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.

Children are pointless

Well, in the ops case, she had cats so she wouldn't have to clear up after them

I agree wholeheartedly with takethisone.

Children are pointless

Makes no sense, were you never a child? Did you arrive here, age 'fortyplus'?

I think if you catch someone's cat in the act of pissing on your doormat, confront the owner and they deny that is was theirs or ask for proof you are completely in your rights to ask them if it's ok to catch the bugger and spray it pink next time. No doubt then about whose cat it is...

Haha duchesse, that's a great idea

My cat loves me more than my baby does. Unfortunately!

" I actually owned cats over the years, even though I do like dogs too, because I don't want the additional hassle and responsibility of a dog - such as having to walk it, be around at home more for it, and pick up its poo when we go on walks."
"I don't mind a bit of cat shit in my garden." -No. But maybe your neighbour does! And as its her garden, I think she has that right!
You sound like such a nice person! Not. Happy to put two more cats out into the world to harrass the neighbourhood, so long as you dont have to clear up after them.
I totally agree with your neighbour. I like cats, yes, but I dont chose to keep them. I HATE finding cat shit in my garden. It stinks and its unhygienic. If I wanted worms, or toxoplasmosis, or cat shit in my vegetable patch or childs sandpit, Id get my own cat! If I was your neighbour, and I was being invaded by your animals, freedom to roam or not, I would be investing in a high pressure hose, or bb gun. Or even better, upgrading my dog to a large cat chasing greyhound! No, legally, she doesnt have a leg to stand on, but that doesnt make her wrong.

Jesus, I have a cat, who due to being a big coward and not going anywhere, only shits in our garden. I watch him every morning at about half sixish having his daily dump and TBH me, DP and kids manage to go outside without getting covered in shit.

These are cats we are talking about, not elephants or horses. It's not like cats cause a daily shit tsunami. And all sorts of animals shit in our gardens all the time FFS. In the 'outside' animals will shit on stuff. It's life. Humans evolved and coped with animal shit. You big bunch of jessies.

Jesus, I have a cat, who due to being a big coward and not going anywhere, only shits in our garden. I watch him every morning at about half sixish having his daily dump and TBH me, DP and kids manage to go outside without getting covered in shit.

but why should other people have to deal with your animals shit? Im staggered that people think that this is acceptable!

allstron you're a cat owner. You choose to have cat shit in your garden (nice btw, just lovely)

I am not a cat owner, therefore I choose not to have cat shit in my garden. I'm not scared of it, I just don't want it.

I'm not here wailing and moaning about it, I put cayenne pepper down and it works. That means no poo. Nada, no hedgehog shit, fox crap, elephant shite, nowt.

If you were my neighbour I'd clear the cats poo from my garden and throw it in yours.

A cat is generally quite small, smaller than a toddler or a baby. They do small shits. It's not a tidal wave of faeces.

All sorts of animals shit outside. Foxes shit, birds shit, rats shit. There is shit everywhere. Cat shit is small beer.

Unless there are monster cats prowling the UK who unleash massive piles of towering shit in peoples gardens.

If you are scared of shit don't go outside. Shit is everywhere dudes.

Not in my garden

Is it really such a big deal to cope with a bit of poo in your garden? You lot need to get a life! Clear it up yourselves even if a neighbour's cat has done it. My neighbour's cat craps in my garden and I wouldn't dream of upsetting her by making a fuss about it. Cats are free-roaming creatures - you cannot and should not keep them confined - it's cruel.

Good neighbours are tolerant of each other and their animals.

alistron, cat shit (even small cat shit) is full of diseases. so is dog shit. so is human shit. I dont revel in my crap, or my dogs crap. I dont leave it lying around because its unhygienic. it may be natural, but it aint nice.

go outside and put your hand in your cats shit, or better still, let your child do it... then come back and tell us that its no big deal.

I have a life thanks, it doesn't involve clearing up anyone else's mess.

fortyplus Sat 02-Jul-11 23:42:02
Is it really such a big deal to cope with a bit of poo in your garden?

yes it is. its about showing a bit of respect and courtesy to your fellow humans and not expecting them to clean up after your pet.
and if its not such a big deal, why cant the op do it?

I live in an area where there are hawks, so not many small pets are allowed out unaccompanied. My own little cat is an indoor cat. I deeply resented a neighbour who allowed her Irish setter to roam freely around and deposit a calling card on my front lawn every so often and I think I would feel the same about cats pooing in the garden. Do you think your cat would go in a catbox in the neighbour's garden?

I am a cat owner, but mine stays indoors. I think even if you are not legally obligated to clean up after your pet, that you would feel morally obligated. I think your idea to say if she has witnessed the act, is a good idea, as otherwise it possibly is not your cat.

I have a cat, chickens and a hamster. My garden (from the cat/chickens) is covered in shit. My veg patch gets shat on by various animals. TBF, my cat shits far less than the foxes and pigeons...and the chickens.

My kids have played in the shitstorm of my garden and survived.

You can get toxoplasmosis from handling cat poo, which can happen inadvertently if you're gardening in a cat's favourite spot. Pregnant women should guard against this infection.

Haven't managed to read the whole thread (it's got quite long...) but the law is "you fence against the common". That means that it is the land owners responsibility to keep other people's animals out.

Strictly speaking, this applies only to farm animals kept on common land, but it provides a very strong basis for considering the law in relation to a capricious animal such as a cat ( as opposed to a compliant animal, such as a dog): this distinction is signficant since one farm animal (the Scotch Blackface Sheep) is so capricious - which means the entire species is psychotic bastards- that it is subject to different rules.

In a nutshell, you have to pick up dog shit, you don't have to pick up cat shit (unless it turns you on ...)

That's fine for you alistron I get that, it's your choice. It's lovely that your children have played knee deep in shit and survived.

It's not my choice though, I don't want a garden full of shit (call me wild and crazy, I'm that kind of girl)

Despite witnessing my cat shitting in my garden every morning, I've never found his shit. He buries it. The only visible shit I've found is fox shit, pigeon shit and rat droppings.

How do you all know that the shit in your gardens is feline? Do you get it analysed? And how do you all feel about bird/fox/rat shit?

Do some of you not go outside 'just in case'?

But greeneyes, what about the birds? Do you have a no fly zone?