Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The Neighbours Cat.

248 replies

MountainPeaks · 30/12/2016 10:24

Looking for some humane suggestions to keep the neighbours cat out of our property. I have a allergy to cats so I can't pick it up and take it back to them (DP has done this a couple of times).

We brought a "doer upper" and we've been living in it, in various states of disarray for the last few months. We can't have any of the windows open without us physically being in the room because without fail that neighbours cat comes in and pees, or poops, in our house. We had just redone a bedroom floor sanded, walls replastered, electrics all fixed up and as we had repainted we had the windows open. Went for lunch and the cat came in a peed on the sanded floors. Just one example to highlight the frustration.

We have a trampoline in the garden which was originally uncovered. Cat pooped on it regularly. We've now brought a cover - cat still poops on it regularly.

Most nights it starts fighting and it goes on for several hours - like 2 or 3. It sits on the wall at the end of our back garden. Sounds like someone is being murdered.

It's regularly decimating our bird feeders, it leaves dead things, semi-dead things, partially injured things all around our back patio.

The neighbours don't have a cat flap because "if the cat comes in it just pees on the floor". They feed the cat outside. The cat stays out the entire time. We've tried to talk to them and their attitude is along the lines of "well the cat was hear before you were and your house has been empty for years".

What's the best way to deal with it (the cat and the owners)? I don't want anything that will harm the cat - even though I don't like them. DP has taken the cat around to owners when we've caught it in the house. We've suggested a cat flap to them and litter tray. We've asked that they put a bell collar on it to give warning to the birds. We don't want to fall out with the neighbours but we are fed up with it. Also TTC and I don't want to be cleaning up anymore pet poop than I need to (ie. my dog).

OP posts:
TitaniasCloset · 30/12/2016 13:29

Katy is right, you can't do that to someone's pet!

Original poster
MountainPeaks · 30/12/2016 13:32

Blackfell No, they don't have one - they've said this. Which is fine - that's totally up to them as owners.

katy we are taking it to get it neutered. We will let them know who the owners are. Our dog does have the run of the house but he's usually in the same room as us, and even when he's seen the cat we have actively discouraged him from reacting to it as I said above. Our house has been occupied for months now and we are still having issues. We have approached the owners, who have taken no responsibility for their cat. Absolutely none.

OP posts:
Original poster
MountainPeaks · 30/12/2016 13:33

Also I will try the fencing if I have to but we want to welcome wildlife into our garden - so we don't want anything that will cause harm to them or detract them from entering.

OP posts:
yellowfrog · 30/12/2016 13:41

They won't neuter an animal without the owners permission, so don't try that method. Talk to the neighbours again, say you're willing to pay the cost of neutering, and that you will take him for neutering when he next comes in and that they need to prevent him coming in if they are not happy for him to be neutered

Original poster
MountainPeaks · 30/12/2016 13:47

yellowfrog I'm not willing to pay the cost though. I've already incurred expenses because the cat. I'm not willing to keep paying out for it - we've had our bran new carpet damaged, we've had to resand and paint floorboards. We've brought a cover for the trampoline as we thought that it was attracted to the mesh netting.

We are now looking at buying essential oils, fencing, etc. Why should we have to pay for someone else's pet?

OP posts:
yellowfrog · 30/12/2016 13:56

You shouldn't have to, but it may be your only option. Can you try tacking mesh over the windows to prevent it coming in - not fixed mesh that would prevent you using the windows as a fire escape, but just loosly tacked to put the cat off. maybe chilli powder/citrus over the outside of the mesh, and try a motion-activated sprinkler on the lawn

RichSheffield · 30/12/2016 13:56

Friends of mine recently had a similar problem. The neighbours/owners were also uncooperative so in the end they drove the cat to another village and released it. If it's owners are unwilling to neuter the cat/attempt to train it not to urinate inside there's not much else you can do.

TimidLividyetagain · 30/12/2016 13:59

Well I would have to say I found a stray Tom and leave it at cats protection.if u say to neighbours or cats protection they will just say hey don't want to pay to neuter it either give it back. So unless ur going for the I've found a stray un neutered Tom. It won't work. And this won't stop so that's what I'd do.if it has a micro chip well u tried

Cherrysoup · 30/12/2016 14:04

Please do not take someone's pet to be neutered, it is classed as property and that would be potentially classed as criminal damage. You have no right to do that at all.

Water pistol with dilute lemon juice, yes. Enzyme remover cleaner from any pet shop/Amazon etc will discourage it from re-offending in the same place. Keep downstairs window closed, let the dog have free roam of the house/garden and don't discourage him from chasing. My lot keep my garden cat free, no more digging the flowerbeds to find cat shit everywhere.

Mouseinahole · 30/12/2016 14:09

They hate citrus and rough surfaces. You could blutak coarse sandpaper soaked in lemon juice along your window cills just till cat gives up. As per soaker water pistol might be better tha hose as you can keep it to hand and squirt the cat whenever you see it near your house. It will learn.

