Will a pellet gun maim or kill a raccoon?

They're coming in through the cat door. Of course we want to deter them but not kill them. Other than trapping and moving them, this is the only thing we can think of. And I don't think the trapping/moving will be effective; there are so many!

Are there any air guns that shoot rubber bullets/pellets? And - will rubber maim/kill?

Thanks

PS I don't even know where to find such things, so suggestions are welcome.

and try some chili powder near the door (outside). It doesnt hurt most animals but deters them by smell alone. Either that or find some bittering agent.

A bb gun could kill the raccoons

Basic rule of gun safety and I don't even own a gun. Suppose you hit the raccoon in the eye?

I would suggest keeping your cat indoors or closing the cat flap at night.

Rocky tries to come in in the early evening, even if we're sitting right there.

But a pellet gun you can pump will if you pump it enough.

I have the same problem. I put up all the cat food at night-- that has helped a lot. The 'coons don't count on finding food here anymore and they come in less frequently.

A pellet gun or pump-up BB gun could maim or kill. A child's spring-powered BB gun like a Daisy Red Ryder is less powerful, but could still penetrate a half inch or so into flesh at very close range (potentially causing infection, etc.), and a shot in the eye could kill the animal.

How about a Super Soaker type water gun (the kind you pump up to pressurize, that shoots a continuous stream) kept full in the refrigerator? COLD water is quite the deterrent, as long as it won't mess up your floor. If you're outside, you could also use pepper spray (don't use that indoors, though.)

We have a super soaker pistol that's about 12 inches by 10 inches, and will shoot 30 feet or so.

Of course, if your kitties get any of it they won't be very happy.

Here are some other tips from this site: http://www.sfgov.org/site/acc_index.asp?id=15351

* Motion-sensitive lighting kits and motion-sensitive oscillating sprinklers can also effectively deter nocturnal raids on trashcans or gardens.
* Repellents: Ro-Pel® contains both a bittering agent and a penetrating agent to allow it to better absorb into plant tissue or other material. It works by imparting an extremely bitter taste to anything it contacts. Get-Away® uses extracts of oil of mustard and capsaicin as both an odor and taste repellent.
* Regular household ammonia stations can be placed around your yard in the areas frequented by raccoons. Take a shallow dish or bowl, place a rag in it and pour ammonia over the rag until completely saturated. Place enough ammonia in the dish so the rag will continue to wick the ammonia up through the night. Avoid lawn areas, as ammonia will burn grass.
* Use a metal trashcan and secure the top with a thick rubber strap with hooks on the end, available at most hardware stores. You can also secure the can to a fence.
* Place piles of cayenne pepper or a repellent where raccoons are digging in your recently sodded lawn for worms and grubs may discourage them.
* Situations with raccoons in chimneys and attics involve raccoon families; a flue makes a cozy den for giving birth. When a mother raccoon with young is present, we recommend leaving them alone for the few weeks that the young are helpless. Monitor the raccoons to determine when they have moved on their own accord, then secure the entrance to the chimney or attic to prevent re-entry. Trapping and moving the family will almost always lead to separation and probable death of the young.
* Important! If you have a female with babies, give her extra time to relocate her entire family before you close the entrance. Raccoons have several den sites within their territories, so she will need to check for a vacancy, then move the young one by one, taking possibly two or three days. Do not lock the mother out, since she will return to retrieve her young and may damage your house to reach them. There is also the possibility that the young may die, leaving you with a smelly mess.
* Capping your chimney will prevent a raccoon from inhabiting it. Because raccoons are nocturnal, the best time to use repellents or frightening strategies to get them out of a chimney is right before the animal would normally start his nightly routine.
* Check your property regularly to make sure that screens barring entrance into your home, basement or crawlspace is intact.
* Lock dog and cat doors at night and place ammonia stations in front of the locked door.
* If a raccoon should establish himself under your house, place a radio near his nesting place and keep it on loud during the day. Locate all entrances and exits. Block them off except for one and use repellents or frightening strategies to encourage the raccoon to leave. To be certain the animal has departed, sprinkle flour at the exit and watch for footprints that lead away from the opening. When the raccoon leaves to begin his nightly hunting (usually two hours after sunset) block the remaining entrance.
* Ponds should be three feet deep. Horizontally submerging wire mesh around the circumference of the pond can provide the fish with protection since the raccoons will most likely stay off the flimsy wire. Placing a single "hot" electric wire around the perimeter of the pond from four to eight inches off the ground will not only discourage raccoons, but neighborhood cats. It can be made removable so family members can enjoy the pond during the day.

