Do you have raccoons around your neighborhood?
If you do, feeding your cat may be difficult as these pesky creatures will always try to share your feline’s food or take over completely.
What you’re likely to find most disturbing is how they seem to know the food of your cat.
One funny thing about raccoons is that once they find something to eat in your domain, they’ll put your address in their schedule of daily visits.
So, if you’re wracking your brains on how to help your feline friend with his food situation, you’ve come to the right place.
You’ll find a few ways to keep these raccoons away from your feline’s food in this article. So, better stay tuned.
How to keep raccoons out of cat food
The first thing that you can do is stay with your pet while he takes his food. With you around, raccoons will stay away. Another tip is to reduce your feline’s night meals. Since raccoons are more active at night, it will reduce the chances of having them show up at the “Party.” You may also try to reduce or completely eliminate leftovers from the equation. As an alternative, some people will prefer to feed their cats indoors, out of raccoons’ reach. Also, erecting a fence and sealing all outlets may be the game-changers. If all else fails, you may resort to the use of a raccoon-proof cat feeder or a magnet locking door for the house of your cat.
Hang around while your friend takes his meal
It may be a good idea to stay around and watch your cat eat. No raccoon will show up when you’re with your cat.
Instead of showing up, raccoons will rather hide somewhere, hoping that you’ll step away before the end of the meal.
Unfortunately, this idea cannot work for long because you can’t possibly be around every single time your kitty friend wants to eat.
And you know what? A raccoon can keep checking every single day until the coast is clear for operation.
So, this tip will most likely work for the short term while you’re finding ways to permanently solve this problem.
Reduce night meals
Naturally, raccoons are nocturnal animals. They operate better at night.
So, it is logical that they search for food more during the night than in the day. Hence, the chances of having them hustle your kitten out of his food in the morning or afternoon are quite slim.
This does not mean, though, that raccoons won’t come. It will only reduce their visits since they’re more active at night.
Avoid leftovers
It may also be a good idea to eliminate leftovers, which are often the target of the critters.
Take the time to study the quantity of food your cat eats. That way, there would hardly be remnants left after they take their meal.
When raccoons check for several days and do not find food in your vicinity, your address may be yanked off their daily itinerary.
Feed your cat indoors
You can decide to feed your furry friend inside your apartment, sealing the fate of any raccoon hoping to get a share. There’s no way a raccoon will find its way into your apartment.
Your cat will enjoy the whole of his meal without any uninvited guests. And you won’t need to replenish his food frequently as compared to when raccoons take part in your feline pal’s share.
Invest in a fence
You can also invest in a good fence to ward off raccoons and other pests completely.
Ensure the fence goes several inches below the ground. Raccoons can burrow their way through in a matter of days or weeks.
So, better keep this nifty tip in mind when creating one.
Seal your attic and other possible outlets
It is also necessary to seal your attic or any other outlets through which raccoons can gain entry into your home.
If they can’t enter your house, you won’t need to worry about your cat’s food being shared.
Get a raccoon-proof pet feeder
This is another effective method. There are several types of pet feeders that you can purchase in the market.
What makes these feeders effective in keeping the raccoons off your cat’s food is that they are elevated from the ground. Although raccoons can climb, they are not so good at jumping.
That’s why we’ll suggest that you get a feeder that is at least 40 inches high.
A cat can easily gain access to the top of the feeder but a raccoon can’t, which is why it is a solution to the problem.
Try a magnet locking cat door
Here’s how this works. The unit comes with a sensor-embedded collar.
It keeps the door to your cat’s house always closed.
When the cat approaches the door either from outside or from inside, the sensor in his collar will trigger the opening of the door.
And, once your feline pal’s inside his home, then the door will stay closed for as long as he is inside the area.
Thus, when a raccoon comes around, he won’t be able to enter.
The appliance is battery-operated and it is a new initiative that is fast becoming popular.
Why you should keep raccoons off your property
It turns out that sharing your cat’s food is the least damage a raccoon can do in homes. Here are some of the reasons why you need to get rid of the animal completely.
They are destructive
Apart from digging through the trash, they can destroy your garden in search of bugs too. In addition, raccoons can also destroy your shingles, siding, and other parts of your home.
Raccoons can attack humans and pets
If they feel threatened, raccoons can attack either pets or humans. This case is rare but it has happened before, so you can’t rule its reoccurrence out completely.
They are carriers of several diseases
A diseased raccoon can infect humans and pets through urine, which will be filled with bacteria. In fact, they are the number one carriers of rabies.
And since they are not domestic animals, they are usually not treated.
While there may be other reasons to ward raccoons off your property and pets, the three reasons discussed above are enough to bar them from your home and surrounding.
Conclusion
To keep raccoons off your cat’s meal, it may be a good idea to hang around with your cat when he’s eating. In the alternative, you may have to reduce his night meals and avoid leftovers. Another way out is to feed your cat indoors or erect a fence.
In addition, you may need to seal your attic and other outlets. The other two tips are to invest in a raccoon-proof cat feeder or install a magnet-locking cat door.
Most importantly, it is not enough to prevent raccoons from eating your cat’s food. It is also necessary to keep them off your property totally to avoid other dangers that these creatures can bring to you, your pets, and your home.