# Legal options for dealing with wandering cats killing goldfish on your property. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294 "2011-03-28T19:08:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/41 "2011-03-29T21:46:22Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Also, be aware of the heirarchy. Suburbanites do not consider all animals to be equal. > > Domesticated mammals\>Undomesticated mammals\>Birds\>all others. > > Or…shortened version - cute\>not-cute. What about rats, mice, bats, squirrels and raccoons? ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/42 "2011-03-30T00:14:11Z")
Not a direct answer to the OP but I think a motion activated sprinkler would solve this problem – [http://www.absolutebirdcontrol.com/products/scarecrow?gclid=CPWq\_MSA9acCFULf4Aod0XY4bw](http://www.absolutebirdcontrol.com/products/scarecrow?gclid=CPWq_MSA9acCFULf4Aod0XY4bw) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/43 "2011-03-30T02:33:53Z")
> [@limegreen](#): > > Seconding shoot, shovel and shut up. Especially the last part. Where did you say you live? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![king\_gorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc29f/32.png) [@king\_gorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_gorilla)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/44 "2011-03-30T03:53:50Z")
Exploding fish decoy! In the county I live, you can legally kill an animal on your property if it is harming one of your animals. However in the city I live it is illegal to discharge a firearm or bow and arrow. I think this is pretty common around the mid west. So if I were in your shoes I would be forced to become creative. I worked with a guy who lived next to a house that fostered a large ferril cat population. The cats ran the neighborhood and liked to stalk his multiple birdbaths he kept in his garden. He said he had good luck with trapping them and dropping them off at the shelter. Honestly I think he started skipping that last part. I say if they have identification, drop them off at the shelter. The 2nd time the owner has to pay 80-100 bucks to bail mittens out of jail; maybe they’ll keep the stupid thing in the house. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/45 "2011-03-30T04:05:51Z")
In Wyoming, it’s generally encouraged to shoot stray cats. That opinion was common in Northern Michigan when I lived in that state as well. They prey upon native game birds, songbirds, and other desirable wildlife. [http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/fremont-county-wyoming-sheriff-shoots-any-cat.html](http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/fremont-county-wyoming-sheriff-shoots-any-cat.html) You can also shoot lions legally in Wyoming, both with a hunting license and for livestock predation: [http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/bizarre&id=7194695](http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/bizarre&id=7194695) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/46 "2011-03-30T12:35:39Z")
Are cats and raccoons really good at catching fish? What do they do, wait until one swims by, and then swat it out of the water? ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/47 "2011-03-30T13:28:54Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > What about rats, mice, bats, squirrels and raccoons? Not many rats and bats around here…but many squirrels and raccoons. A few years ago I looked into what the laws were dealing with them. It was illegal to kill them by any method and had stern punishments if caught. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/48 "2011-03-30T15:49:45Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Are cats and raccoons really good at catching fish? What do they do, wait until one swims by, and then swat it out of the water? Pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/49 "2011-03-30T17:27:00Z")
My local town ordinance on pets makes it illegal for the cat to even be on my property without a leash. I can call animal control to remove it, or, if it is a repeat offender, the owner will be fined. Those who own animals, or allow attractive nuisances to cause animals to congregate in an area are generally responsible for the consequences of the behavior of those animals. The Cat Lady who just can’t stop putting out cat food in her back yard, is legally responsible for each and all of the 875 cats that congregate there. (an actual case here in my area.) Tris ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/50 "2011-03-30T20:41:24Z")
Wow, that’s quite a difference from what most people are saying about their own jurisdiction. If it’s not too nosy a question, do you mind sharing at least what town/county you’re in that has laws like that? It it is too nosy, my apologies… ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/51 "2011-03-30T21:53:00Z")
I’m really surprised that no one has suggested restocking the pond with piranha yet. That’ll have you covered for cats, coons, dogs, snakes, just about everything. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/52 "2011-03-31T01:09:23Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I’m really surprised that no one has suggested restocking the pond with piranha yet. That’ll have you covered for cats, coons, dogs, snakes, just about everything. Including obnoxious neighborhood children. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294/53 "2011-03-31T01:35:34Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Not many rats and bats around here…but many squirrels and raccoons. A few years ago I looked into what the laws were dealing with them. It was illegal to kill them by any method and had stern punishments if caught. You aren’t allowed to kill rats? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-options-for-dealing-with-wandering-cats-killing-goldfish-on-your-property/576294.md?page=2)