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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To spray a cat

42 replies

MrsLouisTheroux · 12/03/2013 08:35

with water just as it was just about to poo in my garden?
It was preparing it's 'toilet area' next to my snowdrops and I sprayed it with water. The cat ran off.
Our garden is littered with cat poo and a cat loving friend actually suggested the use water. It this U?

OP posts:
AliceWChild · 12/03/2013 08:36

YANBU generally. And I have a cat. I'd probably think twice in this cold weather though.

NewAtThisMalarky · 12/03/2013 08:37

Nope, it won't hurt them. YANBU.

Wolfiefan · 12/03/2013 08:40

YANBU! If my cat comes home damp then I apologise for her refusal to use the perfectly good litter tray at home.
Try planting lavender and rosemary as they don't like the smell. You can get a get off type product. Or buy some lion pooh to scare it off!

musicposy · 12/03/2013 08:40

It's only the cold weather would worry me in case cat is shut out all day. On a normal day, I wouldn't mind you doing this to my cat. But I'm not sure I'd be too happy today with 6" of snow in the garden. Bang a saucepan or hiss maybe?

MrsLouisTheroux · 12/03/2013 08:43

Oh thank you Wolf I am not a cat lover, don't want them in my garden but don't want to hurt them either. Do they learn not to come back if they are squirted? I'll try your suggestions!

OP posts:
MrsLouisTheroux · 12/03/2013 08:46

No snow here music but I get what you're saying. I tryed hissing and it looked up and carried on! Our neighbours have lots of cats and they seems to congregate in our back G. There were 6 once. I was Angry

OP posts:
Shutupanddrive · 12/03/2013 08:47

YANBU, it's only water

musicposy · 12/03/2013 23:20

I have realised it is probably only us with half a foot of snow in the garden, so I think YWNBU.

I suspect if you squirt them enough they will learn to go somewhere more comfortable. But you may need to sit there for hours good chance to mumsnet with one eye on the garden, days even Grin

HeadfirstForHalos · 12/03/2013 23:33

YANBU unless the cats immediate escape route is to a main road. When startled they could run out and get run over. Otherwise it's a harmless deterrent!

MoonlightandRoses · 12/03/2013 23:56

YANBU at all. We own two of the things - both of which use our garden so I am occasionally tempted to invest in a SuperSoaker myself! Grin

steppemum · 12/03/2013 23:59

YANBU - invest in a good water pistol, or in the summer a hose pipe with a spray. it is quite effective!

NatashaBee · 12/03/2013 23:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maddening · 13/03/2013 00:15

Yanbu - also apparently sprinkling pepper round your garden helps (obviously not when it's raining a lot.

Lueji · 13/03/2013 00:20

In my experience you don't need to squirt a lot.
A drop of water makes my cat jump and run off.

OkayHazel · 13/03/2013 01:37

To be honest just walking up to it and whooshing your arms about will do the trick.

ripsishere · 13/03/2013 03:27

YANBU in the slightest. We lived next door to nine, 9, NINE of them. They never pood in their own garden, just ours it seems.
Fortunately, they were all different colors so we could pick out the ones that had been done with water (they were the cats that slunk along the back fence).
Last year we had two. we also had a well used litter tray. Once, one of them did their business next door. I went out with a bread bag and cleared up.

ENormaSnob · 13/03/2013 06:00

Jet wash or super soaker?

MisselthwaiteManor · 13/03/2013 07:02

YANBU, it won't hurt them. A super soaker is a bit much though.

LadyPessaryPam · 13/03/2013 09:10

A Karcher should do the job.

lurkedtoolong · 13/03/2013 09:25

YANBU, I have a cat who I'm very PFB about Blush and I often say I'd much prefer a neighbour who didn't want him in their garden sprayed him with water rather than hit him or throw rocks etc.

lozster · 13/03/2013 09:28

I have a cat and wouldn't mind. In fact i once snook in to my neighbours garden to remove a big dump i had just caught my moggy doing Blush. No need to soak though - most are afraid of the spraying sound do that alone would work without the water.

DeepRedBetty · 13/03/2013 09:29

They're quite bright and will soon learn to vanish if they see you approaching with a water gun.

Mydelilah · 13/03/2013 10:13

I used to spray my own cats with water (from a houseplant spray bottle thingy) when they went to scratch my sofas or jump on kitchen worktops as kittens. It worked, as they learned not to do it! YANBU

DangerousBeanz · 13/03/2013 10:16

YANBU I have a cat, if you caught him crapping in your garden I'd have no problem with you spraying him with water.

FreudiansSlipper · 13/03/2013 10:22

I have a toy water pistol I use on my cat when he is scratching my lovely velvet armchair
still does it but it works at the time but he is very spoilt and knows he can wrap me around his little paws