Cat poo - was I being too reasonable?

[emseth]

My neighbour came round the other day and said my cats are pooing in his garden. He has 2 cats of his own but he said they only poo in their litter tray so he's sure it not them. He said I'm going to have to keep my cats indoors as his 2 year old keeps coming in from the garden covered in cat poo.

I have agreed to this - although we plan to get our garden cat proofed ASAP - the wistful looking out the window, meowing and scratching on the doors is getting on my nerves - and it's only been 2 days!

I've been really surprised at the reaction of my friends - they think I'm mad for agreeing to keep them in. They are my pets though so surely it's my responsibility to ensure they're not bothering my neighbours?

Thoughts please!

So you pick it up and then tip it out again Finance? Bizarre.

Am I the only person who has never had cat poo on my lawn. I have a litter tray for my cat and I know where she toilets when outside as I can see her from my window and then it's so cold she runs in. We have several other cats who roam around the garden but none to my knowledge have ever pooped on the lawn.
Cats bury their poop normally.

Tell him you are putting an electric fence up to keep your cats in so he should keep his 2yo indoors all the time so she doesn't get electrocuted, he obviously does not watch her!
Sadly, with cats, it is just one of those things, let them back out and if he says anything say they are now using the litter tray only just like his so it can't be them. If he says he has seen them then tell him it is a case of mistaken identity and you saw his poo in your garden - in fact you could tell him that BEFORE you let yours out and ask him to keep his in! Silly man!

To Writerwannabe (and all those of you who at least attempt to get your cats to use an outdoor litter tray) THANK YOU. If all cat owners were more like you the world would be a better place.

What does delicately sprinkling the cat poo at your neighbours gate achieve Financeprincess?

emseth please let your cats out, it's cruel to keep them in after they've been let out, poor things. The only compromise I can think of is if you offer to inspect the neighbours garden regularly and clean up any poo.

Bloody cheek of your neighbour, and supposedly a cat lover too.

Yes, Sparklingbrook, I do. Since I think it's unlikely that the cat owners would do anything to prevent their animals from leaving faeces in our garden, I take satisfaction in returning the turds to their source!

No MILLYMOLLY, I have never had a cat shit on my lawn either and I used to have several cats. I bet it's foxes, cats get all the stick.
OP, your cats must be driving you insane, let them out.

Actually, I don't delicately sprinkle. I just tip out the bag of turds.

I've cat proofed my garden. It was dead easy. I did it to stop the Devil Cat from next door coming in and attacking my elderly kitty.

Tacked wire mesh panels on top of my fences tops with a staple gun. Nailed cat deterrent spikes (available from Amazon) on top of the gate. Got a spiky collar to wrap around a tree that Devil Cat was using as an escape route. Battery operated water pistol has also been helpful.

No more unwanted cats here, and my old kitty can once again doze on her bench unmolested.

Cats will bury if they can. Get yourself a sandpit and they will poo in there.

Ugh. Our garden is the roads litter tray apparently. I think they do it to assert their dominance over my German shepherd, who pathetically watches through the French doors. Before running out and eating it.

Yum.

I'd te him you agree to do it as long as he does too OP.

I think you are being actively cruel to your cats. Sorry.

unless he has photographic evidence that it is your cats, let them out. Our cats crap all over our garden, don't bury it (there is a very aggressive cat next door and our cats' territory has been reduced by this, hence them pooing in our garden, seems fair enough really) - anyway, our DD has never come in covered in poo.

You could get an outdoor earth tray which could help - as your neighbour could do.

That is a very strange thing to do Finance, but if it gives you satisfaction well that's ok then.

YABU and cruel.

Tell him to keep his kids inside. At least theyll be allowed out to nursery, unlike your poor cats.

12 cats are in my street of 10 houses. As you can imagine the shit they leave behind is awful. Something seriously needs to be done about it. It's not fair in those who don't have cats.

You both have cats so you are both YABU.

The best solution is for you both to get rid of your cats - preferably humanely, and by the vet. Then there will be no more poo problem.

" keep his kids inside" yeah that's fair isn't it, why should the child be able to play in it's garden, obviously the cats need to use it as a toilet. Ridiculous.

Cats are territorial, if you cat proof your garden to keep your car out of his then another cat will take over the territory and shit in it instead. Cats don't always bury their poo btw, next doors cat used to shit on my lawn right in front of my window and make no attempt to bury it (until I bought a super soaker)
Hard to know what to do, it's very good of you to keep your cats in but it won't actually help the situation with the poo in his garden.

Can you not just litter train yours too?

Real helpful Toad.

Can't don't always bury it. And tend to hunt more than dogs so its more vital they're wormed regularly. Your neighbour is being unreasonable- I'd suggest he supervises his two year old in the garden, particularly as its not cat proofed, two year olds can wriggle through gaps and be off, or pick up a bit of glass someone could have thrown in. Let your cat out, and politely suggest he supervises the two year old. And also maybe worth showing him evidence of you worming the cat (not bob Martin stuff) the vet stuff is more effective - and point out to him does he worm his cat? Because if not the two year old is in danger from HIS cat.

Toadinthehole what an absolutely pointless and nasty comment. I always think people who don't like animals to that extent are somewhat suspect.

There's always comments like that on a cat poo thread unfortunately Shona.