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!

I think people should catproof their fences so cats stay in the owner's gardens. Plenty of space still, and no need for the rest of us to deal with the fallout of their teritorry wars and digestive issues.... I get to clean cat mess with no benefit the owner gets like cuddles or fun. 😔

Neighbours get it worse than owners. If cats are fighting over your garden as territory, that's when they start leave poo about and generally be obnoxious.
Our first house was like this we were not pet owner at the time with young children. Problem was we were about only house down the entire street without dogs or cats or both so it was constant.

Water scarecrow is best but at the time there was no outdoor tap so wasn't great solution for that house, but these were the cheapest granules found worked garlic smelled, or the citrus gel though found that got expensive for our whole back garden - also found citrus infused red plastic rods in favoured flower beds helped.

Anyone encouraging cruelty really should be banned.

CharlotteWeb

Havent RTFT, but have you looked at those cat deterrent fence-toppers. They're roller bars that prevent the cat from being able to climb over your fence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HGmYWjhXoo&t=3s

Thanks for that, Charlotte: much less ugly than what we were looking at to keep our cats in our garden.

@Icenii

Anyone encouraging cruelty really should be banned.

One person jokingly said get a shot gun, I've not seen anyone suggesting cruelty

@Icenii

Anyone encouraging cruelty really should be banned.

I quite agree with that. As annoying as cat poop is nails in the fence are a different level

The poster wasn't suggesting that she said her neighbours had done it! It was sarcasm

Move to a flat.

@bulliedbycats

The poster wasn't suggesting that she said her neighbours had done it! It was sarcasm

I know. Still apparently not ok

dworky

Move to a flat.“

I love cats dworky but that’s just a silly answer. If your next door neighbour regularly pooped in your garden, would you just move?

Orange peel doesn't work here.
I ended up with orange polka dots all over my garden. And the cats still came. There's 5 that use my garden.

My dc's went through a period of having a lot of freshly squeezed juice for breakfast.

@DenisetheMenace

dworky

Move to a flat.“

I love cats dworky but that’s just a silly answer. If your next door neighbour regularly pooped in your garden, would you just move?

😂😂

Orange peel doesn't work here

Apparently there's a section of cat population that don't care about cirus smell - though we found boiling many peels up then spraying around more effecting than leaving peel around garden.

You could try the garlic granules-I posted link to above though spraying with water is still the most effective method - or try the sonic deterrents- though I didn't find them very good with cats we were trying to deter.

Orange blossom seems to work here. Had it in some granules. Peel did nothing🙄
As per garlic. I grow it. They don't mind garlic whatsoever. Just used toprance through it, sometimes sat there and pondered about life or where to shit next

It's shocking! Cat owners should make their gardens cat proof so the cats can't get out! or keep the bloody things indoors! I have a small garden.. Large fence around all sides... No pet cats in household! and my toddler playing in my back garden was still was able to eat cat shit!

So does that mean you'd be ok with all us "cat haters" collecting up the crap and depositing it in your garden? Why do you find it so amusing?

I laughed as cats do what the fuck they want. 🤷🏻‍♀️Not sure why that means you want to come and put it in my garden. 🤪 I think my dogs would make sure you left pretty quickly if you wanted to give it a try though. 🙃

Yanbu. Cats are a pest which sadly owners don't see. My neighbour this morning chased a cat off our front garden as worried the poo hurt my dd. Cats do not Bury poo despite what mumsnet think. Cats are antisocial and not nice for your neighbour..puts hard hat on. Dont care. Poor dh had cat poo (not fox which is totally different) all over him last time he did the garden.

my toddler playing in my back garden was still was able to eat cat shit!

We have lots of land and animals. We always had a smaller bit of garden fenced off for the kids to play in near the house which we always checked for poo before the kids played out when they were little. Even if it’s not cats, then foxes or other wildlife could have left poo, always best to check if you have young kids to stop incidents like the one you describe.

@IFoundMyselfInThisBar

You're determined to prove that we are all just overreacting aren't you?

We have no foxes around. I have no pets like that. I shouldn't have to keep checking garden for poop😫 It's not even good poop which would feed the plants.
If the gardens were at leats bigger in uk you could direct them towards one corner or something, but god. Last time I missed some, the sun hit it🤢 The smell when you passed 🙄

Honestly. As much as I like animals and cats and dogs, it's just not ok to expect people to be ok with it.

You're determined to prove that we are all just overreacting aren't you?

I agree it’s not pleasant but unless you have OCD type issues, then it’s not difficult to pick up poo, dispose of it and wash hands.
Try the deterrents, but I do think you won’t stop a determined cat unfortunately. It’s sensible to check an area where a child plays. As annoying as it is, the situation of cats pooing in gardens is unlikely to change. And other animals live outside, you can’t have a sterile garden.

I agree that if you've a cat they're the boss.

You seem to lack empathy for posters who are finding this a problem and want a solution that won't hurt the cat.

Cat fencing doesn't need to be expensive
I keep mine in my garden with angled fencing as cats can't climb if tipped slightly backwards. Made mine from brackets and chicken wire. You could try that to keep them out?
I don't want mine pooing in neighbours garden. One side has young children, one side keen gardeners. Same as I don't want people to have to deal with my dog's poo.