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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

neighbour scaring cat off from her garden

254 replies

DanHumphreyIsA · 27/08/2017 20:46

Ok not by being physical but just chasing him off with a water pistol or shooing him away.

I am not being arsy about that, by the way but wondering if IBU to offer to buy her some cat repellants or something? OH thinks we should leave it and thinks she's just mean lol.

We have only recently moved to this area, have never spoken to her. We said hello a few times, she's not interested, fair enough. We've also put a note through before when we had work done to the house to apologise for the noise (she's quite old, I would say 70+) so I atleast hope she knows we're not mean people.

We can't keep the cat in as he was a stray so used to outdoors and goes crazy if hes kept in. I have tried shouting him when he goes over the fence, but, well he's a cat Grin

I dont like it as he's my baby of course, but if she doesn't like cats or whatever and aslong as he's not hurt I can't exactly say anything.
I'm not really sure whether to just let it be and let her chase him off? I'm just worried he might piss her off enough to start chucking stones at him or something.

She's obviously not fussed about us being 'neighbourly' so I dont know if it would be overstepping to go and offer her some cat repellents or similar (open to suggestions on something 'similar' btw)

OP posts:
FrogFairy · 27/08/2017 20:47

She is not unreasonable to not want cat shit in her garden and throwing water is a method often recommended by cat owners to deter cats.

sebumfillaments · 27/08/2017 20:47

YABU. It's a cat, vs a water pistol. What do you expect her to do?

sebumfillaments · 27/08/2017 20:48

I think you're about to get your arse handed to you.

MrMessy · 27/08/2017 20:49

Is he poohing in her garden? I get this with my neighbours cat and it is horrible, I shoo them away too. I have not used a water pistol, but if it works and it does not hurt your cat, what is the problem?

You could try offering cat repellent but they don't always work in my experience!

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 27/08/2017 20:51

Do nothing. Cats wander. She is fine shooting the cat with the water pistol. Cat will learn and stay away. That's the best form of cat repellent there is. The situation is fine as it is, anything you do will make it worse.

LexieLulu · 27/08/2017 20:52

It's probably easier for her to spray your cat with water than bend over and pick your cats poo up daily...

LyannaStarktheWolfMaid · 27/08/2017 20:52

Cats are pretty resilient. Don't worry, he'll be fine. She's being a bit mean but it's totally her perogative unfortunately.

PaperdollCartoon · 27/08/2017 20:54

YABU, and I have two cats who go in other people's gardens. One of my next door neighbours likes them, one sits with her in the garden. Other side doesn't and shoos them out.

LNot everyone likes cats, they can poop and leave dead animals as 'presents', and people have the right to get them out of their property (ie: gardens)

Water sprays don't hurt cats, they're an easy and painless deterant, one I use myself when mine start attacking the furniture. Shooing and water won't hurt him, and in time he might learn not to go in there anyway.

dementedpixie · 27/08/2017 20:54

Water pistol or shooing away is fine and I say that as a cat owner.

BorderChick · 27/08/2017 20:54

Defo no issue with squirting cool clean water at a cat. Via a water pistol or a used washing up liquid bottle. It's the only way to make them shove off and not come back.

I love cats, but uninvited ones are a pain in the arse, Especially if they are bothering/intimidating your own cats.

Wheelycote · 27/08/2017 20:55

I love cats, have had cats. Not having a cat at moment has opened my eyes. Ybu

Water is a deterrent. Better that than other things

ILoveMillhousesDad · 27/08/2017 20:55

Why the hell do you think she is going to start throwing stones at your cat Confused

Bit of a leap.

She probably doesn't want a cat shitting in her garden.

Maybe the last neighbour had a cat that shit on her plants and it's pissed her off.

She is well within her rights to scare the cat off in a non-violent way.

Jeez. Some cat owners are just bloody selfish.

TidyDancer · 27/08/2017 20:55

Not sure what her age has to do with it OP, you bringing that up just sounds like a bit of a dig at her.

She's doing nothing wrong, leave her be. The use of a water pistol is a recognised method to deter cats so I'm thinking she's got it under control.

Wolfiefan · 27/08/2017 20:56

Cat proof your garden or buy her a really good water pistol. I would hate my neighbours to hurt my cats but have no problem in them squirting water to deter my cat from their property.

Juicyfruitloop · 27/08/2017 20:58

YABU. I have a similar problem with my neighbour. She has 3 re homed stray cats that are constantly pooing in my garden. Setting off my security light at night, waking my youngest DC as it is under his bedroom window, if I wanted to pick up shit after a pet I would have my own. I have to check the back garden each day as I have young DC. It is disgusting. I know you cannot lock your cat up though.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 27/08/2017 20:58

She doesn't want cat poo in her garden.
You are getting off lightly...I just let my dog out.
Harsh but cat poo in my veg patch is vile.

Tiddlywinks63 · 27/08/2017 20:58

I hate cats shitting in my garden; great pity they can't be trained to crap in their owners' flowerbeds.

Cat repellants rarely work, water pistol or the hose pipe for me.

gamerwidow · 27/08/2017 20:59

I am a cat owner and I would have no problem with any one squirting them with water or chasing them out of their garden. As long as they don't hurt them it's fine for them to chuck them off of their property.

Mellington · 27/08/2017 20:59

Cat repellant is going to be harsher than a water pistol, we have them just for this very reason. It's better than setting our [friendly] dog on them.

MissJC · 27/08/2017 21:02

My neighbour complained about my cat poohing in her front garden last week and I was bloody mortified. DP went and picked it up and I ordered a solar powered ultrasound cat deterrent thing off amazon, it was only £14 and the cats not shat in the garden since I put it in so looks like it's done the trick. Might be worth a thought.

pawsies · 27/08/2017 21:03

Secure your garden so your cat can't bother her.

Original poster
DanHumphreyIsA · 27/08/2017 21:03

Haha I think some of you have misunderstood. I didnt say I'm going to ask her to sell her home and move away from my cat!!
I said would it be reasonable to offer some cat repellent to stop the cat from going there so she doesn't need to come out and shoo him off. Yes how selfish of meHmm

And yes Ive heard people mention in the past they'd chuck stones at cats (or dogs, whatever) to get them away from wherever they shouldn't be.

If the water pistol is better than a repellent then that'll do. Pitchforks down now everyone.

OP posts:
BettyOBarley · 27/08/2017 21:04

I think what she's doing is totally fine op and a recommended way of getting rid of cats in your garden. We have a long gravel border along the entire front of our house and recently it has become the local cats litter tray and it's really pissing me off. If I caught them doing it I'd do the same. I used to have my own cat but even I think other people's cats are just a PITA!

FlaviaAlbia · 27/08/2017 21:05

Oh, could I have a link to that please MissJC?

I half wondered if this would be about me. My next door neighbour has started to feed someone else's cat and all of a sudden we've got about 4 different cats in our garden spraying various places. I wash it off and chase them but they come back.

Original poster
DanHumphreyIsA · 27/08/2017 21:06

@Tinydancer not a dig at her age, I mentioned that being a reason why we put a note through, due to noise disturbance otherwise I imagine people would have said why on earth did we put a not through her door.

OP posts:
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