I knew that a normal cattle fencer wouldn’t work, but the image of it was pretty funny which is why I posted the idea. I mentioned my dad having a hobby farm. Myself and my siblings are well versed in electric fences and what to do or not do around them. We quickly learned which shoes were safe and which would cause us to have the bejesus (technical term) zapped out of us. We also learned to use a long blade of grass to test if a fence was on. Pity the one who used a wet blade of grass.
Now since I’m half expecting more posts claiming that I’m inhumane. Obviously I must be for thinking that a mental image of cat getting zapped by an electric wire around a trash can is funny. Well, let me tell you one more little story from the farm.
My dad used to raise 5 or 6 pigs every summer just for the family and some friends. Pigs like to dig. He got one batch that liked to dig so much, they would dig their way out by going under his fence. Ever try to catch a pig? His fence was made of wire panels that were already dug in several inches under ground, so he needed a new plan.
Enter the electric fencer. We ran a wire about 4 inches off the ground all the way around the pig pen. The pigs looked on in a disinterested fashion. We left the pen and turned on the fencer. Meanwhile, the pigs got curious about this new feature of their pen.
Inhumane be damned, that was some funny shit. Let me tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is absolutely hilarious to see a pig get their wet snout zapped and take off running and squealing. It was one of the rare times that I ever saw my dad laugh so hard that he was almost crying. Pigs are pretty smart, but apparently very curious. Each one had to go up and check it out exactly one time. In case anyone has read this far, the pigs didn’t get out any more after that.
So what did this have to do with the cats? It isn’t hard for me to imagine the look of indignation on a cat’s face after having its clandestine trash raid interrupted by an electric wire. That doesn’t mean I’m going to conduct science fair experiments on my GF’s cats. If I do though, I’ll let you all know how it goes.
You may have to get a slightly smaller garbage can, but stick it in the cabinet under the sink like many households. If the cats can open a cabinet door to get at it, spend a buck for a set of those “baby-proof” cabinet locks (it’s a little plastic hook on the inside of the door, kids and kitties can’t open it, adults can). Takes all of 5 minutes to screw into place.
TLF can’t get at it unless you leave the door open. Problem solved.
after taking a very cute picture of nod the naughty in the trash basket, all trash containers became either: empty popcorn tins (she couldn’t get the lid off), hanging plastic bags from the door nob (too high for her to reach) or a hanging basket from the door nob.
the step on trash can is the only “normal” refuse container in our house. it does keep her out. they come in many styles and colours.
We had this problem with outside cats that were not ours. We would place a bag of trash on the patio to be hauled off the next day and when we got up we’d be picking up trash from here to there. So frustrating. Then I went in to Walmart one day and found this barking beagle in the lawn and garden section. It would kick and bark anytime the motion sensors detected something. It didn’t have a head because it was suppose to look like the dog is digging a hole in your garden. I put a bag of well seasoned trash, that just happened to have empty Starkist tuna cans in it on the patio and let nature take it’s course. Oddly enough not one empty can was strewn about the yard so I can only assume that the beagle did the job. Hey it worked for us.
Well, we went to Target Friday night and bought a new trash can. It is a 10.6 gallon stainless steel can with a step open lid. It cost $60. They had several models. We got the one with the largest base to resist tipping. So far it has worked great. We even put a few things that TLF likes in the trash to try to get him to test it out. I’m sure with time he will probably figure something out, but for right now we aren’t finding trash dragged around the kitchen. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’d guesstimate about 3 days before he’s figured out something else around your house that is fun to drag around, and that his owners have fun getting all excited and putting them back in place. What a fun game!
After securing my wastebaskets, my cat found that smelly socks from the dirty lauyndry basket in the bedroom were fun to drag around. And, unlike wastebaskets, I haven’t found any laundry baskets that come with secure tops and heavy bases. So you learn to live with it!
Well, you can all be grateful that your cats don’t have the same habits as my parent’s (now deceased) Cocker Spaniel.
This dog had the rather odius habits of dragging used kleenex out of the bathroom trash, and chewing them up into tiny bits.
And if my sister or mom disposed of sanitary napkins or tampons in the trash can… ugh…
The most annoying, though, was his habit of chewing the crotches out of underwear he would retrieve from the hamper, or (if you were so thoughtless) the floor. I lost many a pair of Dolphin Shorts to that damn dog when I was in high school.
Please don’t use the mouse trap suggestion. While the idea of a snapping noise is great, it would be awful if Butch got a cute little seven-claw paw caught, especially if you were gone all day.
My family also tried something called Bitter End, a spray that makes stuff taste absolutely awful. We sprayed it on the can and the garbage inside to make my little angel not like garbage quite so much. You can get the stuff at pet stores.
If you can’t find the metal garbage can at Target or the like, try a resturant supply store.
Have you tried Bitter Apple or one of the other “off limits” products sold at pet supply stores? I’ve tried them in the past, but I think they have the same suseptibility rate as catnip, some respond, some don’t. Its worth a try.
