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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

999 replies

DrawsSword · 07/11/2021 11:49

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.

OP posts:
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10
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 07:35

@Dreamstate so you literally see every single shit? That is an impressive waste of your time. You watch them destroy your plants as well?! Wow so you literally watch them shit and destroy your plants. You don't move to tell them but you move quick enough for the smell not to penetrate your house? And all this from one single cat that you're 100% sure is that cat! Wow

EdenFlower · 09/11/2021 07:37

Cat's have no choice but to poo on patios if everyone in the area has paved gardens.

I have never seen a cat poo on the public pavement.

SueSaid · 09/11/2021 07:40

'It’s not uncommon in Australia for cats to have be confined to your property, see this council’s rules for cat ownership. Other councils may not have blanket rules but in new subdivisions you won’t be allowed to keep them free roaming. '

Well there's hope for us then isn't there. It is an anti social issue and the more we complain and moan, contact our LAs and MPs the more chance there is for legislation in the future for pet owners to have to look after their pets and keep them at their own property.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 07:47

@JaniieJones

'It’s not uncommon in Australia for cats to have be confined to your property, see this council’s rules for cat ownership. Other councils may not have blanket rules but in new subdivisions you won’t be allowed to keep them free roaming. '

Well there's hope for us then isn't there. It is an anti social issue and the more we complain and moan, contact our LAs and MPs the more chance there is for legislation in the future for pet owners to have to look after their pets and keep them at their own property.

I look after my pets thanks 😊
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/11/2021 07:50

We've cat proofed the garden so he can't get out but I'm sure if some of the posters on here were my neighbours they'd moan about being able to see the netting!

Personally cat shit in the garden worries me less than the yapping dogs around here. Cat shit can be cleared up, there's not a lot you can do about whiny yapping little bastards!

SueSaid · 09/11/2021 07:54

'I look after my pets thanks'

How can you be looking after it when it's out all day? Also as I said 'and keep at their own property'. We've heard they do it in the US and Aus, maybe for the cats safety in extreme weather but who cares. The point is it is possible to legislate against free roaming annoying domestic pets.

Mercurial123 · 09/11/2021 07:57

The point is it is possible to legislate against free roaming annoying domestic pets.

I wouldn't hold your breath it's going to happen in England. In the meantime just keep getting even more angry (if that's possible).

Sunshinegirl82 · 09/11/2021 07:57

@JaniieJones

'I look after my pets thanks'

How can you be looking after it when it's out all day? Also as I said 'and keep at their own property'. We've heard they do it in the US and Aus, maybe for the cats safety in extreme weather but who cares. The point is it is possible to legislate against free roaming annoying domestic pets.

Ah yes, but they haven't done so in the U.K. It annoys you, fine. Reality is that no one gets an annoyance free life. I find lots of things annoying, but they are legal and other people enjoy them so c'est la vie!

If you feel strongly about it then start a petition, write to your MP, see how you go!

bizboz · 09/11/2021 07:59

In Australia and the US, keeping cars inside is largely for their own safety against predators that don't exist in the UK. Keeping them indoors can also create behaviour issues from cats who are confined to a small space all day (each a few episodes of My Cat from Hell - the problem is almost always that the cats are bored and not getting enough exercise).

Darker · 09/11/2021 08:03

Surely tonnes of cat litter is also a problem…

Sidehustle99 · 09/11/2021 08:08

In England we have these things called cat flaps. They are designed to let our overlords come in and out of our properties whenever they want.

The majority of cats here are not indoor cats. That's usually only expensive breeds/rare breeds.

You can not tell others what to do with their cat here unless there is clear neglect. Just do something about you garden. RSPCA do not class a cat being outdoors as neglect.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 08:18

@JaniieJones

'I look after my pets thanks'

How can you be looking after it when it's out all day? Also as I said 'and keep at their own property'. We've heard they do it in the US and Aus, maybe for the cats safety in extreme weather but who cares. The point is it is possible to legislate against free roaming annoying domestic pets.

