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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why cats roaming is acceptable?

537 replies

PengAly · 16/12/2018 23:05

Just want to hear opinions on this. Firstly i should be honest, i am a dog person, 100% love dogs and i really dont understand how people like cats (seems like they are a tad selfish of a pet) but i am an animal lover so obviously wish no harm to any cat and will play with one given the opportunity. This is JUST my opinion. But back to my original question...

Why does it seem universally accepted that cats can roam on other peoples properties and poop in the garden- even digging up flowers?! Now Im certain mainy people would get up in arms if a dog on a lead stepped one paw on their front garden or god forbid came within 3 feet of them or their child(I've seen many dog hating threads on MN) yet cat owners get a free pass for their cats doing as they please?

Im honestly not trying to start an argument i just dont understand it Confused

OP posts:
SummerGems · 17/12/2018 15:45

Haven’t rtft however the reality is that cats are independent for the most part and stopping them from wandering is virtually impossible to the point that most rescue charities won’t rehome the majority of cats to homes where they have no ability to go out unless in special circs i.e. where a cat is already a recognised house cat.

Given that it is the cat’s natural instinct to wander, how would one propose that the cat owner takes responsibility for the fact that the cat goes into other people’s gardens?

By the same token however I do think that owners who insist that other people not allow their cat to wander into their houses are unreasonable given that the owners themselves feel that they’re permitted to allow their cats to roam wherever they want iyswim?

E.g. if someone complained that the cat wanders into their house and approached the owner, the owner would likely tell them that they should be taking steps to prevent it from doing so if they don’t like it. However if said cat wanders into a neighbou’s house and the neighbour doesn’t object, the same owner would likely take exception because it’s their cat and the neighbour should have no right to allow it into their house.

So if you own an independent animal which you allow to roam freely which it will do by virtue of its nature, then part of that also means that that animal may roam freely into someone else’s house and adopt them instead of you which is also in its nature and you as an owner should be just as accepting of that. And I speak as a previous cat owner who, although I would have been upset if my cats had adopted someone else, and have never encouraged anyone else’s cat into my house, also accept that independent means independent rather than independent purely on the owner’s terms..... iyswim.

people with a cat allergy often develop an immunity to their own cat this is true although there can be unknown drawbacks. I am alergic to cats. Have owned them for as long as I can remember. I also have hayfever in the summer. Two years ago I lost my last cat when she was hit by a car and shortly afterward I developed a life-limiting illness. Due to the amount of medication I have to take I was dreading hayfever season as I didn’t want to have to take yet another amount of meds (antihistamine) so was surprised when the hayfever never materialised. Thought it might be a coincidence but then this year I never had hayfever either. Not so much as a sniffle. Can only put it down to the fact that this is the first time in as long as I can remember that I haven’t had a cat. So now I won’t ever likely be getting another one as they clearly have been contributing to my hayfever all these years... Sad.

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 16:06

For those using the age old excuse that all dogs are apparently violent beasts who rip childrens throats out why are they so trusted as service dogs then? Surely we shouldnt be taking that kind of risk with a "raging beast" like that Hmm

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 17/12/2018 16:20

Blimey is this thread still going? Shock

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/12/2018 16:21

dog owners are EXPECTED to clean up after their dog and can get fined for not doing so. Cats owners put that responsibility on their neighbours unfortunately

Not all of us. I'm maybe lucky in that my two only poo in their litter trays - even when they're outside - but just in case, I've always told my neighbours to let me know if they do it in their gardens so I can come and clean it up

Funnily enough I've only ever had one neighbour ask; in her case I suspect I was cleaning up mess from half the cats in the area, but I did it anyway because it shouldn't have been her job and anyway it's nice to be nice

Such a shame, then, that she continued to blame my cats even after both had died Hmm

MrsTommyBanks · 17/12/2018 16:23

It's the nature of the beast innit.
FWIW I love both cats and dogs, and have had both as very loving pets. And taken responsibility for any damage or inconvenience they have caused.
However those saying cats don't attack are not quite correct...

www.thelocal.fr/20130724/feral-french-cats-attack-dog-walker/amp

onefootinthegrave · 17/12/2018 16:23

OP to me the problem is your posts come across as so patronising you're getting people's backs up. It's also obvious that you're biased towards dogs, even though you claim you're not.

I had a cat that used to shit in someone else's garden despite me putting a litter tray down. It had a regular garden, and I told those neighbours that if they wanted me to I'd be happy to go in and clean up up daily and they should feel free to aim water pistol at our cat to try and deter him.

Not everyone's going to be like that, and there is a big difference between cats and dogs, but I don't think you can ask every cat owner to make their cats house cats, it's just not going to work.

SoupDragon · 17/12/2018 16:25

Having just watched my dog treat the litter tray as his personal snack box, if you have a dog you might not have a problem with cat poo any more. 🤢

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/12/2018 16:33

The law regarding cats v dogs needs to be viewed whilst considering when such laws were written.

They are not really about the welfare of the animal they are about whether the owner can be held legally responsible for the animals actions.

When those laws were written, it wasn't considered possible or reasonable, to keep cats indoors - cats were for a purpose, pest control, and were an outdoor animal.

I suspect it is time those laws were updated to reflect the change in cat ownership, that most cats are indoor cats at least some of the time and that their owners can be held responsible for their cats actions in at least some situations.

eliolip · 17/12/2018 16:36

But how do you want cat owners to be responsible for them going to the toilet outside? What are we meant to do?!

