My neighbour has asked me to pick up my cat's poo from their garden. Literally she wants to be able to call on me to come and pick it up on an as and when basis.

[pingu2209]

I have 2 cats. They have only just started going outside, about 1 month so far. I still have a litter tray at home and they do use it but they are also beginning to 'go' outside too.

My view is that cats should not be locked in doors. I had to keep them indoors for the first 6th months because I was told by the shelter that they needed their injections, be neutered and micro chipped before they could venture outside and all that wasn't done till they were 6 months old.

I keep my cats up to date with their injections and worm/flee ointment - well they are only 7 months old at the moment, but I fully intend to keep them up to date.

There are other cats in the area. The house behind mine has 2 big cats and we are in a rural area with foxes. Also, my neighbours have a dog. Nice dog, sometimes it barks but it isn't really a problem if I'm honest. I like dogs as much as cats, I'm not anti dogs or anything.

Am I legally obliged to pick up my cats poo?

I've spoken to my mother and she has told me that I should pick up my cat's poo if the neighbour asks. The thing is, I may have to go round there each day or two to do it.

I hate cats pooing in my garden, luckily sinse getting my own cat we have not had a problem, i dont blame her for being pissed off but at the end of the day 'what can you do about it', cats poo where they want to poo (you cant stop them), tell her to put bottles of water in the area your cat is using.

I have a problem with hedgehogs pooing in my garden, sadly i have no one to complain too .

yep, I would be quite affronted at having to pick up my neighbour's pet's poo out of my own garden. She is being perfectly reasonable.

flowery, exactly. my dog doesnt shit in someone elses garden, not because its against the law, but because I am a responsible pet owner. my neighbours cat uses a litter tray, because she is a responsible pet owner. you chose a cat because you couldnt be arsed with picking up after it, that makes you an irresponsible pet owner and a bit of a twat.

OP, I love your neighbour.

at the end of the day 'what can you do about it', cats poo where they want to poo (you cant stop them)

no, you cant stop them, but if you know where they are pooing, its the responsible and sensible thing to clean up after them.

Lissielou - I DO have a litter tray. Except cats go where they want - that is the point! That is why there is no law on cat fouling.

oh how I wish that dog owners who are legally obliged to pick up their dog shit, would actually clean it up off paths etc. I am fed up of having to tell DC to mind the shit on the way to school, or having to try and avoid it when out for a run. So not all dog owners clean up after their pets.

If it is usually only entire toms who surface lay and the OPs cats are neutered then to me that is a good enough reason that it may not be her cats that are shitting in the garden.

The neighbour does sound like a controlling bully to be honest. OP how big is her dog? because if she is trying to bully and degrade you i wouldn't put it past her to make out that her dogs shit is your cats to try and get you to shovel it.

To be wuite honest the amount of poos in your litter tray suggest that your cats are actually using that rather than going elsewhere, unless other cats are using your tray too

As stated if you are told they are doing it in your neighbours garden why don't you take their word for it and pick it up!? I bet you'd be delighted if my dog had a shit in your garden and I just left it. And don't spout the law at me, shit is shit. It's disgusting, unhygienic and should not be left lying around for people to walk in, pick up or even have to smell.

but, if you know where they are going (in your neighbours garden) why are you so opposed to cleaning it up? it sounds like you are letting your feelings towards your neighbour cloud your judgement on this matter.

as I said, I appreciate that you cant stop your cat pooing around town (as much as it grates me) but you can clear up some of the mess your pet makes, and it will probably help your relationship with your neighbour.

I lol as well at the op saying she would call the police if the neighbour chucked her cats poo back into her garden. Absolutely barmy and incredibly selfish. If you cant take responsibility for your pets and expect other people to instead you shoudlnt have them.

since your cats are new perhaps she has noticed marked increase in cat poo in her garden or there wasnt any before and now there is some and put two and two together. cat poo is disgusting and if you neighbour is sure its your cats i think its fair to expect you to clean it up. people expect people to clean up after their dogs.

YABU

I agree with the neighbour too, although if she has a dog you'd think that'd be enough to keep any cats from pooing in the garden. My dog won't let a cat come near his 'hood.

tell her to put bottles of water in the area your cat is using

Never heard that before. How does it work?

lissielou flowery, exactly. my dog doesnt shit in someone elses garden, not because its against the law, but because I am a responsible pet owner. my neighbours cat uses a litter tray, because she is a responsible pet owner.

Your dog doesn't shit in some one else's garden because IT IS A DOG! Dogs (generally speaking) can't climb the fences out of their own garden so it is never going to be in anothers garden to do a poo in the first place. That's a crap comparison. The OP does have a little tray as she has said several times and also has a toilet in her own garden.

vnmum I agree

OP said "If that happens I will call the police. Throwing cat poo into someones garden is illegal - it falls under the common law of nuisance. Also under some health and safety by laws."

er...are you a lawyer OP?

i think you could argue that she was returning what was yours.

I used to throw my neighbour's cat's poo right back over the garden fence. into her garden. where it belonged.

why can't people train fucking cats to use litter trays? what is the point of a litter tray if a cat does not use it all the time. EH???????

KatieWatie I am loving the gangsta dog thing. Is his collar big and gold? Does he drive a BMW with tinted windows and a massive stereo?

Sorry for the whimsical diversion. As you were. Off for one more

but cats bury it don't they?

My neighbours cat doesn't bury it carocaro, despite what some posters have said.

It may be just a extraordinarily thick cat.

Buy a sonic repeller for her.

Cats don't bury it if they are the dominant cat on the patch and there are others around... It's like a big sign saying "this is my patch - fluff off".

Not read to the end as couldn't face 10 pages about cat poo . I would offer to buy her a decent sonic cat repeller (they can turn it off when their dog is in the garden as presumably the dog would then repel the cats!). That way, it'll stop all cats getting in their garden and you won't be round there every other day picking up cat poo from goodness knows how many cats. I would also get her some rechargeable batteries and a charger!

I would totally pick up Mokie's poo if it was clear that it was only Mokie causing a problem, the trouble is that there are probably loads of cats in your neighbourhood.

Thank you BDSM

With the neighbour, I have cat crap everywhere in my garden, in the veg patch, in the flower beds and even in a grow bag with a courgette in it. I've tried a sonic repeller, garlic powder and some other powder from the garden centre and nothing works. I'm quite frankly sick of having to do a turd patrol every day before I let my kids in to the garden.

Soniccatrepellers only work if they are wired up to the mains permanently or you keep replacing batteries.

They are not foolproof.
we have one in our tiny front garden which works as cats come from one side of path only.

But the one we bought for back garden does not work as the cats come in from all over and the sonic range does not cover that area.

Maybe OP she is thinking that if you have to clear it up, you will get so fed up that you will either give your cats away , or try harder to make them use theri litter tray, or keep them insdde.

why do they need to go out anyway?

I really don't think anyone should be slinging shit at each other over the fence, this is not how we live people.
Mine (I have three) fill a litter tray every day, the amount they produce - usually just as you tuck into your dinner - the buggers, is amazing. Anyway they can use the litter tray, go outside and squeeze a bit more out, ive seen them do it but they usually burry it too.
I'd suggest orange peel and tin foil, cats can be trained off certain areas.