanding the above, the following regulations shall be applicable to the maintenance of animals:
i. Adequate fencing shall be provided to contain the animals within the restricted areas provided for in this Ordinance and approved by the Building Official. The minimum acceptable fence shall be a #12.5 woven wire forty-eight (48) inches tall with openings not larger than three (3) inches square. Posts shall be U-bar steel, or equivalent, spaced not more than twelve (12) feet apart, and the top row shall be reinforced with a #12 tensioning wire. (See Section 5.12 Fences, Walls and other Protective Barriers).
ii. The refuse and wastes resulting from the maintenance of animals shall be controlled upon the premises, and shall be cared for or disposed of within a reasonable time so as to minimize hazards of health and offensive effects upon neighboring people and uses.
H. A nuisance or a threat to public health and/or safety shall not be created by the maintenance of animals in the Township. The Building Official, or other Township official duly designated and authorized by the Township Board, shall inspect the premises on which animals are kept where it is alleged there exists a nuisance or a threat to public health and/or safety,”.
How do I keep neighbor’s cats out of my yard?
The neighborhood has asked this neighbor to take care of the cats and keep them contained in her yard, but she is a hot mess and can’t take care of her own children, let alone herself or her animals. She has one dog, and that poor thing looks like a homeless vagabond!
The neighbors have contacted animal control and our township about the violated ordinances, the overabundance of them, as well as the safety of these cats and other animals in the neighborhood.
Some folks have installed motion-sensor sprinklers to deter the cats from entering their yards, but winter is coming, and that won’t be effective anymore. Let’s see what the experts suggest as a means to keep this herd of cats out of our yards and away from our pets.
Catster recommends, “The best way to keep your canine safe from diseases transmitted by feral cats is to keep the animals away from each other. But feral cats sometimes have a tendency to wander into your yard or get into your garbage cans, so how can you remedy that? Here are a few handy tips!
- Install motion-activated products that emit an ultrasonic sound when triggered. These can easily startle cats into leaving your yard alone. However, feral kitties will eventually learn the specific areas these devices are in and begin to avoid them, so move the devices into different places every so often.
- Utilize motion-activated sprinklers. If there’s one thing the majority of cats hate, it’s getting wet, so using sprinklers to get rid of feral cats is a simple way to convey the message that your yard should be avoided.
- If feral cats are getting into your garden, try adding a few plants that felines hate, such as the “scaredy cat plant” (a.k.a. Coleus canina). You can also try sprinkling coffee grounds around, as many people swear these are excellent deterrents.
- If there are bird feeders in your yard, move those to a location that’s difficult for kitties to reach,”.
I also read that a mix of scent deterrents, such as citrus peels, lavender, or rosemary, can be a helpful natural remedy.
Can dogs get sick from stray cats
In conclusion, stray cats can expose dogs to disease, so protect your pets, discourage roaming cats humanely, and contact local authorities when concerns persist.