So my two dogs, Dazee (12-month-old cocapoo) and Cookie (2-year-old cacpoo), are constantly getting worked up when they see the outdoor cats running around the neighbor’s porch at night. I’ve tried some of the typical strategies like desensitization and command reinforcement, but it’s still a struggle. The county says there’s nothing they can do, and my neighbor feeds like 15 cats! Anyone else dealing with this? What else can I try to keep them calm around all these cats?
Ugh, sounds frustrating. The whole feeding a ton of outdoor cats thing makes it way worse. I’ve been dealing with similar issues with my dog, but we found success with a visual barrier. Maybe try some hedges or even a high fence?
@WisdomWendy
Yeah, I thought about a fence too, but not sure if that would completely block their view of the cats. Might be worth a shot though. 
I’ve had this problem before! One thing that worked was giving my dog a ‘job’ during outdoor time. I gave him a task, like playing fetch or something, and it kept his mind busy so he didn’t care about the cats as much.
@Brigitta
That’s a good idea! I’ll try having them do more engaging activities when they’re outside. Thanks for the tip! 
Have you tried using a calming collar or spray? It helped my dog a bit when he was acting all stressed about squirrels in the yard.
Donna said:
Have you tried using a calming collar or spray? It helped my dog a bit when he was acting all stressed about squirrels in the yard.
I haven’t, but I’ve heard those work for some dogs. I might give it a try if nothing else works. Fingers crossed! 
You could also try supervised outdoor time. Maybe having someone watch them when the cats are around so you can redirect their focus?
Bostonjames said:
You could also try supervised outdoor time. Maybe having someone watch them when the cats are around so you can redirect their focus?
Yeah, I’ve been doing that, but sometimes they’re so focused on the cats they just can’t stop. It’s a work in progress for sure. 
If you really can’t control the situation with the cats, I’d consider contacting animal control or even looking into local shelters that can help with trapping and relocating them. It could be a long shot, but worth trying.
@mandober
I’ve tried reaching out to shelters, but no luck. The neighbor feeds them so much it’s out of control. I think trapping is my only hope. 