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AIBU?

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Original poster

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.

1000 replies

pingu2209 · 02/07/2011 09:38

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.

OP posts:
PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 11:49

Who would ask this of a neighbour? I mean, really! Cats crap indiscriminately in gardens - that's a fact of suburban living. The idea of asking my neighbours to pop over to scoop up some cat turds is absolutely ludicrous.

Completely agree smartypants! The only place this is ever even discussed is on MN!

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 11:51

manicmummyonadietcokebreak what about the wildlife they destroy? You can't use the excuse that they are classed as wild animals, as they have been breed for thousands of years for our enjoyment, I've scene a few beautiful birds been ripped apart by people's cats, and it's awful.

What the fuck does them having being breed have to do with it?! They are still animals who have instincts! You can't take that away from them! What planet are you on! Animals kill each other ALL THE TIME! It is part of life/food chain or whatever. What a bloody bizaar argument.

Kveta · 04/07/2011 12:00

PrettyMeerkat - cats are domestic animals, and have been bred by humans, for human pleasure for centuries. They are not wild animals. Just out of interest, if a dog killed your cat, and left it dismembered across your lawn (stopping for a quick dump before leaving the scene) would you dismiss it as being part of the food chain?

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:01

I would be mortified to be considered so unbelievably petty as to think this was in any way a reasonable request. I think some of you are completely bonkers Well said CaptainBizarro

smartypants Cat shit is undoubtedly a huge annoyance to some, and a potential health hazard but really, would anyone ask a neighbour to pick it up? It just seems so antagonistic. - Absolutely!

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:01

Excuse the masses of posts by me, catching up!

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:06

kveta No I wouldn't. That is because dogs can be hugely dangerous animals and need to be trained properly to avoid it killing people and particularly children! A dog that is capable of killing a cat is capable of killing a small child. A cat that is capable of killing a bird is, well, only capable of that!

Using the fact that cats can kill birds or other animals as a reason to object to their poo is rather strange and off the point. Birds kill worms but I wouldn't use that a reason to do, well anything! It's what they do!

CurlyBoy · 04/07/2011 12:18

I agree with Kveta, cats are domestic animals and there should be no reason at all that they can't be kept inside.

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:26

Yet another post by me, think I'm just arguing with myself now Grin but I have a serious question.

A lot of the posters on here have said that they pick up after their dogs and are responsibly pet owners, and so cat owners should be responsible for their pets poo as well . . .

Well, I remember before it became law to pick up dog poo, the streets were ALWAYS covered in poo, I was always treading in it. I never saw anyone ever pick up a dog poo. If they did people would have asked why they were doing that and yuck it's disgusting/you're carrying poo around! etc. There were no red bins to put it in.

I am convinced that the only reason people pick up after their dogs now is because it's the law, and because you can be fined it you don't/told off by anyone who sees. Plus it's become the norm, due to the law. If the law hadn't changed dog owners wouldn't have suddenly started picking up the poo and our streets would still be covered in it. So you may think you are morally superior but actually you are just avoiding getting into trouble.

This makes it not comparable to cat poo. So there! Grin

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:27

CurlyBoy Well you're a domesticated human being so I see no reason why YOU shouldn't be kept indoors. Stick that in your pipe . . .

OracleInaCoracle · 04/07/2011 12:35

A lot of the posters on here have said that they pick up after their dogs and are responsibly pet owners, and so cat owners should be responsible for their pets poo as well . . .

Well, I remember before it became law to pick up dog poo, the streets were ALWAYS covered in poo, I was always treading in it. I never saw anyone ever pick up a dog poo. If they did people would have asked why they were doing that and yuck it's disgusting/you're carrying poo around! etc. There were no red bins to put it in.

I am convinced that the only reason people pick up after their dogs now is because it's the law, and because you can be fined it you don't/told off by anyone who sees. Plus it's become the norm, due to the law. If the law hadn't changed dog owners wouldn't have suddenly started picking up the poo and our streets would still be covered in it. So you may think you are morally superior but actually you are just avoiding getting into trouble.

utter rubbish. I have always had dogs and always picked up its shit. dont judge everyone by your own standards please.

my issue is with cat owners letting out their pets, knowing full well that they will shit in someone elses garden. and when that happens its someone elses problem, because thats what cats do. my dog is a JRT, he comes from working stock and was bred to rat. we have trained him, and worked hard to stop him darting off after hedgrow creatures. we also pick up his shit and take full responsibility for his behaviour. it is never "someone elses problem", it is ours. and after thinking about this, I still applaud the neighbour. just because its not been heard of to ask a cat owner to remove their pets shit, doesnt mean it shouldnt be done.

