At my wits end with neighbourhood cats

[bulliedbycats]

Name changed as I have moaned about this IRL and don't want my posting history being looked up

I'm sick of them, two or three times a week there is poo in my garden, I keep catching one scratching at the cover on my glass garden table (cover changed twice now) if the bin is full and slightly open I have to remember to put a brick on it or they are in it, an unidentified one vomits in my garden every few months (usually If they've managed to get in the bin), I can't leave the door open if I'm in and out to the car because one of them tries to get in the house, they are a total menace.
If I posted that my neighbour let their dog poo in my garden and damage my property I'd be told the owner is irresponsible but as it's cats it's just what the roaming little shits do.
I've tried those sprays and powders to keep them out but it doesn't help.
I am not being unreasonable to be utterly fed up surely? Any advice on keeping them out much appreciated.

Before anyone starts I know some cats are house cats I'm not hating on all cats just these ones!

@thebabessavedme

I think that actually you should 'get worked up' about cat poo, It is disgusting, full of quite dangerous germs and bacteria, thats why pregnant women are advised not to clean litter trays.

I have a close relative who has toxoplasmosis and its a devasting disease, her eyesight permantly damaged.

I love cats, have owned them and miss having one now BUT, you have to be sensible and aware!

Yes you are right. When we did have grass I would scour it before DC went out to play and be constantly paranoid. I do think I'm justified and I'm glad I've not been flamed

Why not have your own cat?

cause i would end up proberly having a sociable cat who will attract other neighbourhood cats in the area. 😁😁

Had this in our garden. Local cats seem to use it as an interchange to get to other gardens. Tried a few things, none of which worked until we installed a motion detected sprinkler. Works a treat although poor postman had a few shocks when he tried to leave a parcel in the shed. I don't like cats and got fed up of the crap in the garden when my little one wanted to play.

@MrMucker

OP I get you. Spent so much money on bulbs for this spring, and "lasagne layered" them into beautiful pots, all of it dug up and cat crapped on. Same with vegetable patch. Fuming. As well as your chosen deterrent, try shovelling up some of the crap and putting it in a place where you think they ought to go instead (if there is one). If they live round your way, they will need to poo, so your strategy ought to be to divert them. They tend to poo where there turds already lie. You cannot stop them crapping. They are antisocial crap machines disguised as fluffy old lady comfort, and they kill lots of useful and valuable wildlife such as frogs, birds, baby rabbits, and and and... Really pisses me off too.

They should be crapping in their own gardens! I could go on full surveillance and follow them home and Chuck the crap there? I must admit when I've cleaned up the vomit I know it's next doors cat so I put the smelly bag in their bin, and tell them I've done it!

Sonic sound device thingy, sprinkle garlic powder about too or get your DP to pee everywhere as that deters them and foxes apparently

Water pistol, pepper ground onto the area where they poo, treacle on the top of the fence where they climb over, orange peel too. All work but you’ve got to be persistent. I love cats by the way, but not other people’s cats in the garden.

Sprinkler system? I used to aim a hose at any cat I spotted shitting in my garden. It's disgusting! I say that as a cat lover, former owner 😭. I thought that getting my own cat would sort that.....

I feel bad for my neighbours. I know mine goes into next door as she sends me photos. Her kids love her but I'm concerned she might go into others. I've seen her laid on 2 others patio furniture and I don't know how to stop it. One often lets a rabbit out on their garden, I'm scared she will hurt it. No idea what I can do about it though. If I keep her in she cries and wrecks the blinds.

@IFoundMyselfInThisBar

There lots of other cat hating threads on here, all end up in an argument, all have suggestions on things you can do to deter them. I’m sure you know that though.

🍿

Same old, same old

Every week

Well get the cat loons coming in to tell you it must be fox shit and the cats always bury theirs

Then we'll get the air gun, poison, kick up the arse lot

Then it descends into a bun fight with loads of deletions

These threads are amusing though to see the lengths cat owners go to to excuse their shitting monsters

As long as they don't start with the pics

Lion poo is supposed to be good for cats. You can order it online.

We got the sonic things for our garden, if that’s what they’re called. Basically high pitch frequency that humans can’t hear but keeps cats away.

Battery powered and seemed to work well as a deterrent.

Lots of subjects end in arguments. Not sure I see your point?

Let me explain then.

You asked for advice on keeping them out. I said there’s lots of other threads on here that give lots of advice on deterring them. Those threads always end up in an argument with awful things being said, there’s been suggestions of hurting/killing cats on other threads, just like there have been on this one already. If I was more suspicious, I’d be thinking that’s the type of thread you wanted. 🤔
It’s quite amusing watching the cat haters getting really worked up though, saying more and more extreme things. Then the cat lovers usually start posting cat photos just to wind the haters up. I’m currently recovering from an operation so at least it’ll keep me entertained I suppose.

🐈 🐱 🐾

Bloodypunkrockers

Ha ha, cross post. The cat haters are the ones I find amusing though. Some of them really lose it.

@IFoundMyselfInThisBar

Bloodypunkrockers

Ha ha, cross post. The cat haters are the ones I find amusing though. Some of them really lose it.

I love animals and owned number of cats. Grew up with cats. Love them little masters.

I hate, absolutely hate the shit in the garden they don't even bother to bury anymore. I absolutely hate that they just come here, shit and fuck off without so much as a cuddle. That I lost plants and even redcurrants to them.

People are not cat haters really. They cat shit and pee haters.

Admittedly this is new to me because when I was growing up with gardens we had no cat poo issue. 3 dogs do that. Sadly I can't have 3 dogs so only I am left with are brumbles, curry plant and moaning😂

When I first moved into my house 10 years there was a cat that used to constantly poo on my grass(mostly in the same spot). My two daughters were only 2 and 8 months and it wasn't safe. I got little gel like pellets and sprinkled them around the garden, I think they were peppermint and were specifically for deterring cats. It worked. My mil has bottles of water where her flowers are as she heard cats see their reflection in the bottle and get scared so run of.

I do her worked up over the poo, I'm very squeamish and a bit of a germaphobe it makes me gag

In all seriousness though OP, if you’re getting ‘worked up’ over poo and are a ‘germaphobe’ you should consider trying to get some help. I don’t think anyone really likes it but I don’t think it’s good if you’re getting so worked up about it. Clean it up, wash your hands. Do what you can to deter them. Ultimately, there’s not much you can do. There will most likely be lots of other animals using your garden to. We gets lots of wildlife where we are as well as a few cats. It is outside after all. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Btw lavender as deterrent doesn't work🙄
Planted it after reading about it and then saw a cat shitting next to it with her head in that lavender bush!🙄
Check which way are they coming in. We had to close off one gap by the gate and it made it more difficult for them now so they actually stopped for a bit!

Definitely cats in the bins I've caught them at it.

Do you not have a wheelie bin? How can a cat lift the lid of wheelie bin?

Back in the days before wheelie bins we used to have a massive problem with foxes getting into the bins so we had dustbins with clip on lids, like this

Back in the days before wheelie bins we used to have a massive problem with foxes getting into the bins so we had dustbins with clip on lids, like this

The foxes must have been hungry after the introduction of wheels bins here. I started leaving food out for them after that, as did some of my neighbours.

Wheelie

@Saywhatyoumeanandmeanwhatyousa

They hate citrus, so orange/lemon peel may help. Or throw water at them. I love cats 🐱 but I can understand your frustration

My cat chews my tangerine peels. She's had a go at a lemon too. Citrus doesn't bother her.

@RampantIvy

Definitely cats in the bins I've caught them at it.

Do you not have a wheelie bin? How can a cat lift the lid of wheelie bin?

Back in the days before wheelie bins we used to have a massive problem with foxes getting into the bins so we had dustbins with clip on lids, like this

It's if the bin is full and open slightly at the top. They somehow get in, I've seen them do it. The brick on the top helps.

@IFoundMyselfInThisBar

Lots of subjects end in arguments. Not sure I see your point?

Let me explain then.

You asked for advice on keeping them out. I said there’s lots of other threads on here that give lots of advice on deterring them. Those threads always end up in an argument with awful things being said, there’s been suggestions of hurting/killing cats on other threads, just like there have been on this one already. If I was more suspicious, I’d be thinking that’s the type of thread you wanted. 🤔
It’s quite amusing watching the cat haters getting really worked up though, saying more and more extreme things. Then the cat lovers usually start posting cat photos just to wind the haters up. I’m currently recovering from an operation so at least it’ll keep me entertained I suppose.

🐈 🐱 🐾

Genuinely never seen a post like that! No I'm not here to be goady at all just after a moan and a bit of advice

@IFoundMyselfInThisBar

I do her worked up over the poo, I'm very squeamish and a bit of a germaphobe it makes me gag

In all seriousness though OP, if you’re getting ‘worked up’ over poo and are a ‘germaphobe’ you should consider trying to get some help. I don’t think anyone really likes it but I don’t think it’s good if you’re getting so worked up about it. Clean it up, wash your hands. Do what you can to deter them. Ultimately, there’s not much you can do. There will most likely be lots of other animals using your garden to. We gets lots of wildlife where we are as well as a few cats. It is outside after all. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I pretty sure it's normal to feel sick picking up animal crap, or any crap for that matter bar my own DCs nappies etc. I'm literally doing what I can to deter them and also asking for further advice here.

Thank you to all those who advised.
I have a list as long as my arm of things to try. None of them involve any harm to the cats.