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.

Hmmmmm... I see that PrettyMeerkat hasn't bothered to comment on my reply to her intelligent pot shot. Maybe I'll just repost it for her convenience:

"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 . . ."

I see PrettyMeerkat that you've decided to bring out your intelligent comments.

Our two cats are purrfectly happy staying inside and in our little fenced in yard. They don't poop in anyone's yard or kill anything and they are going to live long, healthy lives. If you all want to let your animals run free to piss off your neighbours and leave them at risk of traffic, environmental toxins and sadistic dogs and children then go for it. I think you're wrong but I'm sure you don't give a shit. I'm the responsible pet owner, not you.

Meerkat, I thought as much

Honestly-I have two cats,two litter trays and a garden.One of my cats only uses litter tray[comes in from outside] the other one usually uses our flower bed but if anyone said he had pooed in their garden I would ask if they had seen him do it.If so I would clean up,if not I wouldnt.

meerkat it's not off point as the OP used this as justification of her cats fouling, outside or not! :)

And it's not the 'food chain' or 'circle of life' as they are not in the natural food chain, they are breed to the point of number for our own selfish wants. If the argument was about a tiger, then, yep sugar, your bang on with your argument!

meerkat - so a cat killing a bird is justifiable as it's 'circle of life' but a dog killing a cat is not justifiable as 'it may be able to kill a human child'. riiiight. clearly you have given this, why, whole seconds of thought.

Pranma - what if that someone said they had seen your cat poo in their garden, but you suspected they didn't. Perhaps you would clear it up the first few times. But would you really want that person feeling they were free to call round anytime for the next, possibly, 15 years? What if you know they don't like you and you suspect that not all the poo they assure you they saw your can do is actually your cats?

I had thought of offering my neighbour this option, but decided I don't trust her at all and don't want her thinking I was prepared to come round for years on end.

Yes,PINGU - only you know her ...I would trust your intuition on this one.

She could have you start cleaning up poo on a whim,or whenever she felt like it (if you don't nip it in the bud)

I think you have been more than responsible :)

Pingu, in that case you should buy her a repellent to keep the cats out. You should not see yourself as absolved of responsibility simply because you don't like/trust her. The issue is still there and won't get any better.

My cat has a cat 'loo' - basically a covered litter tray that I bought from Pets at Home I think, which I keep in our sideway. Easy to clean, just empty as and when and then the neighbours can't complain!

At one time, the smell in our front garden from cat shit was so bad we couldn't open the windows in summer. Every day there would be fresh deposits, it was sickening having to clean it up.

So yes, yabu

leapyleo - I do have a litter tray at home that they both use. They have just used it now, big poo, so I can honestly say to my neighbour that my cats do still use their litter tray.

CurlyBoy I didn't reply to your comment because it didn't warrant one. My "Stick that in your pipe" comment was lighthearted and I was surprised you bothered to comment on it at all! You calling me unintelligent for it was just silly. I do though stand by the idea that animals, where possible, should have the freedom which suits their type.

kveta - so a cat killing a bird is justifiable as it's 'circle of life' but a dog killing a cat is not justifiable as 'it may be able to kill a human child'. riiiight. clearly you have given this, why, whole seconds of thought. -

That isn't what I said at all! You don't have to justify a cat killing a bird, it is their natural instinct and they should be left to do what they do. A dog can't be left to rip up cats as soon enough it will turn it's attention to a child and we can't let that happen. Luckily dogs are very trainable and they have to be trained! Training (or attempting to) a cat into not killing birds wouldn't acheive anything and would also be impossible.

This is pretty obvious so all I can think Kveta is that you either didn't read my post properly or you are deliberately not understanding.

manicmummyonadietcokebreak

And it's not the 'food chain' or 'circle of life' as they are not in the natural food chain, they are breed to the point of number for our own selfish wants. If the argument was about a tiger, then, yep sugar, your bang on with your argument!

Not in the natural food chain?! They may have been breed but I don't see what that has to do with anything. They still have their instincts and you can't take that away from them.

i have 2 cats and if my neighbour actually saw MY CATs pooing in their garden then i would pick it up - (however they did claim our cats had pooed in their garden one afternoon which was a damn lie as they were both at the vets for their ops)

"That isn't what I said at all! You don't have to justify a cat killing a bird, it is their natural instinct and they should be left to do what they do. A dog can't be left to rip up cats as soon enough it will turn it's attention to a child and we can't let that happen."

but surely a cat killing birds could then turn to killing larger creatures too, such as pet guinea pigs, or rabbits? and then by natural progression, it will start to attack larger and larger creatures, such as humans? in which case surely it's a problem? why would a dog killing something smaller than itself (following its natural instinct) be a problem when a cat killing something smaller than itself wouldn't be? Also, my human child does not look like a cat, so why would a cat-killing dog go for him just because it has previously gone for a cat?

