If you feed your cats outside, you may notice that they eat more than usual if you have a feeding station. In the case of an outdoor feeding station for strays, you may be struggling to keep up with the amount of food those cats are eating.
A raccoon maybe chows down on the food instead of the cats. Raccoons can carry rabies and become hostile if they come into contact with your cat, so you can’t blame them for taking a nibble of your cat’s food. Fed up with these raccoons, people try to figure out how to Keep Raccoons Out of Cat Food?
If you let raccoons eat all of your cat’s food, they’ll keep coming back, and your cats will go hungry because of it. Cat food is expensive, and the raccoons eat it all.
Why You Should Keep Raccoons Away From Your Cat’s Food
Raccoons not only steal cat food, but they are also well-known rabies carriers. It is a significant problem if you haven’t had your cat vaccinated. The cat may be vaccinated, but you may contact the creature and become infected.
Getting a wild animal into your home is never a good idea. There’s more to raccoons than simply your cat’s food. Also, they’ll scavenge anything they can find in your kitchen. Not to mention all the pollutants and infections that the creature can leave behind.
Moreover, raccoons attack cats. A cat, especially a young kitten, could suffer severe damage due to this. We were alarmed when we noticed raccoons creeping up on Watson late at night because of this exact reason.
How to Keep Raccoons Out of Cat Food
Keep an eye on your pet while he eats, which is a good beginning step. As long as you’re around, raccoons won’t bother you. Reduce your cat’s nighttime food as well. Reducing or removing leftovers from the mix will minimize the likelihood of raccoons appearing.
Read Also: How to Deal With Giving Away a Cat? Easy Guide
Some individuals choose to feed their cats indoors, away from the reach of raccoons, as an alternative. In addition, putting up a fence and plugging up all of the cracks could be the game-changer. Raccoon-proof cat feeders and magnet-locked cat houses are your last resort if all else fails.
Feed Your Cats During the Day
Raccoons spend most of their time sleeping. Cats are significantly more likely to steal food from your cat’s bowl while you’re sleeping than they are to venture out during daylight. It is best to feed your cats in the daytime.
Once they’ve completed their dinner, bring their food bowl and food container inside. When they’re ready to eat, get them back outside. Aside from saving you money by avoiding having to replace the stolen products, your cats will quickly become accustomed to their new schedule as well.
Place the meal on a raised platform.
On the other hand, Raccoons are terrible jumpers, which is a fortunate thing for us. Raccoons won’t be able to get to your cat’s food if it’s on a platform at least 40 inches high. Installing a roof in the event of adverse weather is an option as well.
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If raccoons attempt to climb your platform’s center pole, covering it with slick plastic or metal will prevent them from gaining traction.
Avoid leftovers
The critters’ favorite food is often leftovers, so getting rid of them can help. You should study the amount of food your cat consumes. Because of this, there will be no leftovers after they eat their food.
Raccoons may remove your address from their daily schedule if they don’t find food in your area for an extended period.
A Raccoon-Protected Feeder
Commercial solutions aren’t available, but there may be a DYI option. It’s a workable option, but it requires some effort on your part. If you want to keep your food safe, you need a feeder specifically designed for raccoons.
Climbing is a specialty of this animal, and it’s not limited to wood. They have the strength and agility to scale any surface, be it rock, brick, or stone. Although they have an excellent leaping ability,
Cat feeders must be at least 40 inches above the ground to be raccoon-proof. If a raccoon manages to climb the pole, You should cover the feeding station in smooth sheet metal or plastic to prevent the animal from getting its footing.
The roof of your feeder should also be waterproof to keep your cats and their food safe. An enclosed feeder will also deter small rodents and birds, which prevents them from flying in to steal the food.
As an option, if you have older or less agile ferals, you can set up a second platform two feet distant from the primary station.
Get a magnet locking cat door
It is possible to keep unwanted pets out of your home by installing cat doors.
Patio Pet Door is a sensor-activated pet door, so you don’t have to be concerned about raccoons getting in because it only opens when your pet’s battery-operated collar sends out a signal.
Eliminate Other Food Sources
Raccoons aren’t just drawn to cat food. They’re drawn to any food. A significant factor in drawing these pests to your property is letting your trash cans sit outside at night. There is also a role for compost heaps. Make every effort to eliminate or secure all food sources.
Engage the Services of Experts
You’ve done everything you can to keep raccoons away from your cat food, but nothing seems to be working. Raccoons are still congregating in your yard and stealing food from your cats. In cases like this, you’ll need the support of experts.
Read Also: How to Convince Someone to Get a Cat?
It is possible to have a professional inspect your property if you engage them. They’ll tell you what areas of your property are attracting raccoons, and they’ll give you advice on how to fix them. Raccoons can be lured and captured by professional trappers if necessary.
How do you, raccoon-proof automatic cat feeder?
Can Raccoons Hurt Cats?
Raccoons can pose a danger to the cats that eat from your feeder if you don’t keep them out of the food. Close encounters with raccoons can result in your cats being bitten or scratched, and you don’t want that to happen when they’re feeding.
Read Also: How to Teach a Cat to Retract Claws?
FAQs – How to Keep Raccoons Out of Cat Food
What will repel raccoons but not cats?
Raccoons rely on their keen sense of smell to locate food sources. Using fragrances they don’t like, such as peppermint oil and Epsom salt, to ward them off, you can take advantage of this.
What foods keep raccoons away?
It’s possible to trick raccoons into avoiding your traps by employing aromas that raccoons despise, which they use to locate food sources. As a raccoon repellent, you can use peppermint oil, hot chili peppers, garlic, and even Epsom salt.
Do raccoons eat dry cat food?
Cats and dogs should not be fed raccoons if you have many free-roaming raccoons. It could lead to conflicts, injuries, and dangerous diseases among the animals. Pet food, fresh fruit, and eggs are the only things you should be providing. Don’t feed him processed grains or dairy products if you want to keep a raccoon healthy.
What is the best raccoon deterrent?
Raccoon repellents that work best annoy the raccoon’s senses to deter them. It is possible to deter raccoons with peppermint essential oil, bright lights, coffee grinds, chili peppers (such as cayenne), Epsom salt, predator urine, ammonia, vinegar, loud noises, and aromatic soap.
Conclusion
Keep an eye on your cat while he eats to deter raccoons from stealing his food. You may have to cut back on his nighttime meals and avoid leftovers as an alternative. Feeding your cat indoors or putting up a fence are two more options.
The attic and other electrical outlets may require sealing as well. The other two suggestions are a raccoon-proof cat feeder and a magnetic cat door.
To put it simply, it’s not enough to keep your cat’s food safe from raccoons. These critters pose many other threats to humans, their pets, and their homes if they are not kept out of their territory.
