I live in a very animal friendly neighborhood. Everyone has at least one dog, most more and many have at least one cat. Unfortunately, a few just let their cats run loose. When the one had kittens, she hid them behind some bags of mulch next to my house. My two neighbors give me a hard time for not calling the pound about them.
It's not like I'm a cat hater. I like their energy and the way they move. I had a siamese and a Maine coon, but they died of old age a few years ago and I've not replaced them. Since then, I've learned to see cats and cat people from a different point of view.
If you know of a way to keep them away, I'd be very interested. I've tried many things with no success and I'm ready to go to the next level.
Is there any way to know to whom, if anyone, the cats belong? If the owner is a neighbor, I would think it’s his/her responsibility to address your concerns.
On the other hand, if the cats are feral, many cities have humane programs to eliminate the nuisance. Volunteers trap the cats, volunteer vets spay/neuter them, and the colony/nuisance fades away. Feral cats only live an average of 1-2 years, so this approach lessens the problem immediately (no more kittens), and takes care of the issue altogether relatively quickly.
I have three beloved indoor cats (and one big old dog) — I live in the city and don’t want to expose them to outdoor dangers. My neighbor has two (friendly, neutered, well-cared-for) indoor/outdoor cats. As for me, I love them, and think it’s great to have them around. However, I can see why you would be irritated in your situation. Even if I couldn’t see where you were coming from, the bottom line is that you have a right to your private property.
(As for the article, I do think the cop here was full of crap — but that’s a separate issue).