So many questions, so little chance that you will be able to answer them without sounding even more deranged...

We often have neighbours cats pooing in our garden, it is terrible. I can smell it when I put om washing out and DH removes it when he gets home. I lost a baby at 20 weeks last summer and while researching reasons for it I have learned about toxoplasmosis infection which can be picked up from cat poo!! I do not now if this caused my loss but it is a possibility in my mind. I walked on the grass and picked up pegs etc. Please try and stop cats pooping on neighbours lawns.

meerkat being breed has everything to do with it! We must take responsibility for there actions as, as owners, they are our responsibility full stop, regardless of 'instinct' I had a beautiful snake, which left to it's own devices, could and would eat a cat or a small dog, so I amazingly didn't let it into other people's gardens! It's called moral responsibility and in a few years when our native wildlife is exctict shall we just shrug on say 'oh well, it just fluffys nature'!
And a totally bizzar'o argument that a dog would eat a cat and then think to it's self, woof, now I'll go maul that toddler, yum!???

Kveta Don't you dare call me derranged just for having a different opinion to you. How fucking dare you!

Back on subject. A dog that is allowed to kill cats is a dangerous dog, like all the stories you hear in the news about dangerous dogs killing babies and the owners haven't bothered to train them. It encourages the agression, it's like they get a taste for it. This is really blindingly obvious that I am shocked you don't understand it.

Cats don't kill rabbits! That's foxes!

Also, my human child does not look like a cat, so why would a cat-killing dog go for him just because it has previously gone for a cat?

Oh for gods sack!

littlewish So sorry to hear about your loss . That must have been terrible. I think you would normally get flu type symptoms if infected with it but don't know if this would be different if you were pregnant. I would think its unlikely to get it from clothes pegs though even if on the floor. Perhaps talk to your doctor about it. They might not be able to tell you for sure, I don't know, but it might help to try to get some answers or at least talk about it. Did they do tests at the time? How are you now?

www.suite101.com/content/pet-dogs-killing-cats-and-other-animals-a122901

this is quite interesting

I've kind of lost track of the point of the argument about which animals kill which and why, but for the sake of accuracy just wanted to point out that cats do indeed kill and eat rabbits, usually baby ones.

HouseOfBamboo It was because someone said that cats kill birds and so shouldn't be allowed out and should be confined to houses etc. I said that in was in their nature. I said that it wasn't like with a dog where they can kill people. A cat can't kill people! Or something like that! Bit lost myself now.

manicmummyonadietcokebreak And a totally bizzar'o argument that a dog would eat a cat and then think to it's self, woof, now I'll go maul that toddler, yum!??? -

As I said earlier I have been bitten 5 times by dogs (lucky me) and I know that at least 2 of those dogs had previously killed animals. One was encouraged to do it and the other was just let to get on with it. So then the bloody thing attacked me (it was a HUGE dog) and left a massive hole in my flesh. The owners took no responsibility for it.

So yes I do think there is a massive link between dogs attacking other animals and also people. It doesn't matter what they look like (Kveta "Also, my human child does not look like a cat, so why would a cat-killing dog go for him just because it has previously gone for a cat?"), if the dog is agressive and likes killing things which move (ever been to dog racing?) then then will attack a small child as well as an animal.

BIL's cats would frequently kill squirrels and rabbits in the woods behind their house.

And an ex-colleague volunteers at a wildlife rescue focusing mainly on bats and birds but sometimes other animals as well. He says most of the casualties they rescue have injuries inflicted by cats, rather than dogs, people or traffic etc. He tells me that something in their saliva is toxic to birds and bats so even minor injuries usually result in the bird or bat dying.

Which is still off the point of the thread, so I'll reiterate what I said before. Pingu, it would be worth the money for a sonic repeller and a small supply of those scented sticks just to get your neighbour off your back.

And especially worth it to make her feel like you have taken her seriously rather than dismissed her, as it is leaving her like this which might lead her to take action herself in a way that might lead to your cats or someones elses being harmed by an unsuitable remedy.

What takethisonehere said.

OP, you do sound a bit like a child whining that it's not fair and you're being picked on. Maybe your neighbour isn't being fair, but getting hold of a cat repelling device for her to try might produce a win win solution all round.

Also.... it's all very well saying it probably won't be OP's cat and if it is it won't be much, but her issue IN the OP was 'she wants to be able to call me on an as and when basis'. Which suggests she thinks that would be quite often.

Otherwise surely it would be '...even though I'm not convinced it's my cat who's shitting up her garden anyway'.