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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want cats using my garden

267 replies

temporarygate · 06/04/2020 13:18

Our neighbours cats are frequently in my garden. Last summer they kept shitting at the bottom of our slide and killing birds a our bird feeder. We installed plastic fence spikes to deter them and the neighbour knocked on our door complaining his cats might get injured and that cats have the right to roam.

We have left the spikes up which has stopped them running across the fences to catch birds but the cats continue to come in through trees at the back of the garden and now have adopted our new garden sofas. We bought some of those ultrasonic sounders things but they are not making a difference. We spent £90 on sofa covers to prevent the cats sleeping on the garden furniture but every morning when we go out the cats shoot from under the covers - this morning there’s wet cat hair all over the cushions. I bring the throw cushions indoors but not the seat as back cushions as they are huge and there’s loads of them.

I feel pissed off that I’m going to a lot of hassle and expense of buying things and covering things for someone else’s pets to use.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Midsommar · 06/04/2020 15:47

@Dances you cracked me up with "shit lobbers" - thanks for the laugh!

LilacTree1 · 06/04/2020 15:49

InArrears “Have you explained this clearly to the cats?”

THIS is the content I am here for. Thank you. 😂

PipGirl404 · 06/04/2020 15:54

Why not make friends with the cats? Start feeding them ham and slowly invite them into your house... then when your neighbour gets used to his new life with no cats, tell the cats to go and shit all over his garden and get their wet fur all over his stuff.

temporarygate · 06/04/2020 15:57

So talking to cats is good

Shit lobbing not so good

And kidnapping a strong no?

OP posts:
AdoreTheBeach · 06/04/2020 15:59

Op you have every right to be annoyed by your neighbour’s cat. They’re not likely to cat proof their garden - nor are the other cat owners in your area. Cats do roam quite a distance.

A number of good suggestions in here for when you see them (super soaker) and continue to use the sonic deterrent. We have a few metal black cat silhouette with marble eyes placed where neighbourhood cats were pooping in my garden. Bought them in amazon. These cats didn’t bury their poop and the poop left near my front door was often eaten by my dog before I could see it/stop him. The metal cats have worked for us

Here’s some other options that may help with your garden furniture

thescaredycat.com/whats-the-best-natural-cat-repellent/

Years ago when I had a cat, to keep him out of my flower beds, I gave pretty metal garden ornaments in stakes that made digging inhospitable. I had found them in ikea but not seen them since. My sister uses plastic forks with great access.

vanillandhoney · 06/04/2020 16:00

@TitusP that's amazing Grin I have no real experience with outdoor cats as ours are both FIV+ rescues so are indoor only. They are very particular about their litter trays though!

hesgotit · 06/04/2020 16:01

@RonnieBarkingMad how long would you suggest the OP keeps the cat in the trap?

PipGirl404 · 06/04/2020 16:02

I'm a cat and dog person, animal person in general and cannot get my head around people not liking animals (looking at you crazy Ronnie), but I totally get they can be a nuisance if you don't want them in your garden.

Think the best thing (and most humane) you can do is to spray a bit of water at them if you catch them doing bad stuff in your garden!

Cassie71 · 06/04/2020 16:08

Sprinkle pepper on your garden or use lemon peel.

Terralee · 06/04/2020 16:11

I actually put my cats old scratching post near my plant pots as a neighbouring cats distraction technique & so far it works plus it is amusing to watch them play!!
Here's the Bengal

To not want cats using my garden
Freddiefox · 06/04/2020 16:16

Why not make friends with the cats? actually this is really good advice, we become good friends with the neighbours, the cat used to come in the windows and the front door if they were open. She stopped pooing in our garden as she felt it was hers.

Freddiefox · 06/04/2020 16:16

Started pooing in their garden in the end.. win win

Hoggleludo · 06/04/2020 16:16

Oh my god

I sprinkled my garden in pepper and cayenne pepper

They've never been back!!!

Womenwotlunch · 06/04/2020 16:17

Every time you see the cats you have to chase them away, so they know not to come back.
If the cat shits in your garden throw it over to the neighbour’s garden

Hoggleludo · 06/04/2020 16:19

I can't believe no one suggested the pepper.

Honestly worked a treat in my garden!

KonTikki · 06/04/2020 16:22

Our neighbiurs have cats, and over the years I've been very proactive at chasing them out of our garden rushing at them and clapping my hands.
Cats aren't stupid, they do get the message very quickly and will leave your garden alone ..... apart from the odd one that will shoot through like its tail is on fire.
I also have a bird feeder, but honestly have never seen any cat take the blind bit of interest in it.

...

Hoggleludo · 06/04/2020 16:22

@DingDongDenny

I'd kee your cat indoors if stress could kill him!

Cars. Lorries. People putting them in buckets of water. Trapping them!

Honestly. After reading this thread. I'd ker him indoors.

Terralee · 06/04/2020 16:22

I did say you can buy cat pepper spray. It makes them sneeze so it puts them off the area where you spray it.

Hoggleludo · 06/04/2020 16:23

@DingDongDenny

I have the human version of stress killing disease!

There's actually a very rare endocrine disorder. There's around 8000 of us in the uk. Drs only see it once every 100 years. I know dogs can get it. I wonder if cats can too?

Terralee · 06/04/2020 16:24

@Hoggleludo bunch of anti cat weirdos out there!!

Terralee · 06/04/2020 16:25

Personally I like all animals even my neighbour's old Collie who poos on my front border aargh!!

SewItGoes · 06/04/2020 16:26

I don't really see a water gun or super-soaker as being cruel. The whole idea is to discourage the cat from coming in. Water discourages without doing real harm. Obviously it's not nice for the cat; that's the whole point.

The most infuriating thing about unwelcome cats in your garden is the attitude some cat-owners have that it's none of your business if their cat makes trouble for you. Like it's totally out of their control. An act of god. And you're the pest for being bothered and daring to question the right of their cat to do exactly as it pleases. "It's a cat. Can't control cats! Sucks to be you!"

Yes, cats and dogs are very different animals, but it's frustrating that (some) cat-owners think they have no responsibility at all for their pet(s), yet if a dog so much as sneezes wrong, there's an uproar, yet anything a cat does is, "Oh well, that's cats for you" or "How do you know it wasn't a fox?!"

(Of course dogs should be handled responsibly, but it would be nice if people also took responsibility for or were at least apologetic about the annoying behaviour their felines.)

SewItGoes · 06/04/2020 16:29

...Too many "yets" in there... The mental image of a marauding pest-cat drove me temporarily mad. [wink ] Sorry.

izzywizzygood · 06/04/2020 16:33

I think cats should be exterminated. They are vermin. Useless creatures that obliterate our wildlife and defecate on other people's properties. Even their owners clearly can't stand them if they'd prefer them to be away from their home most of the time.

Post the feces back to the owner.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 06/04/2020 16:33

Also OP look on bright side.

Cat shit in garden is ime the best deterrent for foxes. We had foxes shitting in ours until the cat started. The cat shit is far less offensive.