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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it is totally reasonable for cat owners not to pick up poo

746 replies

PMDD · 02/12/2013 18:17

I mean how can they?

I have 2 cats and now 1 puppy. I watch my puppy when she is out and know where she is, I can see if she is pooing. If she disappears under a bush I check (with my sense of smell) and pick up if necessary. I carry poo bags everywhere.

However, my cats come and go as they please. When they were kittens I had a litter tray that they used, but as they started to go outside with a cat flap, they stopped using the litter tray.

My (ex) neighbour asked me to come and pick up after my cats, but as there are lots and lots of cats in the area, there was no knowing that it was my cats.

I am not a bad pet owner. But I think it is unreasonable to expect cat owners to have the same poo pick up responsibility as dog owners.

OP posts:
D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 12:33

Don't forget rats, Sparkling. A man I know tragically died after contracting an infection from rat urine while cleaning out his children's sandpit.

And mice and voles and native wild cats, badgers etc etc etc.

The world is full of poo. Most people have immune systems able to deal with this.

formerbabe · 03/12/2013 12:35

Really...dog sh*t can cause blindness in children (rarely but still). Rats urine can cause Weil's disease.

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 12:40

Yes, it's very rare as is Weil's disease. It's that handy thing called an immune system.

Plus, by law you have to clean up after your dog. No-one here has stated that they are unhappy with this.

Cat's feces can cause toxoplasmosis, this is also rare, but can be dangerous to pregnant women. If you are pregnant and may come into contact with cat shit, you are advised to wear gloves of some kind and wash your hands after gardening/cleaning your cat's litter etc.

LST · 03/12/2013 12:57

God it's still going. Shock

Have you people not found a grip yet. People are dying in the world right now and people whinge about sodding cat shit!

territt · 03/12/2013 13:05

This reply has been deleted

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Theodorous · 03/12/2013 13:06

I would rather live next door to a cat than a toddler.

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 13:08

In the eyes of the law a dog is deemed to be dangerously out of control if it kills or injures a person or causes damage to property, cats being property, legally speaking.

Food? Someone's pet? Hmm Really?

You have no friends do you? Poor love, try being nicer and well, less insane, it'll help, honest.

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 13:14

Have a read here before you implicate yourself further

Wannabestepfordwife · 03/12/2013 13:22

Yanbu to think cat owners can't be expected to know where there cats poo but yabu to think that other people should be happy to clean up after them.

We have a gravel drive and all the cats on the estate seem to think its a giant litter tray. No detterents work the cats round here are fearless. I know some people will think I'm being unreasonable but it's not fair dp and I are going to have to concrete our drive at expense to us so we don't have to worry about bringing cat shit in with us because of someone else's pet.

Theodorous · 03/12/2013 13:27

Territ, I find your participation in this thread quite sinister. I have a 28kg Pitbull. Are you suggesting that it would be ok for him to kill your dog? Because he could. Easily.

Note to the sane people, said Pitbull is a rescue, gentle as a lamb and never leaves the garden after a horrid start from tossers who think dogs make you appear tough. You know the type?

Canidae · 03/12/2013 13:27

I would hate it if my dog harmed a cat. That is why I can no longer open any windows at the back of my home as one cat keeps trying to get in.

He did catch a cat once. I let him in the garden (which I can see all of from the kitchen window) and a cat came out from a bush. He cornered it and had it in his mouth but thankfully listened to me yelling Drop it. Cat ran off. I don't even know whose cat it was.

HesterShaw · 03/12/2013 13:29

I would rather live next door to a cat than a toddler.

Best post ever.

territt · 03/12/2013 13:31

Theodorous, if my dog was randomly in your garden shitting then I don't think it would be reasonable for your dog to protect the garden...

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 13:32

If you own a dog you would presumably have empathy for a fellow pet owner. i am not a dog fan particularly but I wouldn't want to see one harmed or hurt. I would have empathy for the dog owner if it happened though.

What is wrong with people?

territt · 03/12/2013 13:34

No problem with pet owners at all, but I do have a problem with people that have pets and then expect other people to clean up after them,

Theodorous · 03/12/2013 13:37

Funny that you are coming over all responsible pet owner about poo yet think it's funny when your dog is out of control. Double standards. You called a cat food, sorry but this renders you irresponsible.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 13:37

territt Tue 03-Dec-13 13:31:56
Theodorous, if my dog was randomly in your garden shitting then I don't think it would be reasonable for your dog to protect the garden..

I don't understand this statement^

Justforlaughs · 03/12/2013 13:38

Canidae I assume that Territt's logic would be that if SHE (assuming it's a she) allowed her dog into your garden and your dog attacked hers, then it would be fine. I think she is being inflammatory, but I have some sympathy with the logic, if not the practice. I don't want anyone else's, shit producing animals on my property and I see no reason why I should apologise for that.

vtechjazz · 03/12/2013 13:41

Some cultures eat cats. So, yeah.....food!

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 13:42

vtech you are just being ridiculous now....

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 13:43

Some cultures castrate young female children. Don't mean it ethical or legal in this country.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 13:43

Some countries eat dog.

Justforlaughs · 03/12/2013 13:43

Theo Lets be honest, I doubt very much that Territt's dog ate a cat, but to take umbrage about someone classing an animal as food is quite funny. Unless you are a vegetarian, I assume that you class lots of animals as food for you, and dogs and come to that cats as well, eat meat, which surprisingly enough comes from animals. Confused

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 13:45

I don't class domestic pets as food generally speaking.

vtechjazz · 03/12/2013 13:46

What's so unethical about eating cat? Its an animal, the French eat horse.