To water pistol a cat

[Oregano20]

Moved in to a new house a few months ago. Neighbours seem friendly but they're never in their garden so haven't really spoken to them much and I don't want to ask her this incase iabu and it's dead awkward. But Neighbours cat keeps shitting in our garden.
This sucks because

1. I have to be extra vigilant for my crawling DS
2. The cat shits in the borders and digs up my plants.

I tried cayenne pepper. DP wants to get a water pistol. Google says it is effective.

If it was your cat would I piss you off if you saw me give your cat a cheeky wee squirt?

If my cat was shitting in someone else’s garden, and they shot him with a water pistol, I wouldn't mind - as long as it wasn’t powerful enough to hurt him.

I have a cat and no it wouldn't bother me.

Urgh, do it. I despise cats for this reason. Won't actually hurt them. I would probably try and have a conversation with the neighbour first though

I would tell my neighbours to water pistol my cat if they didn’t want it in their garden.

It’s a harmless but effective measure.

No, i wouldn't mind, Id suggest it if my neighbours ever complained about my cats.

It wouldn’t bother me

I have one of those detector things attached to a hose pipe, plus CCTV so I can tell you it is effective. We have not had cats in our garden now for weeks. One tried to venture back in recently but was thwarted. The noise is enough to scare them off but the soaking helps.

Loads of videos on YouTube showing them in action plus I don't have to lie in wait with a water pistol. Cats used to come into our garden at night, not any more.

I have three cats. We have cat-proofed (mostly successfully) the garden so the cats only shit in our garden but back when they were free-roaming I would have been absolutely fine with a neighbour spraying them with water to deter them.

Okay great. I didn't know if people who be really offended. I'd probably get a really cheapo and not get them wet really, just a few quick zaps. (I actually do love cats just not like this).

I've lived here for 4 months and I think she's been in her garden same time as me maybe 3 times. So I'd really have to go out of my way to speak to her and say do you mind me squirting your cat and that's so awkward to me.

Not sure how far a water pistol shoots. But a washing up bottle works quite well as a make shift water pistol.

Have you tried cd discs on a bit of string hanging about the garden?

My parents used to have a cat. I came home from uni one weekend and dumped my stuff in my old bedroom (back of house) and found a super soaker on the windowsill. When I asked what it was doing there, it seemed the pet cat was getting a bit elderly and struggling with defending her territory, other cats coming into our garden stressed her out.

The vet has suggested squirting other cats with a water pistol if you saw them. My dad had bought the fanciest water gun in the toy shop and had taken to hiding upstairs like a northern, middle aged Vasily Zaytsev and taking the poor moggies out.

So what I'm saying is yes, this is common advice to get cats out of your garden- but there is no way to do this without looking fucking mental.

I have actively encouraged my neighbours to spray my cat with their hose if she goes near their beautiful borders. It’s water, the cat will be fine.

I absolutely wouldn’t mind if you water pistollled my cat. I’ve done the same! Effective and harmless.

Sorry that made me laugh, I’ve a visions of a man wearing full camo in his upstairs window with a super soaker!!! Suburban Rambo.

Helichrysum italicum
They seem to really not like it.

I used to have a cat and did it to stop him climbing on worktops

It wouldn't have bothered me off a neighbour did it to him.

I wouldn’t mind as long as it wouldn’t hurt.

However, it won’t work long term, not if you’re right next door.

I’ve three cats, done this to a couple of other cats that kept coming in the garden and causing trouble. It will be a temporary pause, won’t work long term. Also if that cat gives it up as it’s territory, another one will just move in!

DO IT

It won't harm it but might make it think twice. Those plant misters set to jet also work a treat. I wouldn't bother even mentioning it to the owner either, what's the point? What if they huff about it and say they don't want you to? Some people are reasonable, some aren't.

I'm so relieved my cat uses her litter tray for its intended purpose and my neighbours don't have this hassle. If my cat did do this I wouldn't object to anyone squirting her with water. Actually even if she wasn't pooing, they're entitled to move her on if they don't want her there.

Hose it - it'll do the trick. Cats are cheeky fuckers and any less and it'll just come back

I'm a cat lover by the way 😊

I didn't mean directly at the cat btw 😳 just enough to scare it off

I have a cat and I’d be fine with this. As it is mine has become a right lazy bastard and rarely leaves our house or garden, but if he was bothering the neighbours gardens I’d be okay with it.

I don't have cats but I was wondering, would a bucket of lukewarm water be more effective more quickly and not harm the cat? Could any cat owners please enlighten me?

As long as its not a massive super soaker

Cat lover here.knock yourself out! I love my doggy who refuses to be a house cat and I actively encourage the neighbours to zap her with a super soaker if she tries to shit in their garden.

I have a cat who I treat like a princess and I would be absolutely fine with his.

Water pistol won’t hurt them (unless is a water cannon😂).