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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think local cat owners

239 replies

WoTmania · 14/02/2011 12:39

could make their own gardens more appealing for their cats so said cats don't come and poo in my vegetable garden and use their own instead?

It drives me up the wall. We end up have to put netting everywhere and sticks and upturned crtaes and still the poxy things manage to dig up everything and poo. Angry

So, AIBU

OP posts:
MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 21:52

Mrs Sparkle - without lots of food and vets they don't survive long.

If the human race died out, cats would be one of the only living survivers. Look it up, it's very true.

anonandlikeit if you banned people from having cats as pets, cats wouldn't just go away and die out. It would mean there would be more and more unneutered wild cats out there. Being angry with the owner is pointless. A cat will shit in your garden whether it was owned or wild.

MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 21:54

DreamsInBinary so what do you suggest then? A lead? What?

DrNortherner · 16/02/2011 21:54

Look, I have a dog. It would be irresponsible of me to allow him to roam the streets and to shit in your garden.

I don't have a cat now, but have owned many. But if I did it is not irresponsible for me to let that cat out alone. Whilst alone he may poo in someones garden. Whilst I understand this may be a nuisance there is nothing I can do about it actually.

DreamsInBinary · 16/02/2011 21:57

That's where we disagree, DrNortherner - I think it is irresponsible.

MrsSparkle - I would suggest not owning a cat unless you can prevent it. If a lead works; great.

ClenchedBottom · 16/02/2011 21:57

"Being angry with the owner is pointless."

Oh that's fine then. Makes me feel so much better. I hadn't realised that if my neighbours hadn't chosen to keep lots of cats then I'd be overrun with feral cats eating the DC (tempting at times) and leaping on me as I hung the washing out......

Am I supposed to be grateful, then?

MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 22:00

ClenchedBottom i afraid it is one of those things in life that you just have to accept. If the cat is owned or wild, it would still poo in your garden. If none of your neighbours had cats, it wouldn't solve the cat poo issue.

Dreams, not owning a cat doesn't solve the problem. Cats will still poo in your garden but they will be feral.

LibraPoppyGirl · 16/02/2011 22:00

HelenBaaBaaBlacksheep I have always done the same with all of my cats.

I love cats and have had many of them over the years, I've also had to endure the loss of quite a few due to the road and poisoning and it's horrendous.

However, I have always always kept a litter tray in the house and my cats have always deemed that as their toilet and no where else. I know they're not going anywhere else as they come running back into the house simply to use it and then go off out again. Also if they are pooing somewhere else as well, then they have one hell of a lot of poo to do Wink because the tray is used constantly. They have also come back in for just a wee too. Sadly I am cat-less at the moment, a situation I shall be rectifying in the not too distant future Smile.

I also always keep my cats in at night so that they don't make pests of themselves at night time. This also helps to curtain their hunting instincts too.

It is a real PITA for non-cat owners to have a cat come and poo in their well looked after gardens. I think any responsible cat owner should do whatever they can, to try to minimise the inconvenience their pet could cause. Obviously nothing is foolproof but I believe that it is the duty of any pet owner to be a responsible and informed pet owner.

I know that not all cats will take to only using the litter tray provided for them at home but so many cat owners, believe that once their cat gets past that kitten stage and can go outside, then the litter tray can go too. I don't agree with this. Keep the litter tray, they're already used to going there so don't change it and more often than not they'll always go there.

It's good for neighbour relations and it's only fair.

DrNortherner · 16/02/2011 22:02

If a giant crow flew into your garden and shit down your clean washing who would you complain to - God?!

Cats are just as much wildlife as foxes and hedgehogs, yes they like to sleep indoors given half the chance and come home for tea but you can't take away their natural instincts.

So you may think it's irresponsible but the RSPCA, the law, and the cats protection league don't agree with you.

anonandlikeit · 16/02/2011 22:02

So who should i be bloody angry with then.

Yesturday ds2 came in from school, went in the garden. climbed on the trampoline & promptly bounced cat shit all over the trampoline.
So there i was trying to wrestle with an upset 8 year old as I tried to clean him & his shoes & then stop him getting back on the trampoline while disinfected the trampoline bed.
I was poking cat shit through the holes for what seemed liek hours, dh ended up ahving to power hose it off.
Thats why i'm frigging angry!

DreamsInBinary · 16/02/2011 22:03

LibraPoppyGirl you are my favourite cat-owner Smile

LibraPoppyGirl · 16/02/2011 22:03

Whoops curtain = curtail Blush

DrNortherner · 16/02/2011 22:03

Libra - I had 2 male cats who refused to use a litter tray. It was there for years and not one poo...........

anonandlikeit · 16/02/2011 22:04

Libra, if all cat owners were as considerate as you my garden would be a far more pleasant place. Thank you!!

MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 22:04

You can be angry of coarse, but you cannot blame anyone. It is nature fgs.

DreamsInBinary · 16/02/2011 22:04

If God kept the crow as a pet, then yes I would.

Pet cats are not wild. Would you argue that dogs are wild and therefore able to roam free as well?

DrNortherner · 16/02/2011 22:05

Errrr all the cat owners I know do have a litter tray in the house actually, but unfortunately some cats prefer to poo outside as this is natural for them.

anonandlikeit · 16/02/2011 22:06

But if you were being a responsible and considerate pet owner it wouldn't happen so yews I can be angry at and blame the owners.

MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 22:06

Dream stop comparing cats with dogs. You just sound ridiculas

MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 22:07

Well ok, blame cat owners then if that's what makes you happy. It won't solve your problem though, even if they banned owning cats.

DreamsInBinary · 16/02/2011 22:08

Then please expain to me why one is OK and the other not, MrsSparkle.

DrNortherner · 16/02/2011 22:08

Dogs are pack animals and would terrorism neighbourhoods if left to roam free.

I've yet to be pounced on by a pack of tom cats.

You are being rather ridiculous now.

BendyBob · 16/02/2011 22:08

I see Beautyspot is rolling out her repulsive antifreeze advice again Hmm

anonandlikeit · 16/02/2011 22:08

Dreams argument is not rediculous, if you want to keep a wild animal as a domestic cat (beit cat dog or flippin Zebra) then you should take responsibility for it.

anonandlikeit · 16/02/2011 22:10

Mrssparkle, it would certainly bloody help, my 11 yr old wouldn't ahve to go on a poo hunt before I can let his brother in the garden.

MrsSparkle · 16/02/2011 22:10

dream have a Biscuit and stop being silly