To really not understand why people are OK with cats

[Duvetstay]

Full disclosure, I'm allergic to cats and also very much a dog person but I really don't understand how it's acceptable for cats to go round decimating local wildlife and crapping in gardens.

I've lost count of how many times I've had to pick cat poo off the lawn and my daughter came in yesterday with cat sick all over her feet as a local moggie had vommed on our patio. I'm sick of it. It's a health hazard and you shouldn't have to wear a hazmat suit to go in your own garden.

We have tadpoles outside which are about to froglet and I've just seen a fat cat with its head in the water. I'm fuming, a few of the tadpoles are injured and this is the same cat I had to get off a terrified bird last week.

I'm not remotely sentimental about nature, if a hungry creature kills another then that's how life works. However I cannot understand how people can let these cats out knowing that they're injuring animals for no reason and causing health hazards to other people in their own home.

I couldn't take my dog for a shit in your garden so why can your cat do that in mine? They're not even natural predators as they just trot home to get their whiskers.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

[PumpkinP]

Because dogs and cats are very different Vamoosh that’s why

[CaptainCabinets]

Because they are beautiful!

My cats are far less gross than my dog.

[Idontbelieveit12]

I love cats, I have 3. They defo do poo on lawns, I watch my next door neighbours poo on mine regularly

[Duvetstay]

I hate dog poo too and think it's horrid if people dump the poo bags... I think this is illegal though so not news its minging. Also annoying when they run at you or kids and the owner says "he's just being friendly!"

Honestly, it's not foxes! Where we live there are none and several of our neighbours have cats. We have a big window in the kitchen overlooking the garden and I can see them there.

I thought my post would generate a few opposing responses and if you're a cat lover I totally understand, yep, they're cute. But they do poo on lawns and they have eaten the tails off some of my tadpoles. I'm honestly not making it up!

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

I like cats. I like dogs.

They were domesticated in different ways for different reasons.

If a cat doesn't like you it says more about you than the cat. This goes for any animal.

[Piglet89]

“We have tadpoles outside which are about to froglet...”

I mean - easily, COMFORTABLY the most middle class thing I’ve ever seen written on Mumsnet.

[Duvetstay]

Ahh, thanks piglet, one tries one's best.

Gotta give Tarquin and Persephone something to study until the prep schools go back!!

[Dollygirl2008]

I'm with you OP. Three cats in the row of houses I live in and I'm sick of all the poo in my garden. And these ones don't bury it - judging by the size of the turds, I would imagine they are quite proud and just trot off thinking "yyeeerrr!!!".

I've often felt like taking my mums dog and letting it poo on their lawns just to see their reaction and then I could say "awww it's only a bit of poo! No harm eh!"

It really isn't ok.

[bluebluezoo]

How can you tell if a tadpole is injured?

[HazelBite]

Dogs and Cats are like a lot of people some you adore others you can't stand.
I've come across plenty of dirty and annoying people.
I have always had cats, in my experience mice and squirrels are far more exciting to hunt than birds. They are annoying aloof but extremely lovable and we are all grateful for any crumbs of affection they give us.
I love dogs they are loyal and loving too.
Both enrich our lives, but like I don't like all people I don't like all cats and all dogs.

[Micah]

judging by the size of the turds, I would imagine they are quite proud and just trot off thinking "yyeeerrr!!!

If they’re that big, surely there’s a chance it’s a fox or even a hedgehog. Hedgehogs produce suprisingly big stinky shits.

[Bbang]

Next doors cats have dug up my freshly seeded new lawn, shat all in it and fucking ruined it. Not to mention all the plants they’ve ruined, the scratches on my back door and god forbid I have a sodding window open they come through them piss in the house and hiss at my kids.

Vile creatures, I wish they’d be kept indoors.

[NotEvenTheKing]

I do like cats. But I understand what you are saying. Our neighbours cat is always shitting in our garden. And it gives me the rage. I'm not a dog person at all. I am equally raged at the lazy bastards that allow their dogs to shit on my front garden and piss on our bushes as they walk past.

[ReinventingMe]

I never used to hate cats until I got my own house and every morning I had cat sh!t in my garden. I also had a cat (probably same culprit) that hissed at me when I went out into my own garden as if I was disturbing it.

Seriously, why do you think it is OK for me to pick up your cats shit? I don't expect you to do that for my child or my dog so why am I doing it for your pet? I do not want to pick up your animals crap, put it in my bin, then wash my hands thoroughly. I have better things to do with my time than invest it in YOUR animal. I just do not understand why you would choose to get an animal that you never see and you know inflicts misery on your neighbours, and will probably end up at the side of the road having been hit by a car.

I've not seen devil cat since I got my dog.

[Duvetstay]

Fair point bluebluezoo, their tails were hanging off. They'd been fine just before the cat had its head in there.

[Leaannb]

Free roaming cats should be illegal just like dogs

[LakieLady]

They dug holes to bury their poo, I see no problem with that

It's bloody unpleasant when you grab a handful when weeding!

Btw, fox poo is nothing like cat poo. It's black and tarry and has an appalling smell. Having owned two terriers, I'm far more familiar with fox poo than I would like. Mind you, the terriers were damn fine ratters. None of my cats ever caught a rat but two dead 'uns a week were not uncommon when the terriers were in their heyday.

[understandme]

Try this OP, you'll love it!

[LST]

@Leaannb that will never happen

[P999]

I love cats. Loads of them roaming on the estate I live in. They might take the odd shit in my garden but they keep the mice and rats away and I live between 2 railway lines so we should be infested.

[OhSweetNuthin]

Decimating wildlife 🤣

Do you really think that cats go out to randomly injure other creature for fun??

I give you sheep worrying... a huge problem round here especially now when townie dickheads bring their stupid dogs to go on their daily exercise and blatantly disrespect the farmers boundaries, signs and the fact we have a billion gorgeous lambs all over the place. We shoot dogs here.

I have cats and dogs both. And I know which ones are most destructive (not the cats. 🙄)

[P999]

Dogs eat shit. Cats dont. Dogs have low standards. That said, sniffer dogs are amazing. So love them both

[TeetotalKoala]

Because they're lovely.

The ginger one in the front of the picture always goes to the toilet outside (but not in our garden or the neighbours, I think she goes in the wild land behind). The tabby at the back is a strict litter tray user. She'll even come in from outside to use it.

The ginger one is a hunter. I've rescued the same slow worm from her three times in three days. I know it's the same one as the first time she cut it slightly on the belly. I've checked and that cut has now healed, but you can see it. I'd suggest the slow worm change its sunbathing spot. When we had a cat flap, I'd regularly come down to a mouse head on the kitchen floor (she'd eaten the rest). In this house we don't, so now the whole thing gets left on the step. The record was 3 in 24 hours. We also had a bird once. Feathers everywhere. DH rang me and told me not to bring the DC home.

BUT, she's cuddly, she's sweet and she plays fetch!

The tabby used to be a ninja at catching house spiders, but nothing bigger. Now she can't even be arsed with that. She is a puker though. BUT she's affectionate, beautiful and just wants a quiet life where it's just me and her (she resents the other one, DH and the DC). It's okay. I like being the favourite.

The tabby doesn't leave the garden and the ginger only pops next door to drink from their pond (she doesn't bother their goldfish) or sleep in their long grass. She's mostly found asleep on her bed in the shed.

I love dogs too. We don't have one for a variety of reasons, but I'm not strictly a cat person.

[Icequeen01]

I do get your frustration Op, it's not nice finding cat poo in your garden if you don't own a cat. However, how can you resist these two? 😀

[AfterSchoolWorry]

Because: