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View Full Version : What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?


Kat2
11-02-2016, 06:14 PM
I'm asking because I know there are at least 2 obviously boy felines that wander in my yard; I've seen them during the day. They along with 2 others I've seen in the past are probably "drop offs" since my neighborhood is prime for that. They seem hungry and I don't mind feeding them. But for the past month I have not been home regularly during daylight hours; this pattern will change on Saturday for the next 2 months but for now food is out during dark hours mainly.

Who is eating the food after hours? Armadillos, I doubt. Rats? Hope not. Coons? Perhaps--I do have a bowl of water beside the food. Any ideas as to what is dining at Kat2's place?

Jose263
11-02-2016, 08:34 PM
I'm asking because I know there are at least 2 obviously boy felines that wander in my yard; I've seen them during the day. They along with 2 others I've seen in the past are probably "drop offs" since my neighborhood is prime for that. They seem hungry and I don't mind feeding them. But for the past month I have not been home regularly during daylight hours; this pattern will change on Saturday for the next 2 months but for now food is out during dark hours mainly.

Who is eating the food after hours? Armadillos, I doubt. Rats? Hope not. Coons? Perhaps--I do have a bowl of water beside the food. Any ideas as to what is dining at Kat2's place?
If it is a coons it will probably bring friends and family to the feast. Get a cheap trail cam and find out for sure.

Tytaylor77
11-02-2016, 11:31 PM
Possums love cat food more than cats. They are also fearless so sooner or later you will see one if they are around.

beam2050
11-03-2016, 07:18 AM
yes the possums become relatively tame. I have not seen many coons after cat food, however the smaller possums usually are close by and eventually you will see one in the daytime at the feeder.

Jose263
11-03-2016, 07:38 AM
yes the possums become relatively tame. I have not seen many coons after cat food, however the smaller possums usually are close by and eventually you will see one in the daytime at the feeder.

When I lived in town, I found a possum that took up residence in my garage close to the dog food bowl and he didn't like being evicted. :woohoonaner:

beam2050
11-03-2016, 08:20 AM
yes they do not move easily.

edwmax
11-03-2016, 09:10 AM
I've seen small coons at the cat's bowel; But, possums will move-in. I've seen mama and two little ones eating along side of the cats. .... I just evicted a Mama and a baby .... 410 ga. They were knocking the chicken feed buckets open and helping them selves. They will also kill and eat chickens.

Kat2
11-03-2016, 09:36 AM
I'm know there are coons around here; I'm not sure if there are possums. When I had chickens, we trapped a mink, a possum, 2 coons and a skunk; they were dispatched and became buzzard food. I understand animals killing to eat but taking just a bite and killing another 1 or 2 is wrong.

I have a camera here left by former owner; maybe I should see if it works?

Food is out now but will be brought in tonight.

beam2050
11-03-2016, 10:43 AM
there is a cheaper way of doing it. on a dark night, about 9 or 10, take a can of sardenes and place out back here you can turn on light and see it from a window. after placing it wait about 10 - 15 minutes, turn on the back light and watch your back yard move. I wont tell you how to get rid of them, especially coons. but I will say a gun and one shot does the trick.

edwmax
11-03-2016, 11:09 AM
there is a cheaper way of doing it. on a dark night, about 9 or 10, take a can of sardenes and place out back here you can turn on light and see it from a window. after placing it wait about 10 - 15 minutes, turn on the back light and watch your back yard move. I wont tell you how to get rid of them, especially coons. but I will say a gun and one shot does the trick.

There are cats around too ... The sardines will be gone before you can get back to the house.

beam2050
11-03-2016, 11:20 AM
my ex-wife liked to call me a baby animal killer. well one night she saw a coon in the garbage can so decided to put out cat food for it in the carport where my boat was. undaunted by my warnings she did it anyway. well after awhile, maybe a week, there where 5 coons eating cat food. this was in the middle of Jacksonville fla. when she had trouble getting out of her car, fearing she would be bitten, she told me to do something about it. instead of a gun being in the middle of the city I used my bow. never saw any cats, like say put it out about 10 minutes before turning the light on. you do not have to shoot anything, just shoot the ground. in my case it was one of the largest possums I had ever seen, I thought it was a big coon. I did not miss. never saw the coons again. now I live in the woods and just feed the cats enough to keep them for the night. ever now and again I see a possum on the porch but none of them have been aggressive so I let them go on there way. when the wife was feeding the cats we had a small possum that stayed in the corner of the porch, our porch is enclosed but no screening, we new he was there and we sit on the porch a lot talking and watching the night or the morning. he never bothered us, we did not bother him.

Kat2
11-03-2016, 11:54 AM
I lived in Jacksonville and know people used fire power there. ;) Even though I now live in the county where all bets are off, I don't own a gun and my friend with one is leaving for 2 months on Saturday. I guess I'll stick to daytime feeding and hope nothing but cats visit. At some point I plan to have chickens again but they'll be housed in a fortress. Prior owner, who sabotaged the stove, toilet, kitchen faucet and slit my heat/ac vents, also left behind a very nice 5 mile fence charger, insulators and wire. Maroon!

beam2050
11-03-2016, 12:16 PM
basically all I was saying you can find out with a quickness what you have out there with is using sardines. I guess I should have thought to word the gun part more properly. I have guns and none of them have been shot in years. I have friends that bring me a little deer and I am good with that. hunting takes a lot of time here in florida and I have other things I need to do. course I do take sometime to go fishing in the gulf when my friend from tennesse comes down. we set at his house in the mountains and watch deer and turkey walk by. we set in his porch in the gulf and watch hogs and deer and gators and manatees, but if a snook swims by, Katy bar the door.

Botanical_Bryce
11-03-2016, 02:22 PM
Leaving cat food out? Genius, brilliant, and you are the Darwin award winner.

Kat2
11-03-2016, 02:50 PM
Leaving cat food out? Genius, brilliant, and you are the Darwin award winner.
Wow, just wow!

rottiedog46
11-03-2016, 06:20 PM
Down here in the Keys, the prime suspects would be raccoons, opossums and tree rats. If you have skunks up there, they also love pet food.
:doggyandnaner:

sputinc7
11-03-2016, 08:09 PM
Skunks was the first thing my wife mentioned... Try some rat poison next time and there won't be another next time, plus... cats won't touch it, but all the unwanted critters will.

This works fast and tastes irresistible to them.. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Central-Life-Sciences-100504295-Just-One-Bite-Bars-Box-of-8/21927395?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=335&adid=22222222227016815508&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=52586721375&wl4=pla-79658202975&wl5=9011821&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111830463&wl11=online&wl12=21927395&wl13=&veh=sem

Darkman
11-03-2016, 08:42 PM
About the only thing I haven't seen eat cat food is a snake!

I've even seen birds and large (Florida large) roaches eating it.

Leaving cat food out at night exposes the problem. Now you just have to decide how to handle it. I have a possum problem that I will have to deal with soon. They are digging my mulched garden up at night. Don't think it's an armadillo. I think they are digging up worms. I have thousands of worms everywhere since I have the thick mulch and regularly water.

Good luck and keep us apprised of your progress.

Kat2
11-03-2016, 09:50 PM
I took up the food before I left around 7. There was a cat sitting on my driveway when I walked outside so I grabbed the bowl and started towards it; it ran away before I got very close. It was getting dark so I'm not sure if it's one of the 4 I've seen before. There's a feral colony down the street that are cared for by a woman who doesn't live in the area; she spends her own money for food, "fixing" and such so it's probably not one of hers. Not sure I can afford to feed 5 or even want to. Just 1 or maybe 2 would be fine.

And, yes, I put the food back in the freezer; apparently ants like cat food very much.

beam2050
11-04-2016, 05:00 AM
Skunks was the first thing my wife mentioned... Try some rat poison next time and there won't be another next time, plus... cats won't touch it, but all the unwanted critters will.

This works fast and tastes irresistible to them.. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Central-Life-Sciences-100504295-Just-One-Bite-Bars-Box-of-8/21927395?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=335&adid=22222222227016815508&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=52586721375&wl4=pla-79658202975&wl5=9011821&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111830463&wl11=online&wl12=21927395&wl13=&veh=sem
yes but cats eat some of the pests that eat rat poison.

edwmax
11-04-2016, 08:14 AM
yes but cats eat some of the pests that eat rat poison.

hummm ... It's not likely the rat eat enough poison to kill a full grown cat. But the CYA answer on the "Just One Bite' website is call the Poison Control Center for treatment. ....Just One Bite's Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.justonebitebrand.com/faqs.html) ...

Also, well feed cats (pets) usually do not eat already dead animals they find. They prefer to kill their prey. It's more fun!

Champhibian
11-04-2016, 06:57 PM
In the Florida Keys my trail cams have picked up as many raccoons eating the cat food as cats, if not more. I cannot say I have ever seen an opossum at the dishes on camera, but live catch trap results suggest they're just not as good at setting off the motion sensor. Rats are indeed too small to set it off and there's no way those cockroaches of the mammal world are passing it up. Snakes will come looking for the rats, and the native snakes will stand no chance with cats around. But pythons will. In fact all this supplemental mammal feeding everyone is doing will ultimately turn into a python-a-thon. Fire ants and carpenter ants also relish cat food very much.

Darkman
11-05-2016, 07:24 AM
Welcome Champhibian,

Looks like this is your first post! Congratulations. If you haven't already, post in the new members area a little bit about yourself. Looks like you live in paradise in the Keys. Interesting name Champhibian! Is there a story behind that. There is a South American lizard that has invaded the Glades and upper Keys. Have you seen them? They probably eat cat food too!

scashaggy
11-05-2016, 02:00 PM
I saw a bufo toad eating bread that was thrown outside for the birds. I imagine they would eat pet food as well.

Champhibian
11-07-2016, 05:21 PM
Interesting name Champhibian! Is there a story behind that. There is a South American lizard that has invaded the Glades and upper Keys. Have you seen them? They probably eat cat food too!

I came up with that name by marrying the words "Champlain" and "amphibian" because at a family summer residence on the NY lake by that name there seems to be world-record-sized swimming salamanders that account for stories of a lake monster. We have our own crummy photograph of one of these critters at dusk consistent with a youtube video by user "mookibone."

As for South American lizards on the loose in my neck of the woods, I've seen tegus, amievas, rainbow lizards, and a whole bunch of stuff.

Darkman
11-08-2016, 12:47 AM
The tegus are what.I was referring to. They can give a nasty bite and seem to adapt readily to suburban life. I would think that cats and small dogs would be fair game to them. If I remember correctly they have very strong jaws. Probably strong enough to eat small pythons! LOL

That's a good name.

Kat2
11-08-2016, 07:33 AM
Mystery perhaps solved, perhaps? Food was inside as it has been since my life calmed down but I left 6 corncob halves by my backdoor; it was too dark to navigate to the compost pile. This morning 1 has been chewed to a pile of "kernels". Never known a cat to chow down on cobs so I'm thinking coon. Sound right?

beam2050
11-08-2016, 08:17 AM
Mystery perhaps solved, perhaps? Food was inside as it has been since my life calmed down but I left 6 corncob halves by my backdoor; it was too dark to navigate to the compost pile. This morning 1 has been chewed to a pile of "kernels". Never known a cat to chow down on cobs so I'm thinking coon. Sound right?

needs more salt.

Kat2
11-08-2016, 06:08 PM
needs more salt.Mucho salt, butter and Parm cheese. Whatever showed up, apparently liked it. Kinda. Pile looked like they regurgitated the cob. Guess there was enough salt to "chew on it" for a bit. Gotta grab the bowl; stupid DST means it's dark already.

Kat2
11-14-2016, 05:59 PM
Minutes ago I stepped into my kitchen and turned on the light. I saw the original cat from my quest from months ago take off. I set down the food bowl. He or something will dine tonight.

Worm_Farmer
11-18-2016, 04:57 PM
I'm late and didn't read above.

Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcats, Bear, Panter, Pigs and homeless people. At least I have been able to trap all of the above with cans of cat food.

cincinnana
11-18-2016, 08:16 PM
I'm late and didn't read above.

Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcats, Bear, Panter, Pigs and homeless people. At least I have been able to trap all of the above with cans of cat food.

I caught a couple of these last week.....

https://c5.staticflickr.com/4/3905/14558799020_8b90b8ae4d.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/obvDJd)
Blueberry Baby (https://flic.kr/p/obvDJd) by lifes ill (https://www.flickr.com/photos/defjux/),
on Flickr

Kat2
11-19-2016, 06:49 AM
I caught a couple of these last week.....

https://c5.staticflickr.com/4/3905/14558799020_8b90b8ae4d.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/obvDJd)
Blueberry Baby (https://flic.kr/p/obvDJd) by lifes ill (https://www.flickr.com/photos/defjux/),
on Flickr
Are you feeding them cat food?

Snarkie
11-21-2016, 12:39 PM
Okay, so let's get a pro in here on this...

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60900 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=60900&ppuser=19953)


Aside from other cats, possums are #1 when it comes to eating cat food.

Raccoons are more partial to meat scraps and shiny things.

DO NOT PUT OUT POISON!!! You will probably involve a few neighbors' cats, and if I find out it was you, I will track you down to all 72 corners of the Earth. So...

Set a trap. Catch the bugger. I have mellowed in my later years. Years ago, I would have simply shot them. I now trap them, pick them up and pet them, and then take them for a ride into the country, where I then turn them loose.

Possums do NOT carry rabies! Their body temp is 3F too cool to contain the virus. Never be afraid of a possum. It's the coons and skunks that concern me.

Skunks are really friendly, so it can be hard to tell if they are looking for a handout, or trying to kill you. Just avoid them if you are unsure.

Raccoons are typically nocturnal, so if you see one during the day, be aware! A few years ago, my neighbor called me about a coon trying to open her front door. I grabbed my 9mm and hotfooted it down the street. We had a close encounter, where I talked to it, and it shrieked at me just before it came towards me...

On the phone with 911 at the time. First shot fired through the chest. It looked at me and blinked, like "Why did you just do that?" That is a confirmation, my friends. If you ever shoot something or someone, and they ask you why you just did that, it's a pretty good indication that they are not in their correct venues.

Followed by a shot over the fence into the heart, and a third into the head. It was confirmed rabid.

Do not trust cats, skunks, coons, foxes, or coyotes. All are in the temp range to carry rabies. If you trap one of these, call Animal Control. Unless you know the difference. My favorite cat was a stray that bit me on our first encounter.

When in doubt; SHOUT!

Kat2
11-23-2016, 05:12 PM
When in doubt; SHOUT!
Funny, I was always told to SHOOT when in doubt.

Says the old bat who owns no firearms which is probably a good thing since I could probably, maybe, hit the broad side of a barn but then all bets are off. :ha:

Snarkie
11-23-2016, 05:42 PM
Well, by shout, I meant call 911. When shouting didn't work, shooting did the trick.

Some neighbors who didn't know me were having a cookout in a nearby yard. They started yelling and bitching about me discharging a firearm in city limits. I told them I was on the phone with Dispatch. They kept it up until I badged them. Then they all got really quiet and left.

Kat2
11-23-2016, 07:29 PM
Badged? What the heck is that?

Snarkie
11-23-2016, 07:34 PM
In addition to the one pinned on my chest, I also have one in my wallet. When you ID yourself, it's called, "badging."

Kat2
11-23-2016, 07:47 PM
So what gives you "badge" rights?

Snarkie
11-23-2016, 07:57 PM
The one in my wallet. Did you miss the big pic of me in uniform? :waving:

Kat2
11-23-2016, 08:07 PM
No, I didn't miss it but I am not a "uniform" kind of gal so I haven't a clue what any of them mean. Sorry.

cincinnana
11-24-2016, 07:43 AM
Stray Kats?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEtbfzMLVWU

Snarkie
11-24-2016, 09:12 AM
No, I didn't miss it but I am not a "uniform" kind of gal so I haven't a clue what any of them mean. Sorry.Okasy, if you've ever seen a plain clothes cop ID themselves to someone, that's badging. :p

Kat2
11-24-2016, 09:13 AM
Good one! Love that guy's hair.

Food is still put away at sunset but now something is drinking a bowlful of water every night; it's dry as a bone come morning. Do I need to remove that also?

Kat2
11-24-2016, 09:17 AM
Okasy, if you've ever seen a plain clothes cop ID themselves to someone, that's badging. :pI haven't. I try very hard to avoid "those" situations and people who get into them.

Kat who has been driving since 5/8/1970 but has never had a moving violation or accident. (Parking tickets? Sure. I lived in the DC area so that's a given.)

Snarkie
11-24-2016, 09:32 AM
I'm sure you've seen it on TV though. ;)

Kat2
11-24-2016, 10:03 AM
I'm sure you've seen it on TV though. ;)Possibly. I'm more of a chick flick kind of female.:ha:

beam2050
12-03-2016, 07:16 AM
yes the possums become relatively tame. I have not seen many coons after cat food, however the smaller possums usually are close by and eventually you will see one in the daytime at the feeder.
I did not think to add the 2 pair of red cardinals that raid our cat dishes. but why I have come back to this post is this guy. he started showing up a little after kat2 started this thread. last night he finally started not running off when he saw us.http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60952&size=1
no that is not a dog house in the back ground its a cat house and he does not live in it. we are calling this guy cat too.

Snarkie
12-03-2016, 06:01 PM
Damned possum!!!

edwmax
12-04-2016, 06:55 AM
Yea ... they get food on a regular bases, then think they own the place and your their Butler! ... hahaha ... I recently evicted 3 at 410 gun-point. They resisted and now history. A few nights ago, I found a 4th little one behind my washer & dryer. I couldn't get my hands on him and haven't seen him around since.

Snarkie
12-04-2016, 08:40 AM
I've gotten soft in my old age, Ed. I used to pop them with a .22, but now I trap them and turn them loose on a dead end road about 1.5 miles away.

Good thing too, because my dad was complaining about a white baby possum living in the shop. Hadn't seen a white one before, so I decided to trap it. This is what I found:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60984&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=60984&ppuser=19953)

She was about eight weeks old there. She's now twice that size and her markings have fully developed. She's a gorgeous fawn-point Thai. To an 82 y/o guy (my dad), I can see how she may have looked like a baby possum with that gray tail and ears, LOL. Someone lost an expensive kitten. :eek:

beam2050
12-04-2016, 09:25 AM
yeah I have guns and traps. just don't leave food out at night and baby sit the food during the day if you can. they will move off. but as long as it does not get to be to many and they don't leave a mess its kind of fun watching them.

edwmax
12-04-2016, 10:05 AM
I've gotten soft in my old age, Ed. I used to pop them with a .22, but now I trap them and turn them loose on a dead end road about 1.5 miles away.

Good thing too, because my dad was complaining about a white baby possum living in the shop. Hadn't seen a white one before, so I decided to trap it. This is what I found:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60984&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=60984&ppuser=19953)

She was about eight weeks old there. She's now twice that size and her markings have fully developed. She's a gorgeous fawn-point Thai. To an 82 y/o guy (my dad), I can see how she may have looked like a baby possum with that gray tail and ears, LOL. Someone lost an expensive kitten. :eek:


I got 16 of those. Fawn & blue point; a couple of yellow tabbies (one bob tail); and 3 are charcoal gray; White with light yellow rings on the tail; and a Black cat that is Mama to the the fawn & Blue points.

edwmax
12-04-2016, 11:05 AM
yeah I have guns and traps. just don't leave food out at night and baby sit the food during the day if you can. they will move off. but as long as it does not get to be to many and they don't leave a mess its kind of fun watching them.

I wasn't leaving food out. The possums would knock the chicken feed bucket over & lid off to eat the feed. I found 2 at the bucket trying to get the lid off. ... If they can't get to the feed, chickens are missing the next day. I think they would climb the tree and knock the chicken off her roost. The possum and/or bobcat don't mess with the chickens in the pens. I have an electric wire around the top. ... I can't use a trap because of my cats. They would be in it.

The reason I got the 410 shotgun was because of a hawk getting the young chicks during the day. This past summer I found 3 different piles of feathers in mid-morning and no dead chicks. I also noticed when a large bird flew over all the chickens ran for cover.

My problems are hawk, possum, bobcat, coyote, and the neighbors dogs. The dogs I shot in the ass with a BB gun, They don't come back any more. ... For the coyotes, a AR15 is on stand by. I saw fresh coyote tracks yesterday. And the 410 is double duty on the possums or bobcats at night.

Oh. The neighbor is a County Animal Control Officer. It was his dogs I shot in the ass in my yard. He called the Sheriff dept in April. So me & 3 Deputies had a serious discussion. (I'm a retired Georgia Cert. reserve Deputy of 20 years) Seems I scared the hell out his 8 year son when I tried to shot the dog with the BB gun. ... this is a long story, but the deputies left to have a discussion with the neighbor about his underage son riding an ATV on public roads and unable to control the large nuisance dog.

Snarkie
12-04-2016, 11:28 AM
Ed, I love ya! That is too funny.

Most cops don't understand the laws they are trying to enforce, and when someone schools them on the law, they don't know what to do!

Several years back, I had a problem with a neighbor trespassing on a right-of-way through my property. I ran him out and called the cops. When they showed up, they told me there was nothing they could do, as he had to be there and they had to tell him in person. Nope!

I said, "Under NCGS 14-159.13, if the property is posted at every corner and every 200 yards along each boundary line, you are authorized to arrest on a first offense without being present."

He admitted he did not know that. Sounds like your deps need a schooling as well.

edwmax
12-04-2016, 11:59 AM
Ed, I love ya! That is too funny.

Most cops don't understand the laws they are trying to enforce, and when someone schools them on the law, they don't know what to do!

Several years back, I had a problem with a neighbor trespassing on a right-of-way through my property. I ran him out and called the cops. When they showed up, they told me there was nothing they could do, as he had to be there and they had to tell him in person. Nope!

I said, "Under NCGS 14-159.13, if the property is posted at every corner and every 200 yards along each boundary line, you are authorized to arrest on a first offense without being present."

He admitted he did not know that. Sounds like your deps need a schooling as well.

noop ... they knew darn well I had the right to defend my property. They were trying to show their ass and throw their fat ass weight around.

The lieutenant told me the next time to call them if there was a problem that I couldn't shoot the dogs. I asked him: 'I was to call 911 and stand around watching the dog kill my little dog & chickens while waiting for them to get here?' ... He said No, No. ... I cut him off short and told the lieutenant his argument just ended and they had no more reason to be here, I did what I had to do!

Picture this: I when to Walmart for fresh CO2 cartridges. When I got back (may be 20 min) 3 patrol cars had pulled in on my lawn surrounding my house. I pulled in behind them, got out of the car asked 'what's going on?? Someone in my house?' ... Before they left I also got on their butts about driving all over my yard/grass and pointed out they did not know where the septic tank was nor if there was a sprinkler system in the yard to be damaged. They had no reason to leave the road or the driveway.

Snarkie
12-04-2016, 12:07 PM
Yeah, if your feel your life or safety is in jeopardy, you can shoot them. At least here in NC.

If they were parked on your lawn, you should have gotten pics and contacted the local news station. Sounds to me, that you don't take crap off of anyone either.

edwmax
12-04-2016, 12:51 PM
Yeah, if your feel your life or safety is in jeopardy, you can shoot them. At least here in NC.

If they were parked on your lawn, you should have gotten pics and contacted the local news station. Sounds to me, that you don't take crap off of anyone either.

I'm too old to take crap and know better anyway. The last thing the Deputies would want to do is pull 'color of law' Sect. 8 violation or my civil rights. I'll own their ass as well as having another nice income.

Snarkie
12-04-2016, 01:18 PM
Get off my lawn!!!

beam2050
12-08-2016, 01:31 PM
heres a picture of cat I took Tuesday night. the wife was sitting 4 ft from it and he hung with us for nearly 2 hrs.http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61017&size=1

Snarkie
12-08-2016, 02:53 PM
Yeah, those "possum pussies" like to hiss an awful lot, but they are all show and no go. Pick them up and start petting them, and they don't know what to do. They usually faint.

Skunks are like that too. I had an uncle that used to catch skunks for people. He'd call them over and start talking to them; petting and coo-cooing. Then, he'd pick them up and stuff them into a bag. They always fell for it.

beam2050
12-08-2016, 03:03 PM
Yeah, those "possum pussies" like to hiss an awful lot, but they are all show and no go. Pick them up and start petting them, and they don't know what to do. They usually faint.

Skunks are like that too. I had an uncle that used to catch skunks for people. He'd call them over and start talking to them; petting and coo-cooing. Then, he'd pick them up and stuff them into a bag. They always fell for it.

well I have not intentions of petting this guy, haha. he will move off in time.

Kat2
12-08-2016, 03:07 PM
well I have not intentions of petting this guy, haha. he will move off in time.
If you have the chance, quote Horace Greeley to him--firmly. I'd prefer that he and his buds not come east.

Snarkie
12-08-2016, 03:11 PM
If you have the chance, quote Horace Greeley to him--firmly. I'd prefer that he and his buds not come east."Go west, Young Marsupial?"

Snarkie
12-08-2016, 03:16 PM
well I have not intentions of petting this guy, haha. he will move off in time.He will, but you can pick him up without any repercussions. Put him in a box and take him for a ride. Unless it's a she, in which case you'll 12 more of these next year...

They rarely bite, and when they do, they don't carry rabies, so it's no different than getting bitten by a Guinea pig.

beam2050
12-08-2016, 04:01 PM
I have had them come around before for many many years. hopefully this one will go on like the others. fun to see them for a little while. if not I will trap it and take it for a long ride and let it live in the wild like it is supposed to.

bananimal
05-01-2017, 05:24 PM
Had to add to the story after what has been going on lately. I have a fenced in yard with a pool and enclosure. I walk the 3 dogs outside the enclosure. Used to leave the poop and bag it up in the AM. About a month ago the dog poop started disappearing overnite!!!!!

Turned out to be rats. I now have to pick it up before nightfall.
And set traps.
I also spread around some Tomcat bait chunks over the fence in the wooded lot next door.

Gimme a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


5/6 UPDATE ------- Did a walk around last PM on the Tomcat baits and every one had been carried off overnight. About 20 baits total. Spaced about 8 ft apart. This is why it's a big problem. There's a friggin army of the furry bestids out there!!!!!

Kat2
05-07-2017, 08:02 PM
Turned out to be rats. Yes, rats love dog poop. When I lived in MD on the cusp of DC my neighbor had 3 dogs (illegal without a kennel permit) who pooped in her small yard. She never had any issues with their leavings. I, on the other hand, was quite dismayed that the vermin drawn to those canine treats also came to my yard to finish off their meal with my grapes and other fruits.

At the time (prior to the PETA nonsense) the city gave out square bait blocks (peanut butter flavored I was told---I'm not sure because I didn't sample them) with a hole in the center that homeowners could set in their yard. We were told to securely wire them using coat hangers; we ignored the instructions with the 1st 15 we received and they promptly disappeared overnight. The next 15 and 15 and 15 and 15 (we were regular customers) were secured so they went away much slower at that point. I never did get rid of all of the rats and the EX shot 34 squirrels in less than 18 months (shhhh! even BB guns are illegal in the city) but no more clawed their way into my attic surrounded by no trees! I finally got to eat a few grapes.

I'm sure I told the story about how I moved into my jungle hovel (foreclosure) where the prior owners kept snakes (and dogs and cats and who knows what else) and the next door neighbor supported himself raising pinkies before his place as "sold out from under him" so naturally I had 3 "house rats" living with me. When one got into bed with me a few months later--seriously--I declared war.

I won.

Two years later I sometimes wake up in a hot sweat (heck, this is FL--nobody sweats cold) and wonder if "they're back". They're not but it doesn't help that a slimy SKINK finds his way inside often. He runs down the hall and into my room sometimes unless I see him first and tell him loudly to go away. Gazing at me feigning both confusion and deafness for a minute he then scurries back down the hall. Ron says I should be glad he's on patrol because that nasty thing is why I don't have bugs.

Okay.

Fine.

I need a resident bugeater.

I want a gecko...

Snarkie
05-08-2017, 05:31 PM
Years ago, I worked in a cabinet shop. We had huge rats that would come out at night. I set standard rat traps with McDonalds chicken McNuggets. I caught the 14" queen. Then, others started using this and we got the 18" king and even trapped two rats at the same time.

Use your own judgment, but set out a trap with a realistic bait. I've trapped a bunch of cats over the years; screening out cat goodies as opposed to possums. My best cats were strays. I shot the possums and in the case of the rabid raccoon, I shot him live on the phone with 911 as he attacked me.

If it's a kitty, keep it. If not, use your own judgment.

Kat2
05-08-2017, 07:17 PM
I have a temporary cat of sorts. Someone put it in my neighbor's car when she was grocery shopping. She took it to her vet to determine age (6 weeks or so) and to get fleas treated. She has a dog and 2 cats; she can't chance infecting them with a stranger. So I'm fostering this tiny creature who nearly fits in my hand. Is this her forever home? IF she can figure out the litter box (hasn't shown any interest yet), perhaps. :ha:

A few minutes after she arrived...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61542&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61542&ppuser=17055)

About an hour later...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61543&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61543&ppuser=17055)

And now she's curled up on that black blanket (loves black) sleeping like she belongs in my hovel. IF she chases SKINKS out of my domain, she very possibly will remain here. Hey, before anyone thinks I'm about to abandon her know that I accepted caring for her because my neighbor couldn't and neither of us wanted her to be dropped off at a regular shelter. I don't know how to contact our local cat lady but see her regularly at yard sales; She's set up her estate to provide places for cats so this precious little one will have a home. She's curled up at my feet sleeping peacefully...

ETA: Now she's gently clawing my ankles and "massaging" my legs. Darn...


.

bananimal
05-09-2017, 04:39 PM
The lady in Home Depot was an expert on rat trapping. She said best bait she found was beef jerky. So I got a small pack of Slim Jims. Will try it out soon and report.

Years ago, I worked in a cabinet shop. We had huge rats that would come out at night. I set standard rat traps with McDonalds chicken McNuggets. I caught the 14" queen. Then, others started using this and we got the 18" king and even trapped two rats at the same time.

Use your own judgment, but set out a trap with a realistic bait. I've trapped a bunch of cats over the years; screening out cat goodies as opposed to possums. My best cats were strays. I shot the possums and in the case of the rabid raccoon, I shot him live on the phone with 911 as he attacked me.

If it's a kitty, keep it. If not, use your own judgment.

barnetmill
08-23-2017, 11:50 PM
I am sure everyone has mentioned raccoons and possums. At night in florida are many rodents about that might eat cat food. These include various rat like creatures and flying squirrels that might eat cat food. some places also have skunks. I have to elevate the cat food so my dogs do not eat it so that avoids the armadillos and I am sure the dogs would discourage them along with the coons and possums. Foxes and coyotes will eat cat food and also your cat if they can catch. Not likely but possible could be a bobcat. My dogs will likely keep the larger denizens of the dark at bay and away from the house.

bananimal
08-24-2017, 02:53 PM
Beef jerky, aka Slim Jims, works like a charm. Cleaned all the ratz out from under the shed. Few months later and their back. The min pin races around the shed looking for them. Have screening installed as a skirt so he can't crawl under. :08: Doesn't stop the Ratz though!!!:08:

aruzinsky
09-06-2017, 09:28 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTcjzaqL0pE

Snarkie
09-06-2017, 03:26 PM
I actually got curious about three months ago and tried some moist cat food. Not too bad. I wouldn't put it on crackers mind you, but if I got hungry enough, I'd eat it.

Perhaps you have some hobos in your area.

Snarkie
09-06-2017, 03:45 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTcjzaqL0pECoons can be cute. Back in 1987, a friend of mine and I were camping in Quebec, when a pair of coons came out of the darkness and begged for food. I went through an entire box of Nilla Wafers, but I never tried to pet or even touch them.

Couple years back, my neighbor called in a panic, because a coon had tried to open her front door. I finally found it next door and as soon as it saw me, it went into a rage. I was on the phone with 911 as I shot it through the chest. It blinked and looked at me as though "Why did you just do that?"

I dropped the phone and finished the job. Even though I had IDed myself and shot this thing on the air, it got transferred to dead animal control. Took them TWO DAYS to get the carcass! I asked my X, who dispatches for this department why it took so long. It seems that the instant I pulled the trigger, this rabid animal downgraded to a simple dead animal.

That my friends, is your tax dollars at waste.

edwmax
09-06-2017, 08:26 PM
haha ... He's (dead coon) not going any where, so there was no longer any rush to save him.

cincinnana
11-15-2017, 09:47 PM
Crabs......:08:

obdiah
11-15-2017, 09:55 PM
possum gets my vote I had one that ate cat food off the front porch for several years he became so tame you could walk out on the porch and he would just keep on eating