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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:
Canidae · 03/12/2013 11:12

How often do you see a cat plonk herself in the middle of a pavement to make a mahoosive poo?

Quite often here. Big fat ginger tom will happily crap anywhere. He really hates next door's new cat and once shit on their doormat! His currant toilet of choice is a bit of gravel in front of the car park area. Lots of little piles of cat crap that I'm sure people blame dogs for.

I would never harm an animal and can't understand cat owner logic. Saying how upset the family would be if someone killed their pet but perfectly happy for cats to potentially be run over or encounter a dog like mine.

I saw a cat killed by a very slow car not long ago and it was horrible. The blood was everywhere. Driver drove away and myself and a neighbour had to knock on doors to find out who owned him.

Neighbour with 3 cats had one locked in someones garage for 4 days when they went away. Any longer and the cat would have died.

A faceobok friend lost her cat a few weeks ago when it crawled into a car engine through the wheel arch. One long journey and the cat was dead.

I want to know where my pets are and keep them safe.

HomeHelpMeGawd · 03/12/2013 11:14

There are some very important reasons not to own cats, beyond the problem of their faeces.

territt · 03/12/2013 11:21

People that chose to have cats should keep them in there own home,

A couple of years ago I had a problem with the next door neighbours cat shitting every, I tried to be a nice neighbour and speak to them about it and they just laughed saying that's what cats do, well they didn't laugh a week later when I returned what was left of the cat after it decided to mess with my German Shepard. then they had the check to come round and ask me to keep my dog out of my own garden because they wanted another cat... Idiots.

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 11:40

I understand that dogs will be dogs and no amount of training will prevent an unattended dog from killing a cat, if it is so inclined, but it's really not something to find amusing or to be proud of, is it?

How about I bring an Akita round to mess with your GSD? Would that be funny? No, thought not.

Also why was your GSD left unattended and at risk of theft in your garden? People who have dogs should keep them in their own home, if not under close supervision and control.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 11:43

Seems like you should have kept your dog under better control territt. I hope you never let it off the lead in the park.

Theodorous · 03/12/2013 11:44

I hope when the cat is being driven away and dumped the driver's car gets covered in bird shit and has 4 flat tyres. Some absolute fucking cunts on these type of threads. funny how the cruellest posters are often the perfect mummy boasters on other threads

Justforlaughs · 03/12/2013 11:45

Territt Hmm, I get the feeling that you are just on here to wind people up, and I am taking your story with a pinch bucket full of salt, but some in fact, looking at this thread, most cat owners really need to take more responsibility for their pets and their habits.

Theodorous · 03/12/2013 11:45

Idiots
Takes one to know one

Theodorous · 03/12/2013 11:46

justforlaughs, obviously she is goading, nobody is that vile are they?

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 11:46

I am just glad I live in a nice neighbourhood with non loony neighbours.

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 11:53

Also, you'd be wise to note that the law has now changed and if your dog is deemed to be dangerously out of control, even on your own property, while you are in your home, you can be prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act. It might not be you laughing next time, if your neighbours get a new cat.

formerbabe · 03/12/2013 12:01

Well after finding cat shit in my garden and driveway...I think its unreasonable to expect others to clear up after someone else's pet. I have no wish to ever come into contact with animal sht hence I don't have pets. I really resent clearing up after other peoples pets. Train them or keep them indoors. Its a health hazard and my kids can't even play in their own garden.

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 12:07

Look, totally cruelty free and effective a healthy alternative to fanstasing about killing your neighbour's pets, excellent for lowering your stress levels and allowing you to have a *normal life once again Smile

*this requires a hobby and generally being not insane.

Justforlaughs · 03/12/2013 12:11

D0oin I actually resented having to pay money, that I can't really afford, to try to stop other people's pets from shitting on my garden. Sadly, it gave me migraines! and to add insult to injury - it had no effect whatever on the cats! Wink

BooCanary · 03/12/2013 12:17

OP, yanbu. My neighbours cats poo in my garden all the time. I have never seen my own cat poo in my garden, so I can only imagine she chooses other people's gardens. Karma for me I guess. Unless we monitor garden 24/7, not sure how we identify our own cat's shit!

I'm sure it must do people's head in who haven't got cats (it drives me mad and I'm a cat lover). However, my dcs have never once stood in cat shit ( I check the garden regularly) but standing in dog crap ( normally right outside the school/park) is a regular occurance.

ShoeWhore · 03/12/2013 12:17

I own a cat.

She is fully litter trained but chooses not to use a litter tray, preferring to go outside. I'm not sure how I can force her to use it?

Unless of course I lock her in the house 24:7 which would make her very very miserable. Few cats are happy as indoor pets ime.

I'm also not sure how I can prevent her from going into other people's gardens? Perhaps if you really really don't want cats in your garden you should use a cat deterrent?

It's also worth noting that most cats prefer to go to the toilet somewhere fairly sheltered/secluded and to bury it afterwards. I wonder if some of the "cat poo" you are finding is actually fox poo?

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 12:19

non migraine inducing healthy alternatives to fantasisng about killing your neighbour's pets These are cheaper too.

Unfortunately, for cat haters, the law dictates that cats have a right to roam and that owners do not have to clean up them. If you are unhappy with this, the correct response is to write to your local MP to question this law and/or act to humanely and safely prevent the cats from entering your garden.

Anything else is illegal and frankly unhinged.

Alternatively you could continue to get stressed and whine lots about it whilst never actually doing anything about it because you shouldn't have to. I find that this helps most issues I have immensely Hmm

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 12:20

Or indeed stray cat poo Shoe. I am not sure who is expected to clear up a stray cat's poo. Confused

formerbabe · 03/12/2013 12:22

I don't really care how cat owners deal with it....just don't make me responsible for them and this problem. I have had a lovely new lawn laid so my toddler could play, sit and run round on and its ruined. Even when we clean it up, it is still unhygienic IMO. Cat deterrents don't work. I couldn't give a monkies if ur cat stays in the house 24/7.

Theodorous · 03/12/2013 12:23

Never mind cat owners, people should have to take an iq test before being allowed to own a dog. I personally would have been tempted to kill the bastard dog if it had killed my cat. I guess the owner would also have a giggle about her dog being torn to bits. Note I wouldn't really kill a dog, the owner might get a kicking though.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 12:24

Ruined? former? Ruined? Confused

babybarrister · 03/12/2013 12:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

formerbabe · 03/12/2013 12:28

Yes, even if its picked up..it has still been there, I can't bleach my lawn! The sh*t has still touched the grass, that my baby would have sat on...yuk yuk yuk.

This is why pets are the most ridiculous idea ever.

I mean, really think about it...animals in a house? Its weird

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/12/2013 12:29

And none cat owners should read up on the laws of the land and act accordingly if they are unhappy with it.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2013 12:30

But what about the foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels and birds former? I think you are being a bit OTT TBH.