Outdoor Kitten attracting Male strays-Help!

[Chrissy1972]

Hi All

Back in Aug a litter was born in my bushes. Only one kitten was left behind and I felt bad for her so I started caring for her. My landlords wouldnt allow her inside so they ok'd a pet house for her which has been very suitable for her. She loves it stays warm & dry etc. But now she is about 4 months old and these 3 very large male cats have taken over our yard. I am taking her to be spayed tomorrow. She will be staying at the clinic for the next week until she has healed. Will this stop the male cats from spraying their nasty odor all over the place? Will they go away? I feel so bad. The yard smells like a zoo gone wild. My poor kitty is tramatized and hides in her house almost all day bc she is being chased. She is not a typical ferrell mind you, she comes to me loves to be pet and held. When I come home she greats me at my car, in the mornings she waits for me at my door etc... We both have become very attached to each other and Id hate to have to have her adopted out. Should spaying her fix the male cat problem?

Thanks

[mercedes_baby_boo]

Hi Chrissy! First of all Im not a vet or anything. Just a cat lover and have lots of experience owning them for years. I currently own 7! With that said with my experience when my female cats were outside and were not spayed yet, they attracted stray males at 4 months of age. I took them all the entire litter males and females and had them all spayed and neutered. Once that was done the strays never came back. My cats live on 2 acres and stay here with no other cats trying to take their territory.Now as for the food issue. well I did run into some opossoms eating it as well as a female fox was comeing around. So I simply feed my outdoor cats very quickly in the house and then allow them outside. Which they are more than happy to do since they are not used to the heat. They love to visit are very affectionate total lap lovers. When they want to visit they come to the glass door and wait. lol. I would have all 7 in the house but I use the CatGenie litter box which is attatched to my water line in the laundry room and it automatically scoops,flushes down the line like the washer does, sanitizes, and heat dries the granuales that is not kittylitter and I dont have to change it like normal litter boxes. well long story is the male cats did not like the change from the old style litter box and they wanted outside to go potty with my horses!! lol. But my female cats totally love the always clean litter boxs! So back to your kitty, you may very well find the stray males leave your girl since she wont be in heat any longer. or if you just feed her inside with out allowing her to roam after eating.. just eat and go back out.. she will adjust to that as my boys have and that will end the food issue outside if that is attracting the strays as well.  I really think this will work its way out for your girl so you wont have to relocate her from your loving care.. just be patient. I hope I have helped you and wish you both lots of many years of happiness together! ;)

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Hi Chrissy...I think its wonderful that you are taking care of this little girl.

Unfortunately, the males were probably not attracted by her, but rather by the food you are setting for her.  Without removing the food source, it's going to be pretty difficult to make these guys go away.  Even experts who deal with Trap Neuter and Return programs state that cats will try to return to their "territories" and are difficult to transfer away.

That being said, you could try and get some humane traps from a local shelter and see if someone will from that group will try and transport them far enough away that they won't find their way back.  BUT...I wouldn't be surprised to see them at your doorstep again if your little girl stays outdoors.