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.

Sorry Gilbonzo. :)

I did say that incidents of the condition as a result of cat/dog faeces are very rare and ARGUABLY the result of clean-freakishness though!

If the neighbour was forthright enough to ask you to come and pick it up, I doubt she's going to let it rest tbh.

I second the cayenne pepper thing for anyone else suffering with cats shitting on lawns etc (my neighbours cat obviously was never tonight too poo properly, as I have seen the thing lay one out then stroll off. No digging). It does work.

If I'd asked politely once and got ignored the way you selfishly intend on doing, I'd definitely chuck the turds back in your garden

Agreed. What a very selfish and unpleasant person you sound OP.

The idea of getting a cat rather than a dog in order that other people will have to clear up after it rather than you taking responsibility for your pet is repulsive.

Dog and fox poo are quite different to cat poo. A cat poos in our garden and it stinks.

op, your attitude stinks. I agree with SM that your neighbours behaviour has nothing to do with this. complain about the dog barking all you like, but its not comparable to your cat shitting in her garden, honestly, why have you had a pet if you dont want the hassle or responsibility of clearing up after it? you say cat poo doesnt need cleaning up, it bloody well does! I hope that she does take the route of flinging it over your garden. either that, or lets her dog into your garden to shit. see how you like it.

Has anyone mentioned cats have a legal right to roam? And I don't think any other domesticated animal does.

When we moved in the garden was full of cat poo, I just cleaned it up because on the grand scale if icky things women are expected to do just because we are born with a fanjo, clearing up cat mess ranks quite low imo.

Now we have a cat he wees in our garden but doesn't poo. He has a tray but likes the breeze on his bottom iykwim. Only suicidal cats enter our garden now.

You could try keeping them in overnight, and as late as poss after breakfast. They're like us when it comes to toileting.

You could also buy cat repellant pellets for her to use on her garden.

She sounds mad btw. And some of the other posters are just vitriolic no constructive advice just clearly cat haters.

no the dog barking may be annoying but is definitely not the same thing

its not barking in YOUR living room although you may hearit it doesn't smell and you can't catch disease or infection from it, it doesn't cost you any extra either!

you're attitude stinks and TBH i wouldn't blame her if she posted it through your letterbox rather than throwing over your fence!

If she sees that it's your cats, then she might have a point, but I think it takes a long time for cats to gain a territory and as yours are so young I doubt they would have 'earned' a large territory without lots of fighting with neighbouring cats. I would suspect that she was trying to get me to clear up other people's cat's poo, too, which wouldn't make me happy.

CurlyBoy By letting your cats out you know they will be pooping in other peoples gardens. Personally I think that is very rude. Not always - my cat was out until 1.30am this morning. He came straight in and did a great big poo in his litter tray . I really don't know why he can't/won't do them in our garden. We often find cat poos in our garden - and DH grumbles, but from the amount of poos he does in the litter tray, I suspect they are from someone else's cat. I never see them do it, though.

Cats bury their poo. Does she want you to dig it up first?
Cats do go out and they will poo anywhere where there is dirt for them to bury it. Tell the silly sad cow to get over herself.
Gosh i wish I had her problems!

but fluffycloud, having the right to roam doesnt give cat owners the right to refuse to pick up their mess. I dont particularly like cats, I have a dog, but I dont hate them. what I do hate is irresponsible animal owners allowing their pets to defecate on my property. my dog barks, my neighbours cat meows loudly. I clean up my dogs mess from our back garden (he doesnt poo on walks) and my neighbour has trained her cats to use a litter tray.

have an animal, deal with the mess yourself, dont expect everyone else to do it for you

oh, and not all cats bury their poo. the one who used to come into our garden and shit at the bottom of ds's slide certainly didnt.

"lockets Sat 02-Jul-11 15:15:18
Cats DO NOT all bury their poo, our flowerbeds are testament to that.

why should I have to pick up cat's shit when I don't choose to have a cat whilst my cat owning neighbour chooses to have a cat and doesn't have to pick up shit?

Do cat owners think it is reasonable to let their neighbours pick up shit then?"

yep

cat poo stinks, good for her in asking you to do it. generally a cat will poo in the same garden as it chooses its own territory, we have a ginger tom who has laid claim to our gdn, it always poos in the same spot too, really stinks

why should cat poo be any different to dog poo?

I really do not get cat owners.

They get a pet which roams constantly, craps in other people's gardens and then they get all uppity if someone objects.

Between my 3 neighbours they have 7 cats. This year I have not grown any veg in my raised bed due to cats pooing in it despite covering with netting etc etc.

I actually hate cats now. They are pointless pets.

My dog (unknown to me) took to wandering up our lane and crapping outside neighbours garage. Neighbour said nothing to me but put the dog poo in my letterbox! If only she'd just let me know I would have apologised, cleared it up and tried to ensure it didn't happen again...which is what you should do.

If you neighbour sees YOUR cats defecating in HER garden, then she has every right to come round and get you to deal with THEIR shit!

This makes me so fucking angry that cat owners think it is ok for their pets to go into someone elses garden and crap all over their vegetable plots/flower beds/kids toys/safe spaces for kids to play in whilst their garden remains clean.

Using the excuse 'how can she know it is my cat?' is ridiculous! She obviously sees your cat in her garden and the resulting mess it makes. There will be times when you can't guarantee which cats bum is responsible but when you can then I think it is perfectly reasonable for your neighbour to come round and ask you to deal with it.

You need to train your cat to do it in a particular place or stop them from going in other people's garden. Buy a deterrent for the neigbours garden.

It your cat and its your cats shit,so good on her for telling you to pick it up!

I want to just let you know, I have a litter tray, which theyuse, and lock my cats in at night. I am not encouraging them to go to anyone's gardens. I wouldn't mind at all if it was just their own garden they go in. However, cats roam around. I would be surprised that they would go into the neighbour's garden much as they have a dog.

You may have a litter tray but they are still shitting in next doors garden,so whats your point? I have dogs and they shit in my garden,but if we go out I have bags with me to clean up after MY pets,just like you have to. So pick your cat shat up and stop whinging.

Maybe I was a bit harsh - sorry. I have a beautiful garden which is used as a toilet by next doors cats and a curious 18 month old.

If your neighbour sees your cat going in and doing it then yes I think you should go round to deal with it. However, if there is no evidence that it is your cat then I can see your reason for refusing.

If this women is simply being a bully then perhaps you need to be the mature one and tell her that there are other cats around who maybe pooing in her garden, is she going to go round to all the neighbours with cats and ask them the same thing? Recomend a cat deterrent but if she does have a dog then surely letting it run round the garden would scare off the cats?

Why don't you train your cat to use the loo like a human, then they will do all their poos in the loo instead. She may obviously charge you for loo paper if the pop over to hers for a plop though

Why don't you buy your neighbour some coleus canian plants, cats hate the smell and tend to steer clear (we have some in our garden). They only cost about £1.50. It's unrealistic to ask you every time to go poo pick, but least your trying do something for her which may keep her quiet!

Every time someone starts a cat poo thread on here you get EXACTLY the same responses from EXACTLY the same people, and at least one person will mention poisoning your cat. Fucking mental!