As I mentioned in my article about raccoon-proof pet feeders, the DualScan option is actually more expensive, but it’s a lot less likely to allow sticky-fingered intruders in. "Being semi-feral, Ned was not always a cooperative patient," said Kate Hopper, director of UC Davis' Small Animal Clinic, in a statement. In some instances, the raccoons will use its claws to scratch the eyes of a dog or cat, and then bite it with some ferocious speed. Sprinkle them on and around your garbage cans and raccoons will stay away, but it’s safe for your dog or cat! Most organizations working with TNR will partner with colony caretakers and help out with food and other supplies so caretakers can do just that for their cats – take care of them. Large live animal trap is ideal for catching raccoons, opossums, feral cats, groundhogs, armadillos and maskrats. Enter your email address and hit "Go" to be notified each time a new post is published on KittyClysm. Our results are useful because raccoons are potential reservoir hosts of zoonotic B. henselae and B. koehlerae, in addition to B. rochalimae, and there could be cross-species transmission of Bartonella spp. The only way to keep wildlife out of outdoor cat enclosures is to open two doors of adequate size for a cat and build tunnels inside the enclosure by the doors so that if wildlife sticks their head in they see a wall that extends both ways for a number of inches and they are unable to fit their bodies in . Just like you would never try to handle a raccoon, you should never try to pick up a feral cat. The bigger and more aggressive raccoons will … One pet parent pointed out: “the dual scan works better b/c some raccoons can eventually learn to slip their paw nail under the pet door (the single scan model) and lift the door open. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Wild in the Streets: The Life and Health of Stray and Feral Cats, Trap-Neuter-Return Programs: The Key to Helping Cats, The Problem With Relocation and Eradication, Slideshow: Kitten Care -- From Adoption to Kitty-Proofing Your Home, Slideshow: Puppy Care -- From Adoption to Puppy-Proofing Your Home, Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet. This cage trap is constructed from 1" x 2" - 12 gauge mesh and features 1/2x1" mesh on the back portion of the trap to prevent animals from reaching in and stealing bait. And by slim, in this case, I mean two – there are really only two viable options, one of which is distinctly more likely to work out. They are wild animals, like raccoons. Once you understand the basic requirements of the design I’m using here, a clever handy person can build what you need. They tend to stay away from humans, hide during the day, and when adopted, are very difficult to socialize. Facts about cats, training tips, odd behaviours, pet care advice - I talk as much as I can about it all here! Large 1-Door Professional Live Animal Cage Trap for Raccoon, Opossum, Groundhog, and Feral Cat The Havahart Large 1-Door Animal Trap is The Havahart Large 1-Door Animal Trap is an all-metal cage that's been designed by professional trappers. Serious danger here. With a TNR effort, “people will give their time, money, and resources,” says Slater, author of Community Approaches to Feral Cats. I’ll post pix of my design soon. SureFlap isn’t very clear about this.” (Bold added by me). Most people are not willing to support eradication, either. It’s still not my top choice, however, especially since it’s got dramatically less reviews overall, and one reviewer even said her cat needed a tail amputation because of a really bad accident with this thing: “UPDATE: As I mentioned our cat can flip the flap up and escape when it is set to “in only” but her tail then got pinned inside it and she damaged it so terribly we nearly needed to amputate it. According to Margaret R. Slater, DVM, PhD, senior director of epidemiology, animal health services with the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), a feral cat is “any cat who is too poorly socialized to be handled ... and who cannot be placed into a typical pet home.”. Option #2 on this list is also viable, there are a few folks who’ve described it as raccoon-proof. Call for assistance from the humane society or other animal welfare center. “But if you’re catching and euthanizing cats, in most cases you just won’t get volunteers to do that.”, She also sees TNR as a teaching tool. Have you ever had problems with raccoons getting into cat shelters, cat homes – even your own home? Obsessed with cats. When it … Bring the cats indoors at night. Funny. Also called trap-neuter-spay-return or trap-neuter-vaccinate-return, they are endorsed by both the ASPCA and Humane Society. If so, how? Your email address will not be published. Havahart trap in a trap consists of a raccoon and a squirrel trap. Picture from post The Tale of the Much-Too-Curious Raccoon. That being said, if you’re trying to keep a raccoon out of a cat shelter, a cat house, or even the front or back door to your own house – it’s pretty slim pickings. Most raccoons will kill cats for sports, even though larger cats have a good sense to steer clear of the raccoons, but the hunting skills of the raccoons make them so fast . If you or your husband, or hire a skilled handyman, create a platform or tunnel that is at least 18-24″ in the air, which leads to entry to the pet door (using wood, plastic, metal, or whatever works well in your situation) you will then have a solution. The short answer is no. Lost or abandoned felines are usually comfortable around people and will frequently attempt to live near humans -- under porches, or in garages, sheds, or backyards. I found it in a response to this question about the SureFlap DualScan by a reviewer named “Mountain Man”: I no longer use this dual scan model b/c my cat would hear raccoons trying to get in at night, and get real close to the door to find out what all the noises on the other side were about, and start hissing to protect his territory, and inadvertently, b/c the microchip that releases the door latch is in his neck, the dual scan door would become unlocked which would then allow the racoon to come inside the house. In terms of this option versus the original SureFlap without the Dual Scan option, I’d go with this PetSafe Microchip Cat Door, as it has the 4 way locking that’s important for keeping prying raccoon hands unable to break through. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; learn more here. This trap is similar to the model 608 but stronger because it is constructed from 1" x 1" - 12 gauge mesh rather than 1" x 2" - 12 gauge mesh used by the 608. Is Catnip Safe for Cats & Kittens? Raccoons and feeding feral cats. Thanks for this helpful post. Raccoons sometimes get into scraps with cats and they may occasionally prey on small animals housed outside, such as chickens and rabbits. Because cats are very territorial, a relocated cat may try to find its way home, suffering accident or death on the way. Small live animal trap is ideal for catching squirrels, rabbits, skunks, and other similar sized pests Trap-neuter-return (TNR) endeavors are geared toward reducing the number of unwanted cats by catching and then neutering or spaying them. There is no earthly reason why cats need to have food 24/7. Your Cat's Food. And here’s the critical piece: The raccoon would then be trapped inside the house, unable to get out b/c the door will only open with the microchip’s presence from my cat. Raccoons keep getting into your trash, and so far your only strategy is running outside to yell at them every night. It weighs 13 lbs and measures 32L x 10W x 12H. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This study identified B. henselae and B. koehlerae in feral cat and raccoons and B. clarridgeiae in feral cats. In terms of protecting a stray/feral cat shelter outside from raccoons if you can’t chip or collar those cats, unless you can invent a raccoon-proof cat house idea that somehow integrates jumping with no ability to climb into the entrance, I’d say your best bet is to invest in a raccoon-proof pet feeder, then have the shelter completely free of food. It weighs 13 lbs and measures 32L x 10W x 12H. Cats have also been known to nurse baby raccoons (see nursing video below). Tomahawk Model 608 is The Original Series Raccoon Live Trap designed for raccoon, feral cats, woodchuck / groundhog, armadillo, and similar size animals. They are wild animals, like raccoons. Feral cats can also sometimes prey on endangered species of birds and other mammals, causing serious ecological issues. Animals can use their claws to pull the flap towards them and lift it. Too cats yes humans if they're aren't fed by humans no. I’ve written an article on raccoon-proof pet feeders already so if you’re interested in having a peek at those options, hop on over there. My dual scan cat door is in my bedroom door, so I hear and see all this going on in middle of the night. Please note the word “DualScan” here is very important. Raccoons can be a nuisance by tipping over your trash cans, destroying your garden or crops and damaging your home’s insulation, wood, shingles, wall or electrical wiring. While this is typically hard to do, toys like these that allow cats to play by themselves make the job one heck of a lot easier. What is DualScan techology? These colonies will normally stick together and help feed, protect, and shelter the group. What we’re really talking about is managed colonies, with a human feeding the cats, caring for them, getting them health care, providing them shelter.”. If you read the reviews of sureflap it clears shows that it is not racoon proof. You can browse through a slew of mixed reviews – both positive & negative – on the SureFlap DualScan right here, specifically written by reviewers looking to keep raccoons out. She plans to build sheds to house the animals on her property, according to the release. The hits in my household are ridiculously affordable: cat springs, ball track toys, & kick sticks. ​PetSafe Healthy Pet– Best-selling raccoon proof automatic cat feeder - slow feed cat bowl. And maybe this whole raccoons-can’t-jump-high technique to solving the problem could be useful information for creating a DIY raccoon-proof cat shelter & cat house in the right hands. Feed the cats twice a day and pick up the left over food. That said, the reviews that mention keeping out raccoons are positive, so it does seem a viable option that’s typically easier to find at a less expensive price. Since raccoons are so incredibly dexterous with their paws, a lot of times, when we humans try to make arrangements to keep them out of places they shouldn’t be getting into – they outsmart us, and find a way in nonetheless. They are usually the offspring of cats who were lost or abandoned by their owners, and they grow up not socialized to humans. “What we’ve done historically hasn’t gotten us anywhere,” she says. (This article is part of the support material for the alternative theory of evolutionoffered on this website.) By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. The same pet parent went on to say in her response to whether this would prevent raccoons from entering, that in particular cases, it did not and actually created a really frightening situation: “I no longer use this dual scan model b/c my cat would hear raccoons trying to get in at night, and get real close to the door to find out what all the noises on the other side were about, and start hissing to protect his territory, and inadvertently, b/c the microchip that releases the door latch is in his neck, the dual scan door would become unlocked which would then allow the raccoon to come inside the house. It’s a shame this reviewer didn’t know the DualScan technology was important to keeping raccoons out, leading him to buy the original instead when what he needed was the DualScan version; but it’s also really nice of him to point out the importance of the feature for others in the same boat as him, so they don’t end up buying the wrong product for their needs as well. It should come as no surprise, then, that a lot of cat products on the market that should work (theoretically) at keeping raccoons out, don’t actually do the trick.