Question
Hello,
My neighbor has many cats.  Right now I believe he has four and one of them just had a litter recently so I am expecting to see many more.

He doesn't take care of them, lets them eat outside and they climb in/out of a borken basement window.  Some other neighbors and myself have a problem with his cats pooping in our yards, particularly mulch beds.  They stink and often keep us form enjoying our yard, especially because the kids end up stepping in them.

We have tried putting out moth balls, spray repellents and a number of other things and they don't work consistenly.  We have one of those motion activated scare crow sprinklers on order.
Hopefully that helps the problem.

The other neighbors and myself have called the board oe health and animal control numerous times and they claim they cannot do anything.

I saw a similar post and your response that in Massachusetts cats can be legally trapped.  Is this true?  What can be done with them after trapping?  If I were to get the feces tested and it had a disease would the board or health do anything?
Thanks,
Walter

Answer
Any fecal material would have diseases. As for Massachusetts law you need to contact an attorney. I just wish there was open season on free-roaming house cats. Unfortunately at present there isn't one.  See more information below.

Cats and dogs are tough. For dogs I would contact your local health department or animal control. Most areas have leash laws. For some reason the public doesn't believe in leash laws on cats and refuses to enforce the law on dogs. I would suggest a fence for your lawn/garden that is too high for them to jump. I would go up at least five feet. Make it wobbly so they won't want to climb it. You can also try a scare crow water sprinkler (see http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Produc...
   It works by shooting out water when the motion detector is triggered. Since it is a stray, it may be used to water though. Also this technique won't work during the winter if your part of the country experiences freezing temperatures. http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/housecats.htm
Otherwise, you will need to remove it or tie your own dog nearby. There is a new product called "Scat Mat". It shocks the animal that stands on the pad. Problem is that you would need a lot of pads.

Don't bother with plants that allegedly repel animals. There aren't any that would be fool proof because all a free roaming mammal has to do is walk past it up wind.. But if you insist on using some here are a few to try. (WARNING some of these repellents may be dangerous to the user and may require a pesticide permit to use) Repellents alleged to repel cats include allyl isothiocyanate (oil of mustard), amyl acetate, anethole, capsaicin,  cinnemaldehyde, citral, citronella, citrus oil, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, lemongrass oil, menthol, methyl nonyl ketone, methyl salicylate, naphthalene, nicotine, paradichlorobenzene and thymol. Oil of mustard, cinnemaldehyde and methyl nonyl ketone have worked in some instances according to what we have been told.  
Don't bother with ultrasonic devices either. There is no evidence that I am aware of that they work. http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/ultrasound.htm Also ultrasound is a weak frequency. It dissipates very quickly even if it was annoying to animals assuming they could hear it. I would NOT recommend poisons of any kind. The risks are just too great.   I would visit http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/living_wildlife
 it has a link there on how to handle cats in gardens in a rather unique way. She makes part of the garden for them. It may be an option for you. Otherwise, unless you are willing to trap them and possibly suffer legal consequences, there isn't a lot you can do other than fortify your property. There is no magic in this business.

Of course, in the final analysis, trapping may be an option depending on the laws in your state.

Disclaimer: As with any activity, remember that animal damage control comes with its own risks and problems which can include but are not limited to legalities, health threats, and personal liabilities. Be sure to follow all state laws governing wildlife and make sure you have a thorough understanding on how to resolve the animal damage complaint. My advice is only as good as your understanding of me and my understanding of your situation. If you have any questions be sure to write back.