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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Posting here for help - just found a large toad in my garden

45 replies

MollysMummy2010 · 04/06/2019 20:03

Do I need to do anything? No ponds nearby and two local cats are trying to play with it. Will they eat it? Should I do anything or just leave it to it?

OP posts:
Minxmumma · 04/06/2019 20:06

Give it a kiss... you never know! Cats might try but will soon get bored. Unless you have a damp shady corner in the garden you can move it to I'd leave it be.

schoolsoutforever · 04/06/2019 20:08

I've had this before on a couple of occasions. It's weird isn't it? I kept my cat in until the road had gone away but unfortunately I still found it dead the next day. I think cats will just toy with them so if there is an opportunity to move it I probably would try to.

MauisHouseOnMaui · 04/06/2019 20:09

If you can then move it somewhere it can hide from the cats - a woodpile or rockery, under the shed, compost heap, that sort of thing. It'll hide, the cats will get bored and go away, then it'll move on to wherever it was originally headed.

If you've got a water pistol then you could encourage the cats to bugger off with a few well-aimed squirts.

theorchidwhisperer · 04/06/2019 20:10

Move it to a damp dark spot in your garden and it will happily eat your slugs. If the cats are bothering it then I'd ask a neighbour if you can release it in their garden so the cats can't find it.

They often only go to water to spawn.

Niyamamama · 04/06/2019 20:10

We found a massive toad under a pile of wood in the garden! Was expecting it to jump away when the dc gathered round to inspect it, but it gave no fucks whatsoever and slowly swaggered away as we watched in awe.

MauisHouseOnMaui · 04/06/2019 20:11

And if you have a shallow container like an old tray then you could put some water down near where it's hiding,if I remember rightly they can't drink by actually drinking and need to absorb it through their skin.

SarahAndQuack · 04/06/2019 20:15

Toads do not need ponds. That's frogs.

If it really is a toad, then it might make your cats ill - they secrete a liquid that tastes unpleasant.

If you can, distract the cats and move the toad to somewhere dark and sheltered. You could put it under a large flowerpot for a little bit, if you think they'll get bored, and then set it free. It probably won't mind, especially if you pop a couple of slugs in.

Original poster
MollysMummy2010 · 04/06/2019 20:16

One of the bloody cats is mine so I will bring it in. It is resting in a drain at the moment but I have a pile of garden trimmings and leaves (that I am too lazy) haven't got round to moving yet so will put some water there and hope the other cat gets bored.
Thanks for the advice all!
I am in London so not used to this, although my daughter brought in a baby fox last year that I thought was a rat and I also have a hedgehog visitor!

OP posts:
Original poster
MollysMummy2010 · 04/06/2019 20:17

Will try and post a pic to check re frog/toad but have to go on my phone...

OP posts:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 04/06/2019 20:17

Aw, we used to have a toad in the garden of our (incredibly urban) student house, we loved Mr Toad! (Imaginative name I know...)

Original poster
MollysMummy2010 · 04/06/2019 20:20

Hopefully pics attached. For scale, Hans is my 9yr dd

Posting here for help - just found a large toad in my garden
Posting here for help - just found a large toad in my garden
OP posts:
SnugglySnerd · 04/06/2019 20:23

What a beauty! That's a really big toad.

Duchessgummybuns · 04/06/2019 20:24

That looks like a common frog to me

Eliza9919 · 04/06/2019 20:24

We used to get them in our London garden. We just left them alone.

We also used to get foxes & hedgehogs. Our friend with a pond used to get a heron land on its way to the river Lea. We had hawks around sometimes.

stucknoue · 04/06/2019 20:27

We've got a couple of resident toads and no pond, frogs too. The dog keeps cats at bay and he likes to watch the little frogs jump but ignores the (very large) toads.

FingersMcGinty · 04/06/2019 20:28

That's a frog not a toad.

JustHereforHarriet · 04/06/2019 20:29

Is that not a frog?!

PineappleTart · 04/06/2019 20:31

I'd say frog too, if it hops it's a frog. If it strolls around it's a toad. We used to get a huge toad come onto our patio when I was growing up, he was so noisy & drove the dogs bonkers

Tricorne · 04/06/2019 20:32

Deffo a frog. Toads are a lot more... swarthy.

TabbyMumz · 04/06/2019 20:32

That's a frog.

Ohyesiam · 04/06/2019 20:33

It’s a frog.
Frogs have those long back legs for leaping. Toads don’t jump, they crawl so their back legs are not much longer than the front.

So it will need some water at some point.

PurpleWithRed · 04/06/2019 20:35

Its a frog. If you have a frog and a toad side by side you can see why you'd choose the frog to kiss - they are much smoother and more convincingly prince like. Toads look more like Jim Royle. Either way just leave it somewhere damp and shady, it will be fine (assuming it doesn't turn into a handsome prince that is...)

Fortheloveofscience · 04/06/2019 20:35

That’s lovely OP but definitely a frog. Still a nice visitor to have though Smile.

DontCallMeShitley · 04/06/2019 20:40

Was also going to say it's a common frog, does it swear at you when you touch it?

Give it somewhere to hide. Cats supposedly don't eat frogs and toads, also best not touch it too much as it can be uncomfortable for them.

Pk37 · 04/06/2019 20:42

That’s one cool frog!