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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbour very ranty about our cat

259 replies

CaptainWarbeck · 15/02/2016 04:41

Right I have just been accosted while putting the baby into the car by our neighbour who is a (generally) lovely elderly woman. She is very garden-proud and not at all happy about our cat.

We have a ginger cat who is outside during the day and in at night. There are lots of other cats in the area. Our cat is digging occasionally in her flowerbeds, which I do get is frustrating for her as she loves to garden.

Her very cross suggestions: I should be watching the cat at all times he is outside so digging cannot happen (ffs sake I have a 9m old and a job) OR we should be keeping him inside and never letting him back out again OR we should be madly erecting fences everywhere to prevent him getting anywhere near her (he's a cat, he would climb and jump them).

AIBU to think if you live in a communal area with cats around, the occasional bit of digging is annoying but kind of just one of those things?

I'm admittedly hormonal and grumpy (despite being very polite to her) and this has not been a good start to the day. Any practical suggestions on either the cat or ways to make her stop banging on about it?

OP posts:
LilacSpunkMonkey · 15/02/2016 20:50

Of course I think it's a lie! I'm actually not a heartless ogre who eats children and yes, my post was probably uncalled for. I don't mind asking for it to be withdrawn if people are that bothered by it.

Because whenever those people who cry 'cat shit = child blindness' get asked for evidence of that they never come back. I've seen a handful of stories of childrental blinded by dogshit in the press but never once seen one about cat shit.

limitedperiodonly · 15/02/2016 20:57

If all cat owners had litter trays then the cats would have no need to dig and shit in other people's gardens. I'm shocked at how many supposedly responsible owners don't keep a litter tray. They're too lazy to clean it out every day. It's so much easier to open the door and let the cat out

Me too hollowlegs. Mostly. You can't stop them shitting in gardens but you can cut it down. Why wouldn't you do that to avoid annoying your neighbours? I suspect a cat that has been trained by its mother to use a tray doesn't give up because it has discovered the great outdoors, it's more likely that the tray isn't clean enough.

Some cats are fussier than others. My childhood cats were happy to use a tray that had been used once before. My semi-indoor cat too. But a friend's cat insisted on a clean litter every time. So she did it. Annoying but it took a few minutes and he was her responsibility.

limitedperiodonly · 15/02/2016 21:05

Mostly cat shit does not cause blindness. Mostly it is really fucking annoying. As are other things ineffectual cat owners allow their pets to do and then shrug and say: 'It's cruel' or 'it's against their nature' or the truly incredible one from some who has Bengal cat that it would make him ill not to go out.

Well, don't get one then.

And I say that as a cat owner.

ChickyChickyParmParm · 15/02/2016 21:28

Lilac there is lots of info out there that shows parasites can cause blindness.

Just one article I found... www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxocariasis/gen_info/faqs.html

LilacSpunkMonkey · 15/02/2016 22:45

I've never disputed that it can cause blindness, amongst other things. I've had three children, I know all about it.

But when these threads pop up (and they're a regular occurence) there's always someone who comes on to talk about a child being blinded somewhere.

charlestonchaplin · 15/02/2016 23:12

And? What's wrong with that? They're stating facts. Also, it's not clever or amusing to parrot other people's words or ideas. Mumsnet bingo. I believe the relevant word is hackneyed.

LilacSpunkMonkey · 15/02/2016 23:18

No, they're not stating facts. They're saying 'cats cause children to go blind'. That's not a fact, it's hysteria.

And shoot me for MN Bingo. Shall I also stop using the acronyms or would that be 'parroting other people's words and ideas'?

ceebie · 15/02/2016 23:20

Do cats not like hens?

Sorry I was gone a while... cats are certainly wary of hens. I have heard of a feisty hen chasing a cat. I can believe it as when my parents' dog approaches the run barking, one of my hens will go towards the dog with the feathers raised on her neck - definitely wouldn't put it past her to peck him. Having said that, I'm sure some cats would have a go at hens.

LilacSpunkMonkey · 15/02/2016 23:22

Cats definitely like cooked hens.

ghostyslovesheep · 15/02/2016 23:23

I have 2 litter trays - they still shit on my lawn!

ceebie · 16/02/2016 09:57

Cats definitely like cooked hens

haha, indeed! Grin

Frazzled2207 · 16/02/2016 10:04

We have a similar issue with our neighbour's cat. We've spent money on one of those high pitched things- cat visits much less regularly now. Didn't occur to us to speak to neighbour about it unless it became very troublesome (you can't stop a cat from doing what cats do).
However I do think cat owners should be aware of issues their cats can cause neighbours.

HeyNonnyMaybe · 16/02/2016 10:18

My list of Things To Be Sent Into Space is really long.

My own cat is on it, furry faced bastard.

KitKatCustard · 16/02/2016 10:26

In my experience, cats are often much nicer than neighbours.

JacquesHammer · 16/02/2016 10:27

People need to get used to the fact we share this earth with cats - and thats it. If its not your cat OP it'll be another cat

But in my case (damage to car bonnet and carpets) it is just one cat - and IMO my neighbours should either keep the cat in or be willing to make a financial contribution to both these items which their pet has damaged.

BeeppityBeep · 16/02/2016 10:37

I used a motion activated water jet that you fix to a hosepipe. It blasts a jet of water at anything that moves. including me when I've forgotten about it It's harmless yet very effective. You can buy them on Amazon or at garden centers.

I hate cat shit in my flower borders. It's disgusting.

MidniteScribbler · 16/02/2016 11:09

Please stop the crap about people who don't want cats shitting on their lawn as being cat haters. I love cats. My old cat was 19 when she died (having never set foot outdoors), and I'm currently waiting on a litter to be born which will hopefully have my new kitten. I absolutely love cats. But I HATE cat owners who think they should be allowed to roam the suburbs, causing a nuisance and adding to the people who think cats are a nuisance.

There are no bad cats, but there are plenty of absolute fuckwit owners.

limitedperiodonly · 16/02/2016 11:11

cats are certainly wary of hens. I have heard of a feisty hen chasing a cat.

I had a cat who was scared of my rabbit. The cat sneaked out during the rabbit's turn to run free round the garden rather than his run. A hard boot in the ribs taught the cat to treat the rabbit with respect. He wouldn't go near the cage either - I think he might have been sprayed.

I wouldn't have chanced leaving them alone together for a rematch or the rabbit unsupervised for a cat or fox who hadn't learned his lesson though.

Sparklingbrook · 16/02/2016 11:12

Cats would probably love space. Grin

Neighbour very ranty about our cat
MrBensMrs · 16/02/2016 11:31

YANBU.
I found squirting lemon juice on the areas you don't want a car to go to definitely works.

I think she has clearly seen your cat digging to identify it so offering her a water pistol would work as she's clearly there at the times it's happening.

Am also quite glad I don't have some of the grumpy unreasonable posters in this thread as neighbours! Although my cat is in all day and goes out for a few hours in the evening then back in over night - has a litter tray (he rarely uses), is chipped and neutered so I consider myself a responsible cat owner.

ceebie · 16/02/2016 13:01

Am also quite glad I don't have some of the grumpy unreasonable posters in this thread as neighbours!

Some of us grump away when having to remove cat poo and scrub shoes (again) and plot to send cats into space (Disclaimer: I promise not to actually send any cats into space), but actually in real life get on really well with our neighbours and are genuinely friendly with them, realising that they have many positive attributes which outweigh their poor cat management.

That probably sounds even worse, being friendly yet irritated over cat poo! Possibly Mumsnet etiquitte requires me to have big fight and go NC with neighbours over cat poo?

CommanderShepherd · 16/02/2016 13:15

You wouldn't let a dog shit in someone else's garden, same with a cat. Keep it indoors. Yes, my indoor cats look terribly unhappy Hmm

Neighbour very ranty about our cat
limitedperiodonly · 16/02/2016 13:46

This is my semi indoor cat in his secure garden where he stays unless following me around the block. I think you will agree, he looks devastated.

Neighbour very ranty about our cat
HesterShaw · 16/02/2016 14:09

Oh goody a cat poo thread!

dannydyerismydad · 16/02/2016 14:28

Not entirely my neighbours fault, but a burglar treading their cat's shit all over my house made an already distressing event absolutely stomach churning.

Cat owners really have no idea of the volume of poo that can accumulate in the garden of a non cat owner.