AIBU to find it utterly astounding that it's socially acceptable in England for pet cats to poop in other people's gardens??!

[DrawsSword]

I honestly cannot get my head round this. We've moved into a new house and the garden is full of cat shit. Not a single cat owner I know has a little tray for their cat to use. Where do cat owners think their cats poop? Do you honestly not care that it's in other peoples gardens?
My dh is from in a country where this is not socially acceptable and cat owners have litter trays and the cats bloody use them.

I got fed up with filthy cats shitting all over the place. Then i got a dog who helpfully chases all the cats out of my garden. I've only had him a month but he's doing a marvellous job. Yes i have to pick up his crap but at least he's my animal.

It's not the reason i got a dog, but it's a bloody brilliant side effect.

It’s the difference between your own toddler peeing on your carpet and somebody else’s really.

YABU humans are doing far more damage to the planet. Cat (and dog shit) in gardens won't matter when global warming kicks in will it?

To be honest it's never occurred to me to be bothered but maybe that's because I live in the countryside and there's all manner of nasties in my back garden! My dog regularly rolls in fox poop...now THAT stinks! I have a cat, she has a litter tray and is well-trained to use it but I couldn't possibly say for sure she doesn't go to the toilet in other people's garden as she does go outside. I wouldn't keep her inside just I'm case, seems a bit cruel to me as she was already an outdoor cat when we got her from the shelter.

@TattySlippers it's nothing to do with 'not being arsed to be a responsible owner.' That's a very simplistic view. Some people work. Some people aren't physically able to walk a dog everyday but still want the company and companionship that animals can bring. This idea people seem to have about cat owners booting their cats out and not caring what happens to them is ridiculous. My cat has had a very loving, happy life that has included a lot of time outdoors but also a lot of time being fussed and cuddled indoors too.

Still waiting to hear just how you can logistically be responsible for every action of a free roaming animal and of course where all of the domestic cats in the country would end up if people suddenly stopped having them in their homes?

And the cats use them

@TattySlippers if people didn't own cats then who would be paying to neuter them 😂😂😂

Or are you another poster who thinks they should go extinct just to avoid any inconvenience to you? I'm sorry to have to tell you but you're just not that important.

I got fed up with filthy cats shitting all over the place.

Cats are not filthy, they’re very fastidious creatures, actually. If only they had opposable thumbs, they’d be bagging up their own shit and throwing it away. Thwarted by nature

Cat (and dog shit) in gardens won't matter when global warming kicks in will it?

You'll still be pissed off if you step in it though.

You know there's big problems, and little problems right? It's ok to be annoyed at things that are smaller than the planet slowly dying, you know that don't you?

Cats are not filthy, they’re very fastidious creatures, actually.

Their shit isn't particularly clean. Especially when it's on my vegetable patch.

You are not being unreasonable at all. I regularly chase cats away from my garden. They are always shitting in the veggie beds and flower beds. The number of cloves I've thrown away because of cat shit... And no, it shouldn't be my job to clean after other people's cats! Or cat proof my garden - I do not have a cat. I think it's disappointing how many people think that this is acceptable. And let's not even mention the wildlife that gets hunted/toyed with by cats... I might get a dog and send that one to shit in other people gardens...

Still waiting to hear just how you can logistically be responsible for every action of a free roaming animal and of course where all of the domestic cats in the country would end up if people suddenly stopped having them in their homes

Again… neuter your fecking cat! Then they can’t reproduce. How many times does someone have to say it? 🤦🏻‍♂️

I've got visions of trying to follow my cat through my neighbours' gardens (I imagine I'd pole vault the 6ft fences - seems the only logical choice) with a pooper scoop and some nappy sacks.

Write to your MP if you feel strongly about it OP. I'm sure with covid and climate change in the picture introducing entirely unenforceable laws about the location of cat shit will be high on the agenda.

@SkyBlueCloudyLakes

You are not being unreasonable at all. I regularly chase cats away from my garden. They are always shitting in the veggie beds and flower beds. The number of cloves I've thrown away because of cat shit... And no, it shouldn't be my job to clean after other people's cats! Or cat proof my garden - I do not have a cat. I think it's disappointing how many people think that this is acceptable. And let's not even mention the wildlife that gets hunted/toyed with by cats... I might get a dog and send that one to shit in other people gardens...

Where do you suggest cats shit then? It’s not because they think it’s acceptable, it’s called co-existing. Just because you own a cat, it doesn’t mean you can control where they shit, all cat owners I know have litter trays but if the cat is roaming, they aren’t going to be thinking ‘Oh I’ll just pop home to have a shit,’ they’ll do what we do and find the nearest toilet, why should they be any different.

