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.

If you have a cat repellant that actually works I am dying to know what it is...

Pingu, it sounds like you got cats simply so you don't have to take legal responsibility for cleaning up after it. How about it's down right rude! If I was your neighbour I'd get an elephant. They are allowed to roam free to and then you might see how horrible it is to have someones animal shit in your garden!

I love cats (as I said, I have 2 that stay in) but I would be absolutely horrible to yours until they stayed out of my garden. You are a bad neighbour and you are just asking to have your cats treated poorly.

I've said this before on these sorts of threads...

Where the hell are all these cats coming from who don't know/haven't learnt how to poo properly as kittens?

I have NEVER (and I'm going to be 45 next week, from an early age have had cats as pets pretty much continuously, so have had quite a few) had a cat that did not go out into the garden, select a spot at the back of a border, dig a hole, squat, poo, then bury their poo afterwards, covering it up again.

I'm not denying anyone's experience of finding cat poo in their lawn, which I agree, is absolutely revolting, but I'm really confused that there seem to be so many cats out there that don't 'get' the hole-digging/covering up afterwards thing. Are they taken away from their mums too early to learn about it? Why is this such an issue these days?

God I sound old... "ooh, cats in my day knew how to poo properly..."

We're currently waiting to get new kittens and I'm actually quite worried that they won't know how to dig their holes and our neighbours will hate us (actually our neighbours on 4 sides have concreted/patioed their entire gardens, so I suspect we already get everyone else's cat poo)!

I'm pretty astounded that you openly state that you didn't get a dog because you didn't want to clear up shit, but you are perfectly happy to make someone else clear up your pet's shit.

I have to say I have never ever seen cat poo on my lawn, now or when I was growing up. Sure in the beds but never just on the lawn. I thought cats prefered to bury their crap?

I don't understand that either Lovecat

We have woodchip down in our garden so cats shit, scrabble a bit of woodchip over it and just leave it where our toddler could easily get at it.

Not sure I would be happy about cats digging holes in my flowerbeds either.

Nobody picks up cat poo.

ANd I agree with springboks - cats normally bury their poo.

Punka - wonderful attitude!

Trillian - " nobodypicks up cat poo" dont you think its about time they do ?

"catsbury their poo"

Indeed! So all of us picking up cat poo every week are making it up then .

I always thought they buried it too, we get both, they like our gravel and they bury it in the veg plots, both are gross but at least you see it before you get it on your hands on the gravel

Agree with Lovecat. I'm astonished by all these cats pooing everywhere. And on a slide? How do they keep their balance?!

if her dog shat in your garden would you expect her to pick it up?

Not legally required - though I suppose if someone ever took it that far they might sue you and win.

Morally.. you have to ask yourself what you thought when you got the cats. You must have known that your neighbour was going to have shit in her garden because of your decision. How did that make you feel? did you just not care?

From what you are saying you neighbours are garden proud. So it is reasonable they dont want cat crap all over it.

If you decide to own an animal, let alone 2, certain responsibilities come with that. Feeding, cleaning, vet treatment, vaccinations and yes! Cleaning up poo!

I love animals but choose not to own any as i dont want some of those responsibilities or costs mentioned above.

Some people are ok with cleaning it themselves. Others arent.

Your cats therefore your cat crap! Pick it up! Or buy your neighbours a cat repeller!

And it's more than just the grossness of treading in it, getting it on your hands, etc. My ds was seriously ill for 2 months after contracting toxoplasmosis last year. I thought I was going to lose him at one point. Cat shit is grim and dangerous.

OP i think your attitude stinks.
Pick up your pets shit and buy neighbour a cat repellant.
Or teach your cat to poo in the toilet.

There must be a REASON that it is law to clean up dog poo but not cat poo. Why is there a difference in law?

One is easier to enforce than the other.

there should be a law about cat shit as well
but cats are harder to govern because they are not on a lead
but it's not rocket science to know what cat is shitting in your garden..unless you're blind

Cats by law are classed differently to dogs.
If a cat is run over the driver has no legal obligation to report it. If they don't they could in theory be charged with animal cruelty if injured. But a dead cat can just be left. Unlike a dog.

The upshot of this is they have no responsibilty, nor do the owners.

I had a cat, she would poo and bury in her own garden, but in other gardens they leave it as territory markers.
I have no qualms about the water drenching. I have done it to other cats who used to bully mine when she got old. If someone did it to her, fair enough.
OP YANBU

i think the difference in law is purely down to the fact that its a lot more difficult to police cats than dogs as dogs aren't allowed out on their own whereas cats are and for long preiods of time sometimes so impossible to see which cat left the mess or who owns it/where its from.

i think its right that cats at least attempt to bury their poo i have chipping stones up the side of my house and garden, they cost me a fortune when i moved in and are very light in colour, the offending cat constantly poos on the stones then digs them this makes the grey sand foundations of the chips visible which isn't nice anyway but the poo just sits nicely on top so not only do i have to pick up the damn poo but rearrange and lay my stones every other day.

how does she know its your cat? she sounds a bitch i'd shit in her garden myself im a moody cow today i promise i wouldnt really shit in someones garden