Malcontentinthemiddle · 04/07/2011 12:39

Well it is the law in the first place because it makes sense... but I think, as with the smoking laws, over time it comes to be the norm - and we would quite rightly think not only (perhaps not at all) 'that's illegal' when we see a dog shit on the pavement, but 'that is dangerous, disgusting and hazardous' - and we would be right to think that. Some people already think that about cat shit, others perhaps think that it can't be wrong if it's not against the law: I find that a bit disingenous though. To me, the logical conclusion of your analogy is just that it ought to be law to clean up after your cat as well as after your dog!

TrillianAstra · 04/07/2011 12:45

The difference between dog poo and cat poo is that you know where your dog is at all times.

Cats fuck off and poo in secret.

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:46

lissielou Well we only have your word to take on that. But to believe that you were picking up your dog poo 20 odd years (depending on your age) before everyone else . . . well I don't believe you.

MarySueFTW · 04/07/2011 12:47

"utter rubbish. I have always had dogs and always picked up its shit. dont judge everyone by your own standards please."

Sorry, I think it's you judging everyone else by your own standards. You might have picked up your dog poo before they made it compulsory, but 99% of other dog owners certainly didn't.

They clearly don't have such a law in Paris, for instance...

OracleInaCoracle · 04/07/2011 12:49

and to clarify, I dont care about the letting out of a cat. I know they have to be let out. its the attitude of the owners when faced with the unpleasant reality of how the majority of non-cat owners feel about having to clean up their precious pets stinky, disease ridden, garden damaging crap. surely we should be in thrall to every shit?!

tralalala · 04/07/2011 12:51

of course you should. I did for neighbour when we had catds and bought her some of that cats away stuff. Cat shit is vile why should they have to deal with your cats shit??

OracleInaCoracle · 04/07/2011 12:52

lissielou Well we only have your word to take on that. But to believe that you were picking up your dog poo 20 odd years (depending on your age) before everyone else . . . well I don't believe you.

how dare you say you dont believe me, you dont know me! Im 33 and grew up in the countryside, one of the things I was taught was to pick up poo, keep it clean, its as basic as close gates after you. dont be so bloody arrogant.

Malcontentinthemiddle · 04/07/2011 12:53

I know cats bugger off, and you can't police it entirely, but if you know for sure that your cat has shat up your neighbours garden, it's not nice to just leave them to deal with it.

We once put up netting because the local cats kept grubbing up our sweet peas in the early stages..... so the little buggers shat on the netting, and that was a nightmare to get rid of.

It's really unfair to make your neighbours put up with that - they didn't get a cat, you did!

OracleInaCoracle · 04/07/2011 12:53

marysue, maybe I am. but the streets are much nicer since people started cleaning up after their dogs. that much is undeniable.

donnie · 04/07/2011 12:55

Oh FFS Op it's hardly rocket science is it? was your neighbour's garden full of cat shit before you got your cats?

No?

well add two and two together then. And clean it up. If I was your neighbour I would not only lob the shit back in your garden but put poison down as well.

Duh.

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 12:57

donnie Don't start talking about poison! Angry It's not new or clever, some other have mentioned it and each time get reminded that it's illegal and will have the police and RSPCA on your arse!

donnie · 04/07/2011 12:59

why would it be illegal to put poison down in your own garden though? it's not like it's in someone else's.

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 13:01

donnie Malcontentinthemiddle tralalala

Please read the posts where it is made clear that there have always been cats in the neighbours garden but the neighbour has it in for the OP, looks down at her, make comments about her education and clearly was looking for some way to belittle her. The OP getting cats produced the perfect opportunity which the neighbour jumped on. The OP has a little tray which the cats use and a toilet in their own garden which they use. The just wouldn't have enough poo left to be filling the neighbours garden with it as well! So the issue is not the poo it is the fact that the OPs neighbour is an **.

PrettyMeerkat · 04/07/2011 13:03

Pretty sure it's still illegal donnie as it is in a place where passing animals/wildlife etc will come into contact with it. Perhaps I should stand in my garden with a shotgun and shoot the neighbours in the head and say "well I was on my own property". Both are illegal wherever you are. It's animal cruelty!

donnie · 04/07/2011 13:05

Hmmm. I confess I didn't read all the thread as I couldn't really be bothered so I am prepared to concede that maybe the OP's neighbour is a twat. However I would not hesitate in dealing with shitting animals in my garden by whatever means necessary!

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