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 16:36

Im definently not being patronising...people like to make things up between the lines that arent there. I comes across that o prefer dogs simply because so many posters feel the need to insult them instead of have an actual discussion about the issue! The only time i insulted cats was to say i find them selfish based on my own experiences. I think people get riled up because they forget not everyone loves their pets as much as they do. For some reason PPs seem to think something is wrong with me because i dont like the neighbours cats shit in my yard Hmm

OP posts:
ronatheseal · 17/12/2018 16:37

all dogs are apparently violent beasts who rip childrens throats out

No, some dogs do. To a stranger, all dogs might. This is what the more air-headed dog owners who've never had kids can't grasp, a stranger doesn't know what your dog is capable of. So if you are so self-involved that you decide it is your right to spread terror among the neighbourhood mothers by letting your German shepherd or pit bull run around as it pleases don't complain if it gets hurt. And in fact anything and everything that happens as a result will be your fault. If a mother picks up her child and runs in front of a car because of your leadless dog, YOU will be responsible for the traffic accident not just morally but financially.

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 16:42

@ronatheseal i dont understand how this serves any purpose to the overall thread except the chance for you to voice your hatred of dogs? Of course some dogs can be violent...blame the owner not the breed. There are laws in place to control dogs, no laws for cats because they are so very different.
You are making very generalised assumptions. Also a few PPs have mentioned dangers of cats. Some people may be scared of cats- do you think those people shouldn't go outside in case one crosses their paths?

OP posts:
ronatheseal · 17/12/2018 16:47

No laws against idiots unfortunately. I believe my opening quote makes it clear what my purpose is, you think the freedom of a cat to roam is analogous to that of a dog and you expressed your contempt for those who thought otherwise in the OP. As I said, cats don't rip out the throats of small children. If you are now going to tell us that a wandering cat poses the same or analogous direct dangers to humans as a similar dog, please save it for nonsense hour at the asylum.

hohohobags · 17/12/2018 16:49

So I've been scratched in the face by a cat as a kid. My nan's cat and I had to go to hospital.

We had two cats when I was a baby and growing up. Burmese- which will happily try to sleep on anyone's face so you have to be careful with babies and young children. So yes they do try to kill you ! One bit me and it was so bad it had to go to live on a farm.

My MILs cat bit me the other day, MIL asked me to pick her up and I am used to cats so did it properly and it savaged me.

My flower beds just outside my front door have earth heaps where cats have been. So yes I do see cat shit and I have to move it or my toddler touches it or worse my dog eats it.

Luckily cats don't seem to come into back garden due to my dog. But my dog is so scared of cats after being jumped on by a kitten trying to play. It jumped out of a bush onto my dogs back Confused

Maybe cats don't like me.

I have a dog now

CurlsandCurves · 17/12/2018 16:49

eliolip I wish I knew!

I’m on the other side of it. Not a cat owner, but my front lawn is used as a toilet for my neighbours cats, and there are a lot of them.

Our back garden is tiny and not really big enough for my kids to run around and play in. Yet I can’t let them play on the much bigger front lawn coz it’s covered in cat poo!

I know cats roam, it’s what they do etc but it’s so frustrating when my kids can’t have a kick about on their own front lawn because of other people’s cats.

Taffeta · 17/12/2018 16:52

Keeping cars indoors isn’t the answer. I’d no sooner keep a cat indoors than I would own a pet that had to live in a cage.

I’ve told my neighbours if they catch my cat shitting in their garden they have my blessing if they want to squirt him with a water pistol from a distance.

Bubbinsmama · 17/12/2018 16:53

ConfusedIf you get your own cat OP then other people's cats wont shit in your garden....Hmm

PengAly · 17/12/2018 17:13

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Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 17:15

@CurlsandCurves this is what ive been trying to say my entire thread!

OP posts:
ronatheseal · 17/12/2018 17:27

@PengAly Shux again, you're the sweetest!

onefootinthegrave · 17/12/2018 17:32

OP, I'm reading your posts, not between the lines. You are really patronising. And it's not ronatheseal that sounds unhinged - I think first prize goes to you!

Chloe84 · 17/12/2018 17:37

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DeloresJaneUmbridge · 17/12/2018 17:38

I have two cars ...one who never leaves the house except to empty herself in the back garden after which she returns to her sleeping spot and the other one who refuses to leave the garden and sight of the house (he replace of safety) but she is an ex-feral.

Was talking to a friend the other day about getting and Catio built...he has one for his two cats and it’s beyond amazing...loads of climbing and scratching places plus beds. They keep the litter tray out there.

I am so tempted by this...not least because I have a dread of the busy road behind me on which I sadly lost a cat four years ago,

The idea of a safe outdoor space where the cats could remain safe is very tempting. It would also stop any roaming although our garden attracts all local cats so the idea that getting your own cat stops others coming into your garden is a big fat lie Grin

Sarahandduck18 · 17/12/2018 17:41

Cats don’t kill babies

Original poster
PengAly · 17/12/2018 17:46

@Chloe84 psychopathic really? I was giving an example of doubke standards...

Im not the one sat here raging assumptions like many other PP are but because i dont want a cat shitting in my garden I'M unhinged? Okaaay.

OP posts: