darkSpyro

Remember the rattlesnake killing topic I made a while back? Everyone jumped on me for it, and I justified it by saying it was to protect my dogs who go outside to use the bathroom?

Well, now I've got an outdoor cat who is just that: she lives outside. I live in a very rural area. Our biggest worry for her is snakes; we saw another rattler just last month, and of course, we killed it. But I really don't like to kill snakes, because I'm aware that they play a part in nature in keeping frog and rodent populations in check, and plus I do feel kind of guilty for simply killing one on sight. So naturally, I need another solution.

Inb4 "Bring the cat inside." We already tried that, and she absolutely cannot get along with the dogs. Not the normal cat-and-dog chases, they actually FIGHT each other. They make each other bleed. So taking her inside just will not happen. And we've had her for almost a year, so we can't give her away. This is the only place she knows.

Like I said, if you're one of the tards who criticized me last time and have no experience with the outdoors whatsoever, don't even bother posting. I need advice from people who actually know what the hell they're talking about.

What state do you live in? Here in Michigan, snakes are few and far between.

Quote: Mrmorrises

What state do you live in? Here in Michigan, snakes are few and far between.

Georgia. During the summer, they are ****ing EVERYWHERE.

...Pfft. What a pickle you're in.

I dunno, does a spray or something similar to repel such snakes exist?

Quote: DummyZ

...Pfft. What a pickle you're in.

I dunno, does a spray or something similar to repel such snakes exist?

They do, but from what I've heard, they don't really work. Besides, we own a pretty good bit of land, so it would be a huge waste of money to have it put everywhere.

Training the cat to defend itself?

Fencing and area specifically for the cat?

Quote: DummyZ

Training the cat to defend itself?

Fencing and area specifically for the cat?

Or perhaps teach your cat karate?

Quote: DummyZ

Training the cat to defend itself?

Fencing and area specifically for the cat?

1. She's a good fighter; she could probably kill a nonvenomous snake, like the little black garden snakes we have around here, but if she gets in a fight with a rattler, it's game over.


2. Nope, that wouldn't work. We have a fenced in area for the dogs, and she climbs over it all the time. Besides, fences don't stop snakes, they can climb pretty well, too.

train all rattlesnakes to be nice

What we used to do was put traps. I don't remember how we built them, but it did got rid of them. Since once we put them somewhere far from home, we blocked the place where they lived as well as put some sort of repellant. I understand that you said that didn't work, but if you don't give them a place to live, it may work. Knowing how persistent they are, I'd say 38%. Worth a shot.

For us the repellant did work so that was that.

I don't think there's really a whole lot you can do, besides what has already been suggested. I can't think of anything, at least.

Off tOPIC: I thought you destroyed that pussy?

On Topic: I'm okay with animal killing if you are trying to protect something or for survival.

Quote: wspyro

What we used to do was put traps. I don't remember how we built them, but it did got rid of them. Since once we put them somewhere far from home, we blocked the place where they lived as well as put some sort of repellant. I understand that you said that didn't work, but if you don't give them a place to live, it may work. Knowing how persistent they are, I'd say 38%. Worth a shot.

For us the repellant did work so that was that.

I would be willing to try traps, but like I said, we literally live in the forest. There are more snakes in here than there are people in town, probably.


Quote: somePerson

Off tOPIC: I thought you destroyed that pussy?

On Topic: I'm okay with animal killing if you are trying to protect something or for survival.

Yes, but if we killed all the snakes in the area, there would be an effect on other populations.

Buy a mongoose to live with the cat.

When I lived in TX, they had some kind of sulfur that you could put around your property/fence line or a just a certain area, and it would keep the snakes away.