AIBU to shoot the shitters

[Gwenci]

We have a small patch of garden right in front of our front door. It's a dirt area with a few plants in it. Currently quite sparse on the plant front (waiting for the ones we've planted to fecking grow!)

There are about 7 cats that live in the two houses either side of us. Every fucking one of them thinks this area is a giant litter tray.

Every fucking morning I'm sifting two or three giant cat turds out of my garden. (And with a baby and a toddler it's not like I don't already deal with more than my fair share of shit in a day.)

I've tried repellent pellets and one of those high pitched noise emitting thingies. Neither works.

Can I now start shooting at them with my DD's water pistol?

I'm at my shits end!!

[Hockeydude]

Only use the waterpistol if it is a badass supersoaker.

Wish cat owners would give more thought to those around them, I've picked up cat shit for years.

[WellErrr]

Aye, shoot the fuckers.

They'll soon find somewhere else to shit.

[Soubriquet]

Try lion dung. That apparently works

[WellErrr]

This comes up on every single car thread. What are owners supposed to do if they decide to let their cat outside?

Arm the neighbours with supersoakers, obvs.

[MarcelineTheVampire]

I'm posing the same question as Navy- what is a cat owner meant to do?

Cats roam and I have no idea what my cat does when outside- I try and keep tabs on him but he's a sneaky little fucker.

[Gwenci]

Ha!! I do definitely need a super soaker. All I've got is a small crappy Poundland one. I need to tool up.

[PepsiPenguin]

Please tell me how

My cats are indoor cats, they potter around my garden supervised, so I guess I am a considerate pet owner in that mine don't go beyond our garden bondary (they don't actually crap in my garden either) but if I was to let them out into the world how the bloody hell am I supposed to know where they are crapping? They are clever and all that, but if I asked them did you take a crap at number 6, and where did you do it so I can go and collect it none of them would be able to tell me.

[Gwenci]

I do understand that the cat owners can't do a lot about their pets inclination to shit all over other people's gardens.

Marceline, with that in mind, would that mean that if you found out your neighbour had been water pistolling your cat, you'd be understanding about it?

A bit worried about neighbour reaction to me shooting their cats!

[BittyWanter]

If my cats were being a nuisance I wouldn't object to a water pistol/super soaker.

So, no yanbu

[Fozzleyplum]

I used to live in a cottage with a fenceless lawned garden; my neighbour's dog used it as a toilet.
My solution was to buy a huge tub of cheap chilli powder and scatter it over the lawn every few weeks. Worked a treat.

[PepsiPenguin]

A squirt of water on its bum is not going to harm it, I would not be bothered by this as long as the cat wasn't sprayed in winter but I doubt it would stop it either, do you often catch them in the act?

My mum used to put orange peels down and something else to stop local cats which worked (will ask her) but her latest method has worked wonders

She got a dog

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I wouldn't mind my cat being soaked!

[SleepFreeZone]

I think what cat owners could do if they wanted to be responsible, is to have one cat not a herd of the bloody things. I say this as an owner of one cat.

[Gwenci]

I do see them quite a bit Pepsi as my kitchen window looks over said dirt patch garden and I spend a disproportionately large amount of my time washing up (or cleaning up poo.)

Sadly though I obviously don't see every time so yes, I have wondered whether shooting them will actually act as a deterrent. (Will make me feel like a ninja though)

Will definitely try chilli powder!

[GastonsPomPomWrath]

My cats are dumb as fuck not very streetwise so they stay in. But if they went out I wouldn't mind neighbours squirting them if they were making a nuisance of themselves.

In fact, I flick water at them when I'm in the bath and they won't stop miaowing because they can't see me.

[Gwenci]

Yes SleepFreeZone!! You're totally right. I do think I'm pretty tolerant but I'm talking about 4 cats on one side and 3 on the other!!!

It's like a cat shitting convention.

[90daychallenger]

I feel your pain OP. I have one of those ultra sonic jobbies which is good but doesn't reach the far corner of my garden so now that has become the local toilet.

Unfortunately I can't shoot them because my front window is raised up from the front garden so I'd have to constantly stand sentry. Lime peel worked okay for a bit. I've also heard that teabags soaked up muscle spray stuff (you know the stuff that smells like deep heat) are meant to be good.

All the while, however, it's me shelling out money and effort to clear up after other people's animals

[Wolfiefan]

Don't use bloody chilli powder. Imagine if the animal got it in its eyes. FFS.
I have two cats. Wouldn't care if you squirted water at them. You can also buy pellets that act as a deterrent.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Shoot the fuckers!

Or get dogs, no cat comes to my garden and with good reason.

[SpookyPotato]

My cat is indoor but I wouldn't mind them being shot with a water gun, doesn't hurt them but does make them run!
You could put orange and lemon peel on the patch too as they don't like citrus.

[Gwenci]

Tried pellets. Three different kinds. Cats couldn't care less.

Meanwhile my 16 month DS has twice almost picked up cat shit. Imagine if he got that in his eye. FFS.

[TiggeryBear]

I have 2 cats & have no problem with people squirting them with water pistols to deter them from using their gardens as a toilet. We're quite fortunate that they only seem to go toilet in our garden. (Can't guarantee that though!)