The door only opens for your cat when he's wearing a magnetic collar like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=2248&Ntt=cat%20door&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

That way only your cat can come in and out.

I wouldn't try a gun that shoots rubber bullets. As nasty as raccoons are, a wounded animal is much worse and would be very dangerous for you and your cat.

the kind that explode when you pull the string. Tie one end to the door and the other to a nail at the base so that when rocky pushes the door open it goes bang. it won't hurt him, but it should train him to leave your cat door alone, especially if you rig the door sporadically, so he nevers know when it will go off on him.

It shoots nerf projectiles and I'm thinking maybe the sound and projectile might be enough to scare it.

http://www.hasbro.com/nerf/default.cfm?page=nstrike_blasters

http://www.hasbro.com/pl/page.viewproduct/product_id.15953/dn/nerf/default.cfm

The water gun idea posted above sounds like a good idea too..my granddaughter has one and if it's pumped up enough it shoots pretty far so the force of water just might scare it too.

when triggered by a transmitter located on the special collar worn by the cat - I found several online.

http://www.petdoors.com/cat_mate_electronics.htm

Probably cheaper than a gun!

The velocity is only about 240fps, it will leave a bruise but not much else.
Just google "airsoft guns". I don't own one so I can't comment on any brand or anything.

When I was a kid we had problem raccoons always getting in our garage. We didn't own dogs due to my mothers allergies, otherwise we wouldn't have had a problem. What Dad did was buy a "have-a-heart" live trap. We would catch them in the garage and release them out in a large State park. We would always take them to the exact same spot in the park so any family members could be reunited. (That was my sisters idea)

and got a ton of good advice. You've also gotten good advice from some here.

It's a problem that can be solved without harming the raccoons.

Periodically I've had the same problem with possums. A different critter with a different solution. They're transient and easier to discourage.

I'd try one of the humane methods some here have suggested, or one from a search result.

Good luck and in a little bit this'll just be a funny story to tell. :)

A US-legal spring action wouldn't kill it, but could cause eye injury or an infection. A Chinese-made (illegal in US, but readily available) spring action would almost certainly kill it. I'm not aware of any rubber pellet guns that would be suitable for this use.

As crafty and determined as raccoons are, I can't think of any solution other than closing the cat door until they move on.

972-234-WILD (9453) - Wildlife hotline set up for just this kind of purpose. They helped me the day a possum ran into my house and hid under the lawnmower.

www.911wildlife.com - A completely humane "pest" control service. 214-368-5911. Although probably not in your area, they may be able to tell you what to do and should be very willing to do so.

And finally, the Humane Society of the United States has a page of tips for pretty much every wild animal you could encounter near your home at

<http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/urban_wildlife_our_wild_neighbors/solving_problems_with_your_wild_neighbors/>

One of their suggestions is to play a radio next to where they are entering. That should work and presumably after they learn not to come in through the cat door anymore, you can turn the radio off.

Those things leave a wicket bruise on bare flesh, but because they burst they will not penetrate. They are also non-toxic and non-irritating. If you get a small one, maybe you can get a lower velocity. Or only a partially-charged tank.

benEzra's idea is good as well. I keep a sprayer set on 'stream' in the kitchen, and it works quite well at keeping my roomie's cat off the counter. And my son from disciplining the 'bad kitty!' when I squirt HIM as well as the cat!