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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cat owners

118 replies

back2work · 29/07/2010 12:29

This isn't exactly an AIBU because I know that I am, but I'd like to know why IABU!

We live in a cul-de-sac and one of our neighbours has cats. They are in everyone else's gardens all the time and they will come into the houses too if the doors aren't closed. Yesterday morning one of the cats left a dead mouse on my patio. Yuk!!!
So why is it my job to clear up this sort of thing? Why shouldn't the person who owns the cat do it?

OP posts:
Coolfonz · 29/07/2010 17:02

As well as electrocution i like to use armed guards with rifle turrets and telescopic sights. Try these guys www.armedweirdoswhohate pets.co.uk

alfiethekittycat · 29/07/2010 17:04

Can I ask you HowAnnoying why you think
"only lazy people get cats"?

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:05

Coolfonz

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:06

maybe not only lazy people, but I know a lot of people who got them precisely because they don't have to walk them, clean up after them or in any way care what they destroy.

(sorry for answering for you howannoying)

ChippingIn · 29/07/2010 17:07

TheJollyPirate - you never met my cat then?! She used to love playing in the sprinkler and lying on the cover of the small pool when it filled with rain water - dipping her paws in it

But you are right in another way - she still wouldn't have like a neighbour to squirt her with water out of the blue....

jaggy - then what - foxes, squirrels, mice....??

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:15

What do you mean then what - foxes on leads??

I have never been offended by vast quantities of fox. squirrel, or mouse shit so don't really care.

It was a joke - see howannoying comments above.

cleverlyconcealed · 29/07/2010 17:16

Back2work - I have a similar problem with my neighbours cats. She feeds them but they appear to not be allowed in to her house The food trays are outside and there is no litter tray that I can see. They use my and my next-door neighbours for that. My neighbour took the owner a bag full of it over some weeks ago to make a point.

There are 3 of them and they like to congregate in my garden in the early hours and one has a penchant for sitting on my kitchen table. Apparently I shouldn't have the luxury of leaving my French windows open in the hot weather. Or it seems my bedroom window as I recently got up in the night to check on the kerfuffle in the drive (my 18 year old) and the farkin cat was sat right up against the open window on the ledge. If the bloody thing comes in I will do my nut. I'm going on holiday on Saturday and frankly I'm thinking of taking the ring leader with me and seeing how good it is at making its way home from Devon.

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:21

I think I tried to point out on the thread that the problem is the concentration of cats in housing estates and the fact that there is nothing to stop them from roaming and crapping wherever they like.

There aren't enough pet foxes and squirrels crapping in gardens round here to worry about

Coolfonz · 29/07/2010 17:28

As well as electrocution and armed maniacs i like this company which specialises in dropping Napalm from hang gliders to clear gardens of all pet nuisances, they have an accuracy rate as high as 20pc. www.flamingpetdeathfromthesky.org.uk

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:29
Biscuit
Original poster
back2work · 29/07/2010 17:30

Cleverlyconcealed "I'm going on holiday on Saturday and frankly I'm thinking of taking the ring leader with me and seeing how good it is at making its way home from Devon."

This made me laugh! Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
back2work · 29/07/2010 17:33

anyone know about clawclipping? Does it exist? Do good, responsible owners do it? Do you have to knock the cat out first or is just like cutting a four year old's nails?

OP posts:
alfiethekittycat · 29/07/2010 17:33

jaggy I for one got a cat as my DCS wanted a pet and as I have a phobia of dogs from a horrible childhood experience a cat/kitten was the most obvious pet to get,

It wasnt because I "don't have to walk them, clean up after them or in any way care what they destroy" Cats like dogs can be very affectionate and loving, They like us have their own personalities and while some do hunt alot some don't, Personally I would love to be able to keep my cat in but that is impossible in the hot weather when I have to have the back door open,

GetOrfMoiLand · 29/07/2010 17:42

Think lots of people keep cats because you can easily keep a cat if you work all day, whereas you cannot do so with a dog.

Plus, dogs make your house stink. And lick you with slobbery tongues.

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:43

that's why I said not only lazy people

If cat owners at least try to get their animals to use a litter tray and not make a mess in everyone else's garden I guess that's the best I can hope for.

Lauriefairycake · 29/07/2010 17:48

I completely don't understand this

The cat killed the vermin for you and then left it in plain sight for you to put in the bin

why would it be better having live rodents running around close to your house

you should be buying the cat some cream - after all you are using the vermin-catching facilities

Original poster
back2work · 29/07/2010 17:49

alfiethekittycat - you are lucky to be able to keep your back door open during the hot weather. Mine is shut to keep the neighbours's cats out.

OP posts:
Original poster
back2work · 29/07/2010 17:51

Lauriefairycake - I am not fan of mice either. We live near farmlands so i expect there are rather a lot of mice about and i don't mind just so long as they stay in the fields and not in my kitchen (which so far they have).

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 17:53

Yup. I live beside fields too and (touch wood) have never had a rodent problem. One mouse got in my house when workmen left the door open all day in winter (} but I caught it and chucked it out. Didn't even squish it.

I also lived beside fields at my previous cat-infested residence and still saw a few mice about so all the local poo depositers must have been lazy feckers.

alfiethekittycat · 29/07/2010 17:56

My cat has a litter tray and uses it when he is shut in, even when the door is open and he is out he will come in to use it but I know someone who has 4 cats and while 3 of them will happilly use the litter trays (she has 2 large trays) one will hold it till she lets them out as the cat doesn't wanna go where the others have been, She was the first cat and the only female and think she looks down on the others, lol

alfiethekittycat · 29/07/2010 18:05

backtowork maybe you should get a cat yourself then, cats are very territorial and other cats will prob keep away if there is a cat living there.

Original poster
back2work · 29/07/2010 18:12

alfiethekittycat - sounds like a neat solution but I don't like cats because they are so self-centred (they cuddle up to whoever is most likely to give them their next meal) and I'm allergic. I start sneezing after 20 mins in a room where a cat has been. after two hours I can hardly breathe, my eyes are streaming, my throat is closed up and my nose is running.

That's why i am so keen not let the neighbours cats in my house: it means discomfort and a hell of a lot of cleaning if they get in.

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 18:23

Hahaha get a cat/dog to keep cats away - a genius suggestion that always comes up.

(sorry for laughing alfie - it's not very logical when you think about it though is it?)

My own cat/dog poo to clear up as well as the neighbours - yay!

I am also allergic as it happens, but I don't mind cats just their poo/wee/vomit/dead creatures that they used to leave for me/spray all over my newly painted shed etc.

alfiethekittycat · 29/07/2010 18:24

I'm sorry to hear that you are allergic to cats, I'm sure if you went to a pet shop you might be able to find something to deter your neighbours cat entering your property that would couse no actually harm to the cat,

I guess I am biased as a cat owner but as to them cuddling up to whoever gives them their next meal is wrong in my house, I got Alfie for my daughter 5 years ago and no matter how many times she feeds him or plays with him, he wont ever get on her for a cuddle, its me first and if im too busy or not in the mood for him then he goes to my son, even then I only have to get eye contact with him and he sees this as a invitation, Guess he just loves me more lol

jaggythistle · 29/07/2010 18:24

(or instead of the neighbours if it keeps them away...)

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