To wonder what you would say to a neighbour complaining about your cat weeing and pooing their prize vegetable garden?

[Upthepong]

Just that really. I'm a bit non-plussed about it all

At no point have I rolled my eyes, whitesoxx. I have expressed confusion as I have genuinely never come aross this before and had no idea what he expected me to do about it. The cork was an attempt to add some levity, but perhaps I should not eploy humour when talking about such a deadly serious situation. I'm off to flagilate myself and say penance for my sins.

It would depend if I had a cat or if it was definitely my cat. My old neighbour once kicked off with me telling me my cats were shitting in his garden etc he was in my face shouting. He ended the rant with "I'll kill the ginger fucker next time". I then took great pleasure loudly pointing out that 1. My cat is black and 2. My cat hadn't left the house in nearly a month cause it had been ill.
However if it was my cat I would apologise and try and work out a solution.

I'm getting that Sparklingbrook ! The neighbour mentioned spraying and pooing. But my cat is snipped and I've only ever seen him crouch down to wee. I'm sure he's pooing somewhere so it might very well be some of his poo in the neighbour's garden. We have lived here 9 years and never had any issues with the neighbour, or the cat ownership.

My neighbour has two cat repellants to discourage the three (at least) cats that crap in their garden but live across the road. They don't work. 30 years ago dog poo was hardly managed, I think we should move towards the same expectations for cat poo.

The least you can do is apologise and say, "It was my idea to get the cat. I'll install some cat proof fencing in my garden so it doesn't bother you. I should have done that before I brought the cat home. It's my cat. I don't mind cleaning it's shit up from my garden. I don't want my cat being my neighbours problem. Sorry again. I'll get some cat fencing tomorrow".

I get very upset about cat poo and wee in my garden. It stinks, it's dangerous to my little one, and it is MY garden. I don't have animals that shit in others' gardens, so why is it okay for my neighbours' pets to shit in mine?!
I have spent my own money on solar deterrents and lion poo pellets which don't deter. I have put bottles of water everywhere because, in some countries, it is believed this helps. It doesn't.
I have had to resort to spraying the whole garden with disinfectant (!) because the awful smell of cat piss has prevented me from enjoying the very garden I took a mortgage out for (after years of living in places with no garden).
My DD's birthday party was in the garden last summer, and the stink of cat piss and the fact a guest stood in cat poo were mortifying, and almost ruined the whole event for me, frankly. People say that cats are clean, but I see no evidence of this; it's just that they don't shit and piss in their own gardens! I don't think owners saying that cats "should be free to wander", and "it's not my fault", and "how do I know it's my cat?" is very helpful when it affects others' quality of life. People work hard for their stuff! If you can't control your cats, don't have them. At the very least, pay for some effective cat-proofing for all of your poor neighbours.

I feel sorry for your neighbour. I have a couple of cats that keep shitting in my garden and Also trying to get into the house. Pisses me off to be honest.
Please note I dont hate cats. I would appreciate being able to leave my back or front door or Windows open.

Where did you think your cat was pooing if not in your garden?

How does the neighbour know that it is your cat? My cats use a litter tray but I get other people’s cats crapping in the garden all the time even though my garden is my cats territory (I don’t let them out at night). I don’t go knocking on my neighbours door because (a) cats are animals and don’t understand the concept of a private garden and (b) I love cats.

Cats will and should do what they like. They are brilliant and would just shrug their shoulders at any cunt that dare to complain at their behaviour! Take a leaf out of their book.

So, out of interest, how many cat owners reading this, with outdoor cats, have cat-proofed their gardens?

Apparently lion poo is less toxic to plants / crops than fresh cat poo, & moderately good as a cat deterrent. Unsure how often it needs replacing though. It can be purchased online. (I've never tried it.)

thank you OP about the cork. Huge burden off my heart.
Some cats are very considerate: our young one [indoor cat] has a "boyfriend" who comes almost every day, esp. in crap weather. Never seen any single shit in the garden! What a sterling puss. You neighbour though might suffer from bad karma in the shape of shits.

Yes, I would also like to be able to leave the back door open sometimes, but daren't, because the cheeky little f***s can and so come in. Ugh!

I have no idea how you can cat proof a garden. They jump. What would you do? People just get ridiculous about animals.

None of them will have cat proofed. NONE .

Isn't this a eye roll thing? his eyes look rolled to me but I'm not down with the kids.

Anyway, off to eat. I'm just hangry. Good luck with the cat shit

I'm a big cat fan, own them, but no way do I want cat shit in my vegetable patch. You should indeed apologise and offer to help with deterrents, if it's your cat helping to foul their vegetable patch. YABU to be 'nonplussed' by it.

How can people not like cats, the thought is just bizarre. They are so lovable and at the same time don’t give a shit (sorry about the pun OP!).

Says it's a which I take to be 'sceptical', which I was because I have never heard of anyone enclosing their cat. I certainly does't see any of the catowners in the area with such facilities for their cats.

don't

Say you'll go and wash his vegetables for him when they are ready!

OP you are gonna get loads of comments from people that hate cats telling you how disgusting they are and how they ruin lives and gardens. I have had cats my entire life and have only met one person who openly despised cats in the way some posters do.
It's hard if not impossible to keep a cat indoors that doesn't want to be inside. And if they are used to going out then it is very stressful to keep them indoors.
I worked for 5 years in a cat rescue, cats are lovely affectionate animals if you give them a chance and no matter what some posters seem to think they are very clean animals. I have never once smelt cat pee in my garden and I have watched both mine and other cats pee there. I have also only stood in poo a handful of times. Cant leave my house without coming across dog shit though. My grandparents used to live in the middle of a wood and I would often come across fox shit and other poo in their garden though.

My own cats drive me nuts pooing in my veg beds and spraying on my rhubarb - the little bastards (crouches to wee anywhere else he's a neutered male). Sounds like you reacted appropriately, apologies and an offer to help with some kind of deterrent. Maybe they'd like the idea of planting tho ha that deter cats? It's just one of those things that can't be helped and especially if there are other potential perpetrators around!

No cat proofing here - my two use their litterbox and a spot under a bush at the back of my garden, I suppose it's possible they also use someone's garden but I don't think so, I've seen them come in to use the litterbox. If someone complained I'd try and offer some sort of solution, almost everyone around here seems to have cats though so I guess we're lucky.

Putting a cat on a leash sounds horrendous, is that not truly cruel?

Ah Minglemangle8 I am a great lover of cats. I'm mortified that he has not had the same effect on others. Cheeserton* I was nonplussed by the expected of what I could do. That is why I cam one here and have had many excellent and not so excellent suggestions.

Ah just remembered, one slightly odd neighbour complains cats look at him from his shed roof, anyone got any suggestions for that?

Since we are not allowed to cat proof our garden, we keep our cats indoors. I used to let my cats roam and then I realized just how rude I was being.