Has anyone released where there are neighborhood cats?

[skarabrae]

I get that you really can't get away from domestic animals if you're in town... but after I watched one of the neighborhood cats chasing a juvi squirrel and the squirrel outstrip it by a mile, I became quite curious how much of a threat a cat really is.

The closer our soft release draws (not for another month at least, but I'm already SUPER nervous!!), the more I'm freaking out about releasing them at my in-laws farm where they will have absolutely no direction or help.

So... the options are...

A) Release in my yard (a fenced in just under 1/4 acre with a large pine, large apple and a large maple and small amount of bush in the back.... I can help the squees out and continue to feed them and supervise their release BUT they will potentially encounter domestic animals including my german shepherd/rottweiler mix puppy (who has the prey drive of a log) as well as some fairly nasty cats.

B) Release at the farm where there are 100 acres of barns, deciduous forest, apple orchard, etc etc etc. and no domestic animals apart from when the family bring our dogs out there for dinner, etc. But, they'll be pretty near on their own. I can check in on them maybe once a week... that's it.

What do I do?!?! I wish there was someone who could help me out! :shakehead

[Jackie in Tampa]

have your sqs seen your german shepard?
do you have sqs in your yard?

If they have seen your domestic pets, it will be hard for them to fear other domestics..
if you have sqs in your yard and your babies have never seen your domestics, the wild sqs will alert when they do see your domestics and your babies will hear that and see the reactions the dog gets when he is out..
tail flicks and barking are lessons to the babies..

I would start throwing water ballons and using the hose, spray water on any cats that near your property...give them the blunt threat of water or loud noises, bang the trash cans when you see them..
let them know they are not wanted.

I suppliment daily food for weeks after I release here, in the city , in a neighborhood where my entire lot is 110ft X 60 ft..the burbs..

just what I do...not etched in stone, every one has to find the best way..
if there is no safe way..find someone else to help:thumbsup :grouphug

[skarabrae]

Thanks.

There's one other option I just thought of, which is bringing it to my parents house... they live right around the corner from me and have a great giant oak and a few large pines and the most outrageous gardens (like, 150+ linear feet of gardens? Crazy people!). This is also originally where the squirrels came from.

And, my dog wouldn't be there. They haven't interacted too much except for when I bring the cage outside for some sunning time... the dog's given them a sniff now and then but hasn't been too interested in general... but I keep them all separate otherwise.

No, I've never seen a squirrel in my yard... not even before we got our animals :thinking

[BlkSqrl413]

Tough choice. Squirrels really do out run dogs pretty well, but you have to worry about that "learning curve" Good luck.

[treeman]

We trap the cats and take them to the ASPCA. If we suspect the cat belongs to a n'bor, we ask them to keep the animal on their property. We explain that it is in the best interest of their cat (spread of disease, parasites, dog attacks, cars, etc.) and that we have traps out to keep them away from our pets and backyard wildlife. :nono If they don't care enough about their cats to keep them home, then they deserve to find a better home anyway.

[island rehabber]

skarabrae, I vote for your mom & dad's house -- absolutely. Best option there :thumbsup