AIBU?
have a word with neighbour re cat?
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?
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.
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.
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 
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...
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.
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!
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.
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