Can cats and raccoons be best friends? It all depends on their environment. In some cases, raccoons may be more tolerant of cats while others may be very destructive, consuming cats, kittens, and even dogs. So, how can you prevent raccoons from attacking your cat? Read on to discover some of the best ways to keep your raccoons out of your yard.
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Keeping cats and raccoons indoors
To prevent raccoons from entering your home, you should keep your trash cans and food out of reach. Keep them out of the house by locking the lids or placing double bags inside. Also, make sure to clean out all crumbs and food from the ground around your pet’s feeding areas. Raccoons will also be attracted to food in your garbage can. If you don’t want them to invade your home, make sure your garbage cans are kept indoors at night.
You should never feed a raccoon, as it will simply try to find food in your garbage. Not only will this make them easy prey for other animals, but it will also encourage them to return to your home as food. If you have a cat door installed, be sure to keep your pet safe by blocking it. If a raccoon attempts to enter your home through a cat door, it can be fatal for both animals.
Keeping raccoons out of your garbage cans
If you have a raccoon problem, one of your best options is to remove your garbage cans from your property. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders who thrive in urban environments. Trash is an easy source of food and contains a host of garbage and food scraps that they can easily find and eat. You can also move your garbage cans to another part of your property, but you must make sure you do this in an organized manner.
While you can’t completely stop raccoons from stealing your trash, you can discourage them from eating your food. Make sure you use a garbage can strap whenever you place your trash in your yard. Remember that these devices don’t always work, as some raccoons are craftier than others. You should use these straps every time you dispose of garbage. Raccoons can also be attracted to trash cans that are too attractive for them.
Keeping them out of your yard
Raccoons are omnivores that will eat anything that is offered to them. Fortunately, their omnivorous diet makes them easy to control. Their favorite food sources include birdbaths and trash cans. Using motion-sensor lights in your yard can prevent raccoons from accessing these food sources. If you do have a fruit tree, consider getting rid of it, as raccoons can eat the fruit off of it.
One effective way to keep cats and raccoons out of the yard is to keep your garden and fruits and vegetables out of their reach. Raccoons are nocturnal, so they are most active during the night. Therefore, if you notice that your fruit and vegetables are being damaged at 3 a.m., you should act immediately to prevent damage to them. A scent barrier around your yard will help keep them away and prevent future damage.
Keeping them from eating your cat’s food
If you’re concerned about raccoons stealing your cat’s food, there are many ways to prevent them from doing so. One way to keep them away from your food is to avoid giving them a choice in the matter. For example, you could place the food dish on a platform that is at least 40 inches high, and cover it with a piece of smooth plastic or metal. This will discourage raccoons from entering your home.
Another effective way of keeping raccoons from your cat’s food is to put up a fence around your yard or attic. Raccoons are drawn to open spaces, so they’re likely to find food in your attic. If you don’t have a fence, consider installing a motion-activated sprinkler. These sprinklers will spray water at raccoons, and they don’t like to get wet.
Sharing diseases
If you live near a raccoon, there is a chance your cat has contracted a raccoon disease. The feces of raccoons contain the protozoan Giardia. Your pet can contract Giardia by drinking water contaminated with raccoon feces. Symptoms of Giardia infection include diarrhea and foul-smelling stool. In severe cases, your cat may be anorexic or have abdominal cramps.
The best way to tell if you have a raccoon disease is to contact a raccoon humane society. This organization can help you locate an infected raccoon, and it will take care of it humanely. Infected raccoons can be dangerous because of their vulnerability to rabies. It is also important to keep a safe distance from infected raccoons.