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Original poster

To Tell My Elderly neighbours about their cat shitting in garden.

61 replies

thesagarollson · 15/08/2025 18:51

I will start off by saying I love cats before anyone bashes me as a cat hater .

I live next door to an elderly and frail couple who have always had cats but after their last one passed away I thought there were too old (80’s) to take on a new one.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago they seem to have a new one which also coincided with shit appearing on my front lawn. Every morning I pick up at least one 🤢.

I have CCTV and had a look just in case a fox but no it was their cat.

I have spent money on various deterrents but to date nothing works and tbh I really don’t want to spend more money to try and resolve it .

People have suggested throw water but it always shits at night ffs and we also now have our bins emptied every 3 weeks and the amount of flies and the smell is awful.

The wife is extremely frail and has just come out of hospital and has carers coming in so I really don’t want to give them more grief, but I chose not to have pets and it really pisses me off spending time , money and the smell especially in this heat.

As extra information I have always generally got on well with them but I need advice on how to approach this. Do I just accept it or try and discuss and tbh can they as cat owners really stop the cat?

Thanks

OP posts:
FrenchLavendar · 15/08/2025 19:06

Locutus2000 · 15/08/2025 18:52

Do I just accept it or try and discuss and tbh can they as cat owners really stop the cat?

You have kinda answered your own question, unless they convert it to a housecat what can they realistically do?

They could keep it in at night and provide it with a litter tray. The OP says it mostly poos at night.

DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 15/08/2025 19:05

Next doors cat poos in our garden. Tries me batty but I'd never dream of saying anything. What can they do? The cat seems to have kept the mice at bay in both houses at least.

BloodandGlitter · 15/08/2025 19:05

JustPinkFinch · 15/08/2025 18:56

They can't do anything. Pointless mentioning it. Accept that while it annoys you, the cat brings your elderly neighbours some joy and forget about it.

There's always shit on my property somewhere each morning, from the local cats, foxes and other wildlife. Just one of those things.

The worst was at my old house, my neighbour over the road used to let his labra-cunting-doodle roam and shit everywhere. That I used to pick up with a trowel and launch at his house xx

Why are you ok with cat shit but not dog? What's the major difference that means ones owner is ok to let it go on your lawn but the other is not.

OP YANBU but you can't post anything against cats on MN as they'll eat you alive for it.
They should keep their cat in as should all cat owners and no I don't believe millions of Americans and Australians are cruelly mistreating their cats by keeping them indoors they're just responsible owners willing to put effort into their animals.

JustPinkFinch · 15/08/2025 19:04

I like the idea of getting your own cat to be next door cat's arch nemesis. Potentially more cat shit though, obvs.

Reignonyourparade · 15/08/2025 19:03

The cat likes to annoy you, you must learn to submit to its will, it may then decide to move on. Otherwise, no, tough, that’s cats for you.

Spirallingdownwards · 15/08/2025 19:02

Tell the cat . It is just as ineffective as telling the owner and means you don't fall out with your neighbour.

CurlsLDN · 15/08/2025 19:00

What would you like them to do about it?

you can flush it down the loo if you don’t want it sitting in the bin

GameWheelsAlarm · 15/08/2025 18:57

There is nothing a cat's "owner" can do to stop it shitting wherever it chooses. Cats are effectively wild animals who come back to the house where they know they will get fed, but you don't control them. Your garden is also going to be shat in by various birds, foxes and other wildlife and you have no more or less reason to object to those either. Do not speak to the neighbours about it.

Cats defecate on the edge of their territory so what you find on your lawn is only 50% from your neighbours cat and is 50% from a different cat who lives in the opposite direction. The best way to deter these cats is to get a cat of your own, then your back garden will be your own cat's territory and the borders will shift to someone else's garden.

JustPinkFinch · 15/08/2025 18:56

They can't do anything. Pointless mentioning it. Accept that while it annoys you, the cat brings your elderly neighbours some joy and forget about it.

There's always shit on my property somewhere each morning, from the local cats, foxes and other wildlife. Just one of those things.

The worst was at my old house, my neighbour over the road used to let his labra-cunting-doodle roam and shit everywhere. That I used to pick up with a trowel and launch at his house xx

JoyfulSpring · 15/08/2025 18:55

Cats can't be controlled unfortunately so telling them won't do anything. I got one of those cat deterrent devices from amazon which has worked pretty well. It takes a couple of weeks to work but it does seem to stop them. It makes a noise that that don't like. It was making me so angry as well and the smell was horrendous as soon as I opened my front door every morning there would be a fresh turd or 5. The machine worked well and I'd recommend one.

Locutus2000 · 15/08/2025 18:52

Do I just accept it or try and discuss and tbh can they as cat owners really stop the cat?

You have kinda answered your own question, unless they convert it to a housecat what can they realistically do?