Who feeds them? Takes them to the vets? Ensures they're healthy and has somewhere to sleep and stay in if they want? I have 3 cats. Only 1 roams all day and if the weather is shit he doesn't even go out. So yeah. I look after my pets. I look after my kids too but they aren't with me 100% of the time.
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 08:19

@Darker

Surely tonnes of cat litter is also a problem…
I use recycled paper litter. It's brilliant stuff.
DicklessWonder · 09/11/2021 08:19

Cameras showed that our front garden was not being covered in fox/hedgehog/giraffe shit, but that of 4 neighbourhood cats, none of whom bury it. Planted around 1000 wooden toothpicks and scattered orange peel over the beds and they’ve fucked off somewhere else.

I find it utterly disgusting that a household where 2 members are seriously allergic to cats is expected to just deal with the crap of others.

fizzzz · 09/11/2021 08:48

Janiie You are totally missing the point. The reason pets are confined to your property in some regions of Australia or the US is for their own protection from predators.

When we go to visit relatives in New Mexico, they have anti-coyote wire around their wall. This is to protect their dogs, not cats, but same principle if they had cats. But also, people have much larger gardens, on average. Plus pets don’t tend to want to go out so much when it’s that hot.

They certainly didn’t introduce these laws because of whinging neighbours such as you and that other poster who seems to spend her life lying on her sofa watching a new breed of monster cat that poos on her patio (yeah right) and somehow manages to wreck all her plants.

Bloodypunkrockers · 09/11/2021 08:49

@headintheproverbial

If there is noticeable poo it's more likely to belong to a fox. They shit everyone. Cat poo is tiny and is usually completely buried.

Anyway - the vast majority of cat owners I know (including us) have a litter tray so I just think you are completely wrong on that part.

Every fucking time

Fox shit
Cats bury

Every thread this shite gets trotted out. It's not true.

SueSaid · 09/11/2021 08:59

'They certainly didn’t introduce these laws because of whinging neighbours such as you and that other poster who seems to spend her life lying on her sofa'

'Whinging neighbours' Grin. Yes how very dare we 'whinge' about feckless folk's pets in our gardens. Tbf I don't lie on the sofa watching cats I chase them if I cba.

Hmm I get the point Aus rules are because of predators (weird they'd need legislation isn't it? you'd think responsible owners would know this shit), however in this country we could have legislation because of other reasons, no? Such as the property owners choice to not have other's pets damaging our property.

Billandben444 · 09/11/2021 09:03

Did the wooden toothpicks sprout?

Sidehustle99 · 09/11/2021 09:11

@DicklessWonder

Cameras showed that our front garden was not being covered in fox/hedgehog/giraffe shit, but that of 4 neighbourhood cats, none of whom bury it. Planted around 1000 wooden toothpicks and scattered orange peel over the beds and they’ve fucked off somewhere else.

I find it utterly disgusting that a household where 2 members are seriously allergic to cats is expected to just deal with the crap of others.

Wow @DicklessWonder that's a hobby 👏🏼
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 09/11/2021 09:45

Wow @DicklessWonder that's a hobby 👏🏼

I know, how very dare she want a cat shit free garden…

fizzzz · 09/11/2021 10:01

“ Planted around 1000 wooden toothpicks”

This takes British suburbia to a whole new level. Congrats.

Anyone else having throwbacks to Mr Fussy from The Mr Men? He used to straighten the grass on his front lawn.

fizzzz · 09/11/2021 10:05

This reply has been deleted

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WhateverIdo · 09/11/2021 10:08

Ive tried to sit down and discuss it with the cat but to do be honest she views me with such disdain, she does not give a crap about my opinions.

She has a fresh litter box... She rarely uses it, she allowed out 8 til 4 and then in overnight.

As has been said exposed poo is likely a fox. This cat goes to great pains to make sure it's buried just right.... At least ten. Minutes or rearranging the litter tray.

🤷 It's a cat. Different societal norms.

Lady08 · 09/11/2021 10:26

@JaniieJones

'I look after my pets thanks'

How can you be looking after it when it's out all day? Also as I said 'and keep at their own property'. We've heard they do it in the US and Aus, maybe for the cats safety in extreme weather but who cares. The point is it is possible to legislate against free roaming annoying domestic pets.

😂 Does that mean we don’t care for our children because they’re at school all day?

Are you insinuating cats need to be cared for all day? As in a SAHCM = Stay at home cat mum 😂

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/11/2021 10:40

Are you insinuating cats need to be cared for all day? As in a SAHCM = Stay at home cat mum 😂

I would love that!