GoLiveInTheHouseOfDavid · 30/12/2016 14:10

We had this problem with a neighbours cat , it kept coming inside and crapping and peeing on / under dcs bed . It was absolutely disgusting . I am not a cat person at all , I really dislike them , I don't want one in my house or on my furniture and that is why I choose to not own one . I have a boxer dog who is deaf and was usually sleeping in her crate on a night when the cat would come in through any slightly open windows .
After about 6 months of the neighbour doing nothing I did take it to Cats Protection, but it got returned to the neighbour . A few weeks after that it ran in through the open door when the kids were playing in the garden , unfortunately the dog was wide awake and she got a hold on it before I had even noticed it was in the house . The cat wasn't hurt because the dog didn't bite it ,she was only mouthing, I was able to return the horrible thing to the neighbour . After explaining what had happened she STILL took no measures to try and keep her animal out of my property so I told her that next time I'd let the dog rip it to shreds (I obviously wouldn't) and she called the police who basically laughed at her and said that if my dog was to hurt the cat there'd be nothing she could do because the dog lives there and the cat shouldn't be there . Maybe you could try telling her you won't be responsible for what happens if your dog does catch the cat? Unless she knows it wouldn't do anything? I really feel for you , it's an awful situation made worse by your allergy

Katy07 · 30/12/2016 14:11

We are now looking at buying essential oils, fencing, etc. Why should we have to pay for someone else's pet?
Because cats are seen as different to dogs and owners aren't expected to be able to keep them under control. You'd have exactly the same issue & costs if it was a fox doing all these things (including coming into the house because it was used to doing so). And why deter your dog from seeing off the cat???
Theft and criminal damage. You really are going to be endearing yourselves to the neighbours (and the police). I don't think the cat is going to be your biggest problem from now on.
You could always adopt a cat of your own - that would likely solve the other cat coming round...

Sillybillybonker · 30/12/2016 14:17

The cat should not be left outside permanently. Go to Cat Protection but not the RSPCA as the latter will put it to sleep as the cat will probably be impossible to rehome.

SuburbanRhonda · 30/12/2016 14:18

OP, you can't get medical treatment for someone else's cat unless they give permission. What would you do if the cat suffered complications or died as a result?

Sillybillybonker · 30/12/2016 14:21

When I say "go to Cat Protection", I mean contact them for advice in the first instance.

The neighbours/owners were also uncooperative so in the end they drove the cat to another village and released it. That is just evil. What a despicable thing to do.

Magstermay · 30/12/2016 14:24

You've had some good advice on deterrents so I won't repeat that.
To reiterate though no vet will operate on an animal without the owner's permission. You have also said you don't want to pay for it so who do you think is going to do that?

Magstermay · 30/12/2016 14:25

Sorry x post, thought you meant you would take it to CP

Cary2012 · 30/12/2016 14:26

Sounds like an un-neutered tom, who think he owns the neighbourhood.

You should be able to see if this is so (he'll have pom poms!!). You can't take him anywhere, he's not yours!

Tom's pee is very strong, bio washing powder good for removing smell. He's marking his territory, which unfortunately is your house. Burn citronella essential oil to deter him, use a cheap plant sprayer with water also. And buy ear plugs! Toms have a habit of serenading the female puddy population at night, as well as letting other Toms know he's up for a fight.

Other than pleading with the owners to neuter him, all you can do is get your own monster tom to chase him off.

SoupDragon · 30/12/2016 14:26

I can't believe you are actually considering stealing the cat, dumping it with a rescue and telling them to neuter it. Hmm

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 30/12/2016 14:31

There was a poster on here a while back who received a call from her vets to say that her batty neighbour had taken the posters cat to the vets because she was worried about a non-existent complaint and the vets wanted the poster to pay the bill. So it does happen.

Katy07 · 30/12/2016 14:33

he'll have pom poms!!
I now have a vision of a cat in a cheerleading outfit waving pom poms while doing a little dance in the garden Grin
"Give me a C" "C" "Give me an A" "A" Give me a T".....

2dogsonthesofa · 30/12/2016 14:39

The RSPCA does not consider keeping a cat outside as cruelty as long as it has food, water and some shelter,All the animal rescues are asked to help more animals than they have funds or space to deal with. You cannot just turn up with someone else's cat and expect them to neuter it. Let the dog into the garden, as someone else said only clean with specialist products,or the cat will be back to cover the smell of bleach etc.

witwootoodleoo · 30/12/2016 14:43

In my experience the only wildlife that cat proofing keeps out is foxes. We still have plenty of birds, mice, hedgehogs etc but no foxes or random cats

Original poster
MountainPeaks · 30/12/2016 14:43

And why deter your dog from seeing off the cat??? Katy - I've explained this upthread. I don't want my dog chasing cats because it could endanger him and I.

Having read all the information on Cat's Protection - and from the posts earlier in the thread - my understanding is that as we have a problem with feral cats in the area an un-neutered Tom would be neutered.

Loved the pom poms comment!

OP posts:
Original poster
MountainPeaks · 30/12/2016 14:43

Thanks witwoo - hugely appreciate your constructive comments!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread