Cat problem

[silverfoxcc]

Have Hedgehogs visit in the summer One took up residence in a hoghouse i 'built' outside the front door and have video of them collecting leaves for hibernation. Hedgehog sites suggest that food be kept out as hogs do not always lay dormant for months but sometimes pop out for a snack. So Hog food and clean water was left out. Noticed that the food had gone so put the trailcam out to pick up any movement.
Turns out cats like hog food, but it got a bit more interesting when this cat attacked a passing fox that turned up

Now i guess that this is feral as it wanted that food at all costs cant see a domestic one doing it

Now Apart from the usual PH options shooting,poison hanging etc, how do i get rid of this cat without doing it permanent physical damage.
Would it get the message with the water rifles ( those the kids use?) saw one that fires water gel pellets but even i think thst may be a bit OTT
What cat repellant noise machines will do the same without causing problems to the hog, and now the fox and my neighbours dog do any good
I think it has found a mate as there are some nights it has taken to a bit of 'singing'
Catching it and taking it to a rescue centre as it has been seen most nights recently and i cannot understand any animal lover doing that to even a cat
Really need suggestions
would throwing catnip some way away help

[paintman]

Have a word with some of your neighbours to see if the cat belongs to them.
Cats are greedy b's & may well a local pet.
You might want to either stop the food temporarily or alter your feeding station so the cat can't get at it.

A healthy adult cat will see a fox off without much difficulty - the fox will likely know all about cats & won't risk getting into a scrap with a well armed, vocal & violent opponent.

Don't bother with catnip - it isn't a cat repellent.

The supersoaker is a good call.

[Howard-]

I had similar last year.

Noticed a hedgehog rustling around the bottom of the garden one summer evening. Went onto Amazon and bought a cheap trail cam. Surprisingly decent quality and caught about 4 hedgehogs most nights!

Built a little hog feeding/drinking station out of an old plastic box. Noticed a cat managed to get to the food. Next night I put the food at the back. Cat stuffed its head into the box and shunted it out of the way. Couple of bricks on top of the box did the trick - cat tried again for a couple of days and then gave up.

[bigandclever]

paintman said:

Don't bother with catnip - it isn't a cat repellent.

That’s not what he meant. He meant put a pile of it well away from the hedgehog hotel so the cat goes there to get off its nut.

[paintman]

.....and keeps coming back for its next fix

[oakdale]

If you stop the cat coming, the fox will get the food and if you stop the fox, rats will get it. If you leave out food at night, anything that's about is going to eat it.

[blueg33]

Have two hedgehogs and 2 cats. I made a feeding station with a simple tunnel for the hedgehogs to get in that cats cant fit into or reach down. You can see the tunnel entrance in the pic below The odd wood mouse shares the hedgehog food.




I have vids too