Sorry but I think YABU...cats are free to roam...they don't understand that gardens are private...we made them pets...it's not their fault...my cats have a litter tray but still want to go outside.

I have two feral cats that live outside with the sole purpose of killing rats. Keeping them inside wouldn't really work 😂

@TattySlippers

Still waiting to hear just how you can logistically be responsible for every action of a free roaming animal and of course where all of the domestic cats in the country would end up if people suddenly stopped having them in their homes

Again… neuter your fecking cat! Then they can’t reproduce. How many times does someone have to say it? 🤦🏻‍♂️

I've had 5 cats. Currently have 3. Never has any one of them stepped outside with their sexual organs. No one is ever going to stop people breeding cats just as people will always breed dogs.

And that is not answering the question. What about the ones that already exist?

@TattySlippers

Still waiting to hear just how you can logistically be responsible for every action of a free roaming animal and of course where all of the domestic cats in the country would end up if people suddenly stopped having them in their homes

Again… neuter your fecking cat! Then they can’t reproduce. How many times does someone have to say it? 🤦🏻‍♂️

What’s neutering got to do with them having a poo? Cats don’t suddenly disappear when you neuter them. They can live for up to twenty years

If we all gave up our cats right now, where will they all go?
Do you think all humans should be sterilised too? Seeing as we pollute seas and rivers with our waste, or is it only because cats are an inconvenience to you that you want them all to be neutered? What about the animals you are affecting

Just to be clear cats are not a nuisance to me. I own dogs. No cat would have a chance to shit in my garden.

What the govt choose to do about my waste is down to the govt. would I choose to have a sea full of human waste? No of course not! I fear for our sealife. That doesn’t detract from people deciding to get a pet cat - that they don’t have to be responsible for - and thinking it’s acceptable for their “free roaming” pet to be a nuisance to everyone else, but them.

If I don’t flush my waste down the toilet what would you suggest I do with it? Your cat - should be your problem. You chose to get it. I pick up after my dogs - every time. I put their waste into a bin. What else would you suggest I do with it? At least I don’t expect my neighbours to deal with the shit from the animals I chose to have.

So, that piece of land is yours !!!??? Really? You bought it from another human. He really owned it before you did??

Well, the cat too bought the same piece of land from another cat. Go figure!

People who think like you are the biggest problem the earth has.

WE FCUKKNG HUMANS DONT OWN THE EARTH. The cat owns it as much as you do.

Well that is the million dollar question: I don't blame cats for not popping back home to have shit. They are animals after all (even if they don't belong to British nature). And yes, if one owns a cat and it is not a house cat (or one doesn't live very rural) in some point along the line the owner must have decided it is other people's job to clean after their cat.

@TattySlippers

*If we all gave up our cats right now, where will they all go? Do you think all humans should be sterilised too? Seeing as we pollute seas and rivers with our waste, or is it only because cats are an inconvenience to you that you want them all to be neutered? What about the animals you are affecting*

Just to be clear cats are not a nuisance to me. I own dogs. No cat would have a chance to shit in my garden.

What the govt choose to do about my waste is down to the govt. would I choose to have a sea full of human waste? No of course not! I fear for our sealife. That doesn’t detract from people deciding to get a pet cat - that they don’t have to be responsible for - and thinking it’s acceptable for their “free roaming” pet to be a nuisance to everyone else, but them.

If I don’t flush my waste down the toilet what would you suggest I do with it? Your cat - should be your problem. You chose to get it. I pick up after my dogs - every time. I put their waste into a bin. What else would you suggest I do with it? At least I don’t expect my neighbours to deal with the shit from the animals I chose to have.

If they’re not a nuisance to you and don’t poo in your garden, why are you so concerned? Your dog is still shitting and peeing in a public place, which is an inconvenience for others, even if you clean it up, you’re not anymore superior and you are still contributing to waste in terms of pollution (dog shit!) The fact is every species defecates, you can’t control where every animal does or doesn’t shit! Ok, so you pollute the waters. Cats defecate in litter trays/gardens. You’re not any better. Are you suggesting I follow my cats around all day to make sure they don’t poo I’m other peoples gardens?

@TattySlippers Dog shit is also a bigger problem where I am than cat shit, as many don’t clean it up, or leave traces on the path, maybe you should keep your dogs at home and make sure they only pee and poo in your garden, rather than subjecting the general public to your dogs waste and urine.

Most dog owners seem to use plastic bags to clear up their dog shit, on balance I imagine all that single use plastic is worse for the environment than cat shit in gardens.

NRFT but i can say without a shadow of a doubt that fox and og poo on pavements and in my garden and on my drive is a much worse problem, than anything a cat produces