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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My cats and cat poo in neighbours' gardens

555 replies

Blahdeblah1 · 12/07/2015 08:52

I moved into my house a year ago and have three cats. My neighbours are all quite elderly and have lived there for decades, they are all keen gardeners and very proud of their gardens.

Several months ago my next door neighbour started complaining to me about my cats pooing on his drive, so every time I go round and clear it up. Although to be honest I'm not convinced that the poo is from my cats.

Anyway, I'm now having complaints about cat poo from people who live way down the street, that my cats are pooing in their garden, although they admitted they hadn't actually seen the cat that did it. I live on a large suburban housing estate where there are loads of cats.

AIBU for thinking that cats are cats and I shouldn't be expected to be picking up any cat poo really, and to tell my neighbours to deal with it themselves and stop complaining to me? I can't control where my cats poo, they are not dogs.

OP posts:
WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:10

Why should the whole world be organised for the convenience of your cat?

Ihatemyselfsomuch · 13/07/2015 10:11

I contracted severe toxoplasmosis from the cat poo i was having to clean up daily in my garden from the neighbours cat (yes both I and the neighbour saw their cat doing it, every day, without fail). I'm not sure why it's ok for a cat to crap in a neighbour's yard, but wouldn't be if it were a dog? Etc.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:11

Whattodo, how am I being cruel? A shit on the grass isn't cruel, you could argue it's an inconvenience but it's hardly cruel.

It shouldn't - but people need to accept animals are ANIMALS, and they shit in places. Jesus, I can't understand the lack of empathy some people have.

WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:12

Lashes cannot understand your lack of empathy for your neighbours. Have a cat, just be responsible for it.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:13

Whattodo, because it's hardly a big deal, it's a poo for gods sake. An animals right to safety and security and quality of life comes above someone's desire for a show garden...

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:14

I am responsible - I let my cats have a happy life instead of caging them up so curtain twitchy bosom hoikers can admire their begonias.

Floggingmolly · 13/07/2015 10:22

An animals "right to safety and security and quality of life" will not be diminished in any way by not allowing it to shit in my garden, Lashes.
You're starting to sound ridiculous now.

MythicalKings · 13/07/2015 10:22

quit making your children other people's problems. Just as soon as you stop making your cat other people's problem. You just don't get it, do you?

Jesus, I can't understand the lack of empathy some people have. Oh, the irony.

An animals right to safety and security and quality of life comes above someone's desire for a show garden...

No it doesn't. I'd far rather have a show garden than a garden full of cat shit.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:22

FloggingMolly you're suggesting I don't let them out my garden. That is not fair.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:23

MythicalKings, sorry, yes it does. A living being is more important than your fucking garden.

Cannot stand people who have no empathy towards animals, horrible people imo.

MidniteScribbler · 13/07/2015 10:27

Lashes, your cat will survive not being allowed to roam the neighbourhood and be a nuisance to other people who did not choose to have a cat. My old cat survived until 19 by being an indoor cat or allowed in to the cat run I built in the backyard for her. Her life wasn't adversely affected by not being able to fight with other animals, kill wildlife, scratch people's cars, get hit by cars or ruining people's yards by crapping in their gardens.

WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:29

Whattodo, because it's hardly a big deal, it's a poo for gods sake.

This eleven page thread should give you some clue that actually, it is "a big deal."

MythicalKings · 13/07/2015 10:29

A living being is more important than your fucking garden.

A human is. A cat? Nope. Vermin.

WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:30

People's children are also living beings. You just don't rate them as highly as your cat.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:31

Midnite I'm not saying they won't survive I'm saying that it's cruel to keep animals caged.

Whattodo, not my issue or care if some overly offended idiot is bothered about poo. Most people in the real world don't worry about it

MythicalKings your attitude towards animals is appalling. If we're being brutally honest, I actually prefer certain "vermin" and animals to the vast majority of people I encounter, I suspect you're one of them :)

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:32

Whattodo yes I do, I just don't believe in wrapping them up in cotton wool and think it's up to the parents how they deal with their garden. There will be shit in your garden whether it's from pets or wildlife. If you don't like it don't have a garden.

Ouchmybloodythumb · 13/07/2015 10:35

Oooh I do love a good cat shit thread.

MidniteScribbler · 13/07/2015 10:36

They're not caged FFS. They can have full run of the house and your own backyard. Why is a dog less entitled to roam than a cat? Dogs need to be confined on their own property or on a lead, the same should hold true for any other pets people choose to own.

I actually prefer certain "vermin" and animals to the vast majority of people I encounter, I suspect you're one of them

Funnily enough, the feeling is mutual.

WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:37

Whattodo, not my issue or care if some overly offended idiot is bothered about poo. Most people in the real world don't worry about it

In the real world, people who get cat shit in their garden consistently do get pretty het up. You are seeing now, on this thread.

It is inconvenient for you to admit it, even with such overwhelming evidence. I feel you choose to ignore it because that way you can go on being selfish and inconsiderate.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:38

Midnight, they're animals. Forcing them into a confined space isn't pleasant.

you can't easily put a cat on a lead and take it for walks like you can with a dog, so even though a dog is "confined", it still gets to go out.

MythicalKings · 13/07/2015 10:39

If we're being brutally honest, I actually prefer certain "vermin" and animals to the vast majority of people I encounter, I suspect you're one of them

I'd gathered that. I prefer a clean environment to crazy cat ladies. Smile

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:39

Whattodo on here is the ONLY place I've seen it/ I'm not choosing to ignore it, I'm choosing to laugh at the idiots who care so much and wonder how bores they must be to have the burning issue of catshit at the forefront of their minds.

WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:39

Maybe it's cruel to own a cat. Maybe it's not possible to responsibly own a cat.

WhattodowithMum · 13/07/2015 10:40

I suspect your neighbours are much to polite to have an altercation with you. You are getting the unvarnished truth on an anonymous forum.

LashesandLipstick · 13/07/2015 10:41

MythicalKings, is that supposed to bother me? I like all animals, so if you're going for stereotypical insults, "tree-hugging hippy" might be more along the lines of what you're after? :)

Genuine question now, how can you actually have such little regard for animals? Don't shoot back with "why do you have such little regard for people?" or some other warped logical fallacy, I'm genuinely curious as I cannot fathom how some people can dislike them.

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