It’s not that I don’t like cats… But, they’re destroying my garden

[GunnyGirl]

Is it unfair to think a pet owner should be more considerate for other people’s property? If their cat is destroying the next door neighbors lawn and garden on a daily basis?
I spend more money on trying to humanly deter these cats that are constantly killing my plants and flowers, eating them, urinating on or near them. Im constantly sifting and often re-soiling the area to remove its cat liter, (poop) the smell it leaves behind, and intensifies each time I water, which is 5-7 times a week, more so in this hot weather. The cats knock my solar lights over and have broken a few. I’m constantly redoing, fixing, or cleaning up after, and replanting flowers or plants, (which I buy the “year around” kind, to avoid the hassle in replanting them. But, because these cats are left unattended to do whatever they choose, I either keep replacing and cleaning up after them, or I could just leave my front yard looking like a sh*t hole and dump for the neighbors cats. Am I being unreasonable? I do not understand why I’m the bad guy here. All I want is my front yard to look nice and not smell of cat urine. But it’s impossible because my neighbors cats need to roam freely and do whatever they want, wherever they want, and however they want... This is absurd! Everybody has rules to follow. How is this any different? Most animals, if not all animals or pets have outdoor instincts and wild nature instincts. But we as humans decide to have them as pets and domesticate them, contain them and train them. Cats aren’t any different than any other pet. It’s all in how we handle them, or what we decide to allow. Moreover, pets are less safe in the open environment, where they can be hurt or become infected with diseases, or fleas and then track it back into the home. Pet owners have a responsibility to care for their pets. Keep them safe and civilized. That’s how I see it. Excuse me for expecting too much. Sunny California, US

Use deterrent most cats will be deterred by a thin rustling plastic bag on a stick if your in an area with breeze

Coco shell mulch is another one they hate it on there paws

You can get smelly deterrent too also there are plants cats don't like which look pretty

It would be polite to respond to posters who've already responded to your thread on the Gardening board before starting a duplicate thread...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/4312613-Neighbors-cat-keeps-ruining-my-garden?pg=1

Ah I see you've set up another post but in this one you've omitted that you only give your dog one room in the house as you don't like hair and odour

Thanks I’ll consider these options.

Really appreciate it!

Everyone in the house gets one room. Do you think a dog should have two?

@GunnyGirl

Everyone in the house gets one room. Do you think a dog should have two?

Eh? I am confused by your house set up.

Does one of you live in the kitchen, someone else in the bathroom or living room. Do you have to ring each other to talk or do you just shout from your allocated room? Do you have bed pans and cooking equipment in each room?

Or do you not actually stay in one room?

If you're in the US wouldn't you be better off asking somewhere else? Most people here are in the UK where cats have a right to roam.

I'd stop sifting beds and adding more soil though. That's a guaranteed way to encourage cats.

OP the USA has a totally different legal approach to cats to the UK.
This is mainly a UK site, you aren't going to get helpful answers here.

We used orange peel to deter cats.
Little twiggy sticks in the soil also help.
Basically don't leave any surface that looks like a nice clean litter tray.

Cats in the UK can roam where they want.

You need to look up your state laws and by-laws.

A civilised cat. :o

Don't use coco shell mulch in America it contains highly toxic substance that poisens dogs and cats

Plant different stuff in your yard. Ground cover, plants that spread. Cats poop in freshly turned soil. So every time you’re sifting and adding fresh soil and digging you’re making it more attractive to them.

Ground cover spreading perennial plants. Spiky plants, if you like.

It’s your gardening style that’s encouraging them.

I suspect that your poor dog is inviting other animals in to wreck your garden, for revenge.

My cat has places to use the toilet in my own garden, he chooses not to. He used it foot a year and now he poos elsewhere (other garden I suppose) You can’t train a cat to stop toileting elsewhere

*Used it for a year

Op, I get where you are coming from.

I get fed up of having to go pick up cat shit from the bedding plants every morning. Not even my cats. A house at the back of me, has 4. But rarely let's them in. So they sleep on my patio furniture, leaving hair everywhere.

They also whine at their owners back door all the time. And then shit in the garden.

I do think it's ridiculous that people buy pets and other people are impacted by it.

But, its one of those things. I am glad the cats have somewhere warm and sheltered to sleep, especially in winter.

Personally I find ground cloves sprinkled all around the bedding plants works well. I do it round the boundary of the garden. Leaving my patio and it's furniture. They no longer crap in the garden. Don't know anything over etc.

I don't have cats but I'm so jealous of all the cats who come to sleep/play in NDN's house. Is it because I'm in an end terrace and the garden is blocked in with brick walls and fencing?

OP you are right, their pet should not be your problem.
Can you not sue them? Or shoot it? (That's meant as a joke for those who are easily offended, these appearing to the rest of the world as the American solution to most problems)

I hear you OP.
It's one thing them crapping in my front garden (the deterrents don't work in my experience, tried the powders, the plastic spikes (it just left a nice present on top of those)), but our neighbours cat has now taken to just doing its business in the middle of our back lawn. 4yo DS came in again the other day covered in it, trailing it all through the house...
It's bloody disgusting.

Are they feral or neighbour's cats?

But… But… the world has wild animals in it! Round here (country village, edge of London) wild deer frequently damage gardens and rabbits poo everywhere. Birds crap on the car. Etc. Yes cats poo, and it’s very annoying, but they’re basically a wild animal kept as a pet, one of many wild animals doing something annoying. Ants are burrowing through my front step cement.

Get over it. Your garden is part of the natural world not separate from it.

Yanbu.

I find cat owners want it both ways.

'Bastard neighbours are claiming my cat is theirs and feeding it, but it's my cat, I bought it and feed it and pay the vets Bill's and its registered to me, no one else should touch it, what should I do'

'Cats are free to roam, they are the same as wild animals like foxes who also shit in your garden so get over it'

If they should be treated as other animals like foxes and badgers who also shit and destroy things in my garden then maybe you shouldn't be 'owning' one

Yanbu. Cat owners want it both ways but it doesn't work like that.

I've found those sonar deterrents work a treat set at the right level. If you have proof of which cat it is then I'd be asking that neighbour to cover the cost.

That's a criminal's answer to most problem's, not everyone's.