My cats and cat poo in neighbours' gardens

[Blahdeblah1]

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.

Do you really need to be so nasty, Lurked? You basically insult anyone who doesn't share your viewpoint. IMHO. Which is pretty much the majority of posters on this thread.

No. You shouldn't be picking up cat shit whether or not it belongs to your cat. They are not dogs and are free to roam and poop where they want.

Never heard such a ridiculous suggestion.

Aibu is like a parallel universe. Some seriously weird people

AmIthat.

She can be as rude as she likes, IDGAF. I thinks she's rather enjoying herself.

The weird people are cat owners who think others should deal with the shit from their cats. Some people don't want your moggy roaming freely on their property.

Actually amithat, when people suggest dumping cats, and take my words out of context, or demand I stop doing something that is a) legal and b) I've stated I don't do, then I have every right to be less than pleasant by response. Neither do I care if my view isn't the majority viewpoint, I'm not about to change it to one that is inherently wrong just because in some surreal version of reality people believe cat shit is ruining their lives. And if you think I'm being insulting then I'm sure you agree, compared to the sick things suggested on this thread, and the arrogant demands and general bollocks spouted against cats it pales into significance.
Ok prorsum. Firstly as I said earlier I'm not really enjoying myself, as I'm sure you'll understand there's not really any challenge in it for me iyswim. I'll try and respond in kind to keep it fair.
The weird people are parents who think other's should deal with their pfb behaving badly in public spaces. Some people don't want your pfb spoiling their enjoyment of their property by hearing them make normal sounds of play. Sounds a bit wanky I know but I could only go on what I had.

Yes, Apple, seriously, seriously weird

That old bastard putting anti freeze in his water needs reporting to the police and Cats Protection.

Im owned by a cat. SHE chose US.

She was acquired by a tenant who used to live in our building. One day in December 2001 she darted into our flat. We told the owner and she came and got her. This happened a few more times. She would hide behind our sofa when her owner tried to come and get her. The final time she was on our bed when her original owner came to get her again and she scratched her and refused to budge.

So she said the cat had made her decision. Shes lived with us ever since. Shes now 14 She always poos in the same place. She has a litter tray as well and we clean up after her. She brings us joy. Shes lovely with her funny little ways.

Sometimes cats choose you not the other way around.

You can't draw comparisons with children and cats, Lurked, unless they come and shit in your garden.

Actually mythical I can if that's what I wanted to do, the ranting on this thread does nothing to promote the idea humans are superior in any way. However I wasn't doing, I just thought if we were all going to make silly comments and issue silly instructions I'd join in.

lurked the majority of the ranting and OTT statements are coming from you.

Apple shit is shit, whether its cat shit or dog shit. People can't be in uproar over dog shit but think cats is perfectly okay.

Not saying for a second cat owners can prevent it because I don't see how they can, but if a neighbour lets you know your cat is shitting in their garden, an apology and an offer at cleaning it up would be nice.

No. You shouldn't be picking up cat shit whether or not it belongs to your cat. They are not dogs and are free to roam and poop where they want.

Apple, I think what you're saying is that we're not supposed to pick up the cat poo in our garden, it's meant to be left there. Have I got that right? What if you have a toddler, should you still leave it there?

I know it's only about 4 posters, but FFS some cat owners give the decent ones a really bad name.

Offensive, smart arsed and totally unaware how they are coming across.

weird indeed

I'd rather be considered offensive, smart arsed and unaware of how I'm coming across than actually be offensive, dumbarsed, and unaware that I possess both the first two qualities which are reflected in my posts, like some of the cat shit haters are. If you recollect, or indeed peruse the thread with an open mind, my first response is that my cats shit on my property and I check with neighbours incase that changes because I feel it's the moral thing to do. It was the cat haters who dived in making ranty, demanding and misinformed posts directed in general at all cat owners. Not in response to an individual post stating they don't care if their cat shits everywhere, which I'd accept a rant as a reasonable response to. Or stating their incorrect knowledge of risk is fact. So it's not surprising if people like me respond in the same manner. Especially when others start piping up with remarks excusing animal cruelty. Weird indeed.
No alibaba condoning dumping cats is ott. Nothing I could/ couldn't say, let alone what I've actually said compares to getting your rocks off about animal cruelty like some posters do.

I find the people who seem incapable of actually reading Lurked's posts really quite bizarre. She might be ranting a bit but that's mainly because people keep stating she's said X or believes X when there's generally a post of hers not 5 posts before theirs that quite clearly shows it is not the case. I honestly considered checking the timestamps to work out whether some of these people could possibly be too drunk to read properly - as an explanation for their awful reading comprehension skills.

Would that include MNHQ?

Thank you smillas

Are the people comparing cats and dogs being intentionally inflammatory or genuinely stupid? Clearly there are wild differences (dogs owners are there when they poo, cat owners aren't so can't know whose cat poo it is, dog poo is we'll known to cause illnesses including one that causes blindness which cat poo isn't, and of course you are legally required to pick up after your dog or face a fine but aren't with cats).

Cat poo can cause blindness in children, user. If their mother contracts toxo from it whilst pregnant. It can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth and brain damage.

Agreed poster. But I suspect the vast majority are immune from exposure to all the other sources. Cat debate aside considering the consequences if you first get exposed when pregnant, because wearing gloves near cat shit isn't going to prevent all the other ways of getting it, I'm suprised they can't test immunity as standard in pregnancy. I do vaguely remember being told in pregnancy that given my pets and exposure to wildlife and livestock, lifestyle etc that it was hugely unlikely I wouldn't be immune but surely testing would mean those with no immunity could take steps to avoid all the sources if they new they had a high risk factor

I think I'm going to ask to be tested soon because apparently it can even cause damage if you are infected shortly before becoming pregnant. I've been a vegetarian for most of my life and never had pets. I did use to play in the garden a lot as a child though so maybe was exposed that way.
I live abroad though so getting tested will be as easy as getting my credit card out .

You probably are but if it sets your mind at rest if it's a financial choice for you then it would at least reduce your worry. My non promiscuous, non blood transfusion, non needle using lifestyle still caused me worry waiting for the hiv results so I get the wanting peace of mind/ worrying even if it's probably needless aspect of pregnancy

www.medicaldaily.com/toxoplasma-gondii-parasite-cat-feces-linked-schizophrenia-and-other-mental-illness-337030

User
dogs owners are there when they poo, cat owners aren't so can't know whose cat poo it is, dog poo is we'll known to cause illnesses including one that causes blindness which cat poo isn't, and of course you are legally required to pick up after your dog or face a fine but aren't with cats.

Your first point gets right at the heart of the matter. Why aren't cat owners around when they are pooing? This is not to say that owners should follow their cats around, but rather that they shouldn't be free to roam because of what they get up to in other people's gardens (pooing, killing birds).

As for the legality of it all, well, that's just Parliament's current opinion on the matter. Hopefully that will change for reasons well documented here.