Feeding outdoor cats while keeping raccoons away can be a tricky balancing act. As nocturnal animals attracted to food sources, raccoons will often compete with cats for outdoor food. With some clever strategies and preventative measures, you can minimize unwanted raccoon visits and keep your outdoor cat colony satisfied.
Choose the Right Location
Pick an out-of-the-way feeding spot that is not near woods, ravines, sheds, decks, or other areas where raccoons may nest and travel. An open area away from hiding places and raccoon habitats can help deter their approach. Cats feel safest with a clear vantage point and multiple quick exit routes, so keep these factors in mind as well when selecting a spot.
Feed During the Day
Raccoons are naturally more active and exploratory at night. Feeding cats during daylight hours when raccoons are bedded down enhances your cats’ access to food while minimizing interference. Try to offer food in the morning and early afternoon before raccoons emerge to start foraging. This allows cats to eat their fill in peace.
Use Specialized Bowls or Feeders
Specially designed feeding bowls and automated cat feeders with chip-reading capabilities are ideal for restricting access to only authorized cats. Many feeders will open only for cats wearing a programmed collar tag or microchip, keeping out any raccoons. Set up feeders in an open area so raccoons cannot sneak up unseen.
Don’t Leave Excess Food Out Overnight
Pick up any leftovers before nightfall so there is nothing tempting raccoons to come investigating. Raccoons are resourceful, so never underestimate their determination to reach accessible food. Removing food after cats have eaten reduces the presence of appetizing smells and incentives drawing raccoons near.
Clean Up Feeding Area
Raccoons have an excellent sense of smell and are drawn to areas where cats have been eating. Washing food bowls, sanitizing the ground, and removing waste immediately after feedings erases traces that could attract raccoons later. A clean feeding area provides less reason for raccoons to linger and wait for opportune moments.
Use Natural Raccoon Deterrents
Sprinkling hot pepper powder, oil of mustard, or other natural raccoon repellents around the feeding zone can discourage raccoons from approaching while allowing cats access. Strong smells are irritating to raccoons but typically do not bother cats. Reapply these deterrents after rains or snow.
Block Access Points
Survey any hideouts, crawl spaces, fences, decks, or openings where raccoons could sneak through and make a beeline for cat food. Close off any such access points around the property to funnel raccoons away from prime feeding areas reserved for your cats.
Install Motion-Sensor Lights
Strategically placed motion-sensor lights around the feeding location can startle and scare off approaching raccoons. The lights also alert you to raccoon presence so you can actively deter them before they reach cat food. Just be sure cats have an escape route from the sudden illumination.
Use a Live Trap
For particularly stubborn raccoons, consider a humane live trap baited with cat food to catch raccoons and relocate them far away to an appropriate habitat. Check traps frequently so any captured raccoons are not kept inside too long. Be sure it is legal to relocate raccoons in your area first.
With persistence and continued use of deterrents, raccoons will eventually learn that your cat feeding area offers slim pickings. By removing food at night, excluding raccoons, and claiming the space, your colony of outdoor cats can enjoy their daily feedings in peace and safety. Stay vigilant, and be willing to adapt if any new raccoons discover the spot. Consistency is key to making sure the feeding area is cat-friendly, not raccoon-friendly long-term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of day is best to feed outdoor cats?
The optimal time is morning to mid-afternoon, when raccoons are least active and cats are alert. Avoid nighttime feedings when raccoons rule.
Should I leave dry food out overnight for cats?
No, never leave cat food outdoors overnight. This invites raccoons, rodents, and other wildlife to eat it. Always remove any leftovers by dusk.
What smells deter raccoons from cat food areas?
Strong scents like pepper powder, mustard oil, ammonia, mothballs, vinegar, and garlic are unpleasant to raccoons but harmless to cats. Reapply frequently.
How can I stop raccoons from tipping over my cats’ food bowls?
Use heavy ceramic or stone non-tip bowls. Place food bowls in a wire bottom cage or bathtub. Or make bowls inaccessible by putting through a hole in a fence or wall.
Will loud music or sounds scare raccoons away from cat food?
Unfortunately no. Raccoons may initially startle but then ignore random sounds and music. The key is keeping food unavailable through exclusionary feeding methods.
Conclusion
Preventing well-fed outdoor cats and cunning raccoons from overlapping at mealtime takes strategy and commitment. But it can be done humanely and effectively. The diligent removal of food at night, use of specially designed feeders, and application of natural raccoon deterrents can help establish boundaries. With time, raccoons will move on to easier and more accessible food sources beyond your property. The goal is to make the feeding area solely cat territory – off-limits to hungry bandits looking for an easy score. Staying one step ahead of smart, food-obsessed raccoons is possible with persistence, consistency, and adaptability as needed. Your outdoor cats will thank you for the peace of mind at mealtime.