My funny girl

[Marty]

Biscotti is about 12, basset maybe mixed with beagle (a rescue from the shelter when she was about 2).


I was in the shower and came out to hear her cry for help. She must have been chasing cats again, climbed up on the woodpile (a little higher than the couch she gets on), and was afraid to jump down (arthritis).

Mom to the rescue again! Oh, Biscotti, what am I going to do with you...you aren't a puppy honey!

I love cats, I really do. But is there a way to safely discourage them from entering my yard? I would never do anything to harm them (there are 2 known),

My next door neighbor lost his dog last Fall, so the cats have another yard to wander through.

I don't mean to sound nasty...these cats are well fed, look healthy...must belong to somebody...

But do they have to haunt my backyard, and cause my dogs to bark?

Rant over...I feel better.

[Traci]

What kind of a fence do you have, where the cats are getting into?

[Marty]

My fence is 4' chain link and some of it is covered by a honeysuckle vine...then there is a 6' drainage easement...then my back neighbor has a 6' wooden privacy fence. The cats sit on the crosspiece of the privacy fence, and just in the past year or so, have been bold enough to hop into my yard on occasion. Between my dogs and the one next door, the cats kept away, except for the wood fence part. But the dog next door passed away 6 months ago, so now the cats seem to think they are masters of the universe (I know, I know...they are).

Bassets aren't as fast as other dogs, so I'm not worried the cats will get hurt. But Bassets are also very vocal, and that does not make some neighbors too happy. The ones on both sides of me are OK with it, but there are some others who find them annoying (probably the cat owners).

I have no idea who owns the cats, so it would be hard to talk to them about the dangers outside cats are exposed to...if they would even listen...not around here...

[Traci]

I'm not sure what you can do, Marty, if they are already jumping the fence, they will keep doing so.

But, I gotta ask, what is in your yard that is so attracting? Do you have nice shady trees, beautiful flower gardens, great places for a cat to explore?

I know what you mean about barking dogs, but if it's only temporary, does anyone really complain? If not, don't worry so much.

I'll take your curious cats, you take my curious deer, deal?

[k9Karen]

I have the same problem. My next door neighbor's cat will climb their privacy fence and walk along the top of it. There is no talking to the neighbor, they are from a different country and don't believe in indoor animals. Even their birds are kept in cages on their porch (they do bring them in if it gets too cold). The cat also likes to walk through our yard. I think it is attracted to the squirrels in our large laurel oak. Foxy saw him one time and shot out the door like a bullet. The cat was quite shocked and almost didn't make it to the fence ahead of Foxy. I honestly don't know what she would have done if she had caught up with it. She has never given me any reason to believe she would hurt him, but I don't really know for sure. Any cat that would willingly enter a yard where there are 3 dogs must have a screw loose somewhere!