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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

have a word with neighbour re cat?

37 replies

fudgeit · 05/04/2013 18:19

my neighbours cat (i know its their cat because i've found his furballs around when cleaning up) has been pooing all over my front lawn for a while, i tried a sonic cat repeller but i think the cat is too old to hear it. now, the cat is not even bothering to cover it up in the dirt and when i looked online to find out any tips etc some people suggested that there may be something wrong with the cat and the best thing is to talk to the owner. have just done so, well it was just a quick minute to ask after the cat and explain my concern and she didn't look very happy. they are really lovely people and i wouldn't want to upset them but i'm getting a bit tired of cleaning it up now. was i being unreasonable?

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 05/04/2013 18:21

As a cat owner, I'd say that was very fair of you. It'll be difficult for her to stop her cat from pooing on your lawn but at least you've made her aware in case there is a medical problem.

Pancakeflipper · 05/04/2013 18:22

You need to speak to the cat.

yaimee · 05/04/2013 18:22

Yanbu bit I think if it'd have been me, I'd have spent most of the conversation wondering what outcome you were expecting from the conversation. Short of keeping the cat indoors, I'm not sure how she can prevent it from poking exactly where it likes. Try citrus, I hear cats don't like that.

yaimee · 05/04/2013 18:23

Pooing Blush

MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 05/04/2013 18:23

Hard one. My cat is 18 and doesn't bury any more ... luckily, she just poos in my garden and I clear it up as I would a dogs. Is your garden open? If neighbor does accept it's their cat, maybe they could pop over and remove the poo each day?

theodorakisses · 05/04/2013 18:26

Cats really hate citrus, i have tested it by leaving orange peel around my plants where they think it's ok to poo and they are deeply offended. Especially if you bend the peel and release the oil smell. I have no neighbours and live in the desert so is ok to send them outside to poo.

Original poster
fudgeit · 05/04/2013 18:29

i'd try citrus peel but this is the thing, the poo is sitting on the actual grass and not in dirt, so i don't want a lawn covered in peel or poo Confused

i think at the very least i just wanted to bring it to their attention in a non-confrontational way. will just have to wait and see if it makes any difference...

OP posts:
yaimee · 05/04/2013 18:32

what about a citrus essential oil in a spray bottle with some water?

Original poster
fudgeit · 05/04/2013 18:34

yaimee i'll give it a go, thanks Smile

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 05/04/2013 18:34

How do you expect it to make a difference? Having a word with them is all very well but what do you expect them to do?

yaimee · 05/04/2013 18:46

no worries, I know it wasn't what you were asking in the thread but hopefully its a practical solution as I'm unsure how the owners will be able to help you unfortunately!

Machli · 05/04/2013 18:48

Bucket of water by the door. Keep an eye open, when you see guilty cat, chuck bucket over it. They will not be back.

GrendelsMum · 05/04/2013 18:51

I've got a vague memory that poo on a lawn is a sign of something in cats (stress or similar), but I can't remember what. It's the sort of thing the Blue Cross might have advice on?

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 05/04/2013 18:52

As long as it's definitely their pet, I expect if you shovelled whatever their cat deposits over onto their lawn they'd be sympathetic .

QOD · 05/04/2013 18:53

My barking mad neighbour once asked me to stop my cat from chasing birds.

Snoopingforsoup · 05/04/2013 18:55

I have a cat, but cleaning up after other cats is quite annoying.
YANBU. I think you did the right thing.

quoteunquote · 05/04/2013 18:56

motion (no pun intended) sensor, on a lawn sprinkler system works really well at keeping cats away, just remember to turn it off before you go in the garden.

ParadiseChick · 05/04/2013 18:56

Someone will be along soon to tell you it's a Fox.

Hassled · 05/04/2013 18:56

I second water as a deterrent - if you have an old washing up liquid bottle, rinse it out and use that. Cats hate it, but it doesn't actually do any harm to them.

But you were right to talk to the owners - all you'll be doing with the water approach is moving the problem off your lawn, but the cat will find another lawn, and that's not standard cat behaviour - a happy, healthy cat will usually make some attempt to bury or at least go somewhere where burying is an option.

CockyFox · 05/04/2013 18:57

The bucket of water doesn't work on our puss, she often tries to join one of us in the bath. She also chases the light on next doors sonic cat scarer.
I think you did the right thing to speak to the owner but you probably won't stop the cat, i am told lion poo works if you happen to know someone with a lion.

fluffiphlox · 05/04/2013 19:01

If I see them I run out shouting at them. And have also resorted to big super soaker style water pistol. Neither deters them for long. I think owners should keep cats indoors for the sake of the bird life and our gardens. Revolting animals. Smelly and hairy.

DontSHOUTTTTTT · 05/04/2013 19:04

Buy one of these

Search Contech ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Deterrent on Amazon.

They are quite cheap at the moment. (£35) They are usually about £50. (You can check this on CamelCamelCamel website)

reastie · 05/04/2013 19:12

We had something similar happen to us a few years ago with DHs cats going in neighbours gardens and being unwanted in there (but not pooing in there to my knowledge, just the neighbours didn't like cats full stop). We were sympathetic but genuinely didn't know what we could do - we couldn't physically stop him from going in there! I think we got some anti cat stuff from the garden centre and put it across our garden boundaries but it didn't stop him!

Original poster
fudgeit · 05/04/2013 19:14

i really don't want to become that neighbour stalking cats with a bucket/spray of water, i'm already getting funny looks as i clear the poop off the lawn (which i've become quite an expert at). i know there isn't much they can do and i would not have mentioned it until i read that it may be a sign of an underlying problem and at least i've mentioned that. i won't be bringing it up again because i don't want to cause any friction.

OP posts:
DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 05/04/2013 19:19

Have heard of someone using a super-fine pond net -subtle mesh so doesn't show up - on their car to deter moggies from sunbathing on bodywork. Might that work on a lawn if it's not a vast acreage?