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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/11/2021 10:43

I would love that!

So would Harry!

Bloodypunkrockers · 09/11/2021 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 10:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Quotes deleted post

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/11/2021 10:46

@YetAnotherSpartacus

I would love that!

So would Harry!

The best part of working from home is getting to spend time feeding him shrimps! If only I could convince DH that it would be better if I was just at home, and not having to work!
TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 09/11/2021 10:53

I just wish they wouldn’t crap in my veg patch.
The foxes etc at least stick to the wooded area.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 11:17

I want to fill the rest of the thread up with cute pictures of my car but my phone never lets me

AIBU to find it utterly astounding that it's socially acceptable in England for pet cats to poop in other people's gardens??!
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 11:17

Whey! It's worked. And it's a cat not a car!

Xenia · 09/11/2021 11:23

1000 toothpicks. Your land. Do as you choose. We rarely get local cats in our garden but lots of squirrels, foxes (who don't often leave mess for some reason) and even muntjac deer. I am quite pleased cats do not seem to come in the garden as we have a lot of birds. I am not a cat or dog lover. I have more problems with the grass verge (which is very long) to the street as so many dog owners (1) break the law by trespassing on the private roads despite signs around here and (2) do not all pick up their dogs' mess. I collect buckets of it at times just from my grass verge beyond my hedge to the street.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/11/2021 11:24

What a gorgeous cat @AllThingsServeTheBeam! Here's mine (who most definitely doesn't crap in anyone else's garden!)

AIBU to find it utterly astounding that it's socially acceptable in England for pet cats to poop in other people's gardens??!
DicklessWonder · 09/11/2021 11:26

@Xenia

1000 toothpicks. Your land. Do as you choose. We rarely get local cats in our garden but lots of squirrels, foxes (who don't often leave mess for some reason) and even muntjac deer. I am quite pleased cats do not seem to come in the garden as we have a lot of birds. I am not a cat or dog lover. I have more problems with the grass verge (which is very long) to the street as so many dog owners (1) break the law by trespassing on the private roads despite signs around here and (2) do not all pick up their dogs' mess. I collect buckets of it at times just from my grass verge beyond my hedge to the street.
Back garden is very contained and appears to be cat proof, thank goodness. We have protected trees and a stream so no end of squirrels, birds, hedgehogs, frogs etc.
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 11:26

Awwh I love black and white cats! I have an all black one that is going a little brown in his old age and a huge ginger Tom too

AIBU to find it utterly astounding that it's socially acceptable in England for pet cats to poop in other people's gardens??!
YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/11/2021 11:29

All things - is that the Pink Panther?

DicklessWonder · 09/11/2021 11:30

@fizzzz

“ 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.

Yes. Very fussy not to want my child hospitalised due to her severe cat allergy. Presumably I should just be “cool” about other people’s pets shitting in her environment risking her health.

I don’t care if other people want cats. But I’m not risking my daughter’s health cleaning up after them for their feckless owners.

DrawsSword · 09/11/2021 11:35

This thread is hilarious! And the assumptions people seem inclined to jump to is interesting too. At no point did I say I was it furious, not enjoying my new house, my life is being negatively impacted etc. My house is lovely thank you and I'm looking forward to making my garden cat unfriendly with lots of lovely new plants. Challenge accepted. I'm grateful that my biggest non problem is cat poop. Life is good. My favourite leap is that I meant that domestic cats in my dh's country of origin return home to take a dump. I never said that. I said it wasn't socially acceptable for cats to poop in other peoples gardens. Domestic cats stay on their owners property and crap in a litter tray or their own gardens. I will concede that certain conditions in this country mean that cats cannot roam. But also, it's just not ok for them to shit in someone else's garden!!
Other point, it's not fox poop. Newsflash, not all cats bury their poop. And I'm actually glad of it, easier to spot.
I don't mind wild animal poop, they need all the help they can get. But I do not agree with other peoples pets crapping in my garden. If I lived somewhere with wild horses and they dumped on my garden id be ok with it. If my neighbour's domestic horse came and took a dump on my lawn I wouldn't be impressed. Cat owners tread this interesting tight rope of my pet cat is (legally) allowed to roam, they are wild, cannot be trained, what do you want me to do, I'm helpless, whilst also balancing what lovely attentive pets they are, I love them so much, they sleep in my bed etc. I find it a funny contrast. Is it a wild animal or not? A weird hybrid (and yes, I know in the eyes of law also).

Simply, I do not think pet cats should be allowed to roam. They should be in their own property. If your house is too small for this then don't have a cat. I wouldn't get a pet alpaca if I didn't have land for it to graze. I wouldn't get a dog if couldn't walk it twice a day and was out all day. I wouldn't get a pet duck if I couldn't provide it with a pond. But because of roaming, cats and their owners get away with it. One person that I saw did admit they don't care where their cat poops. Thanks for the refreshing honesty. Obviously lots of people disagree with you. Such as life.
People taking issue with using the word 'poop', saying things like 'move to your husband's country', grow up and contribute constructively.

Some serious points about the planet and how responsible is it for people to have pets. Interesting points for sure. My post was never intended to be that deep. But I agree with points raised. And yes polluting the seas and rivers is heartbreaking and that is something that upsets me. And yes of course dog shit in public areas is gross.

The unknown mystical country has not be named and I'll annoy some of you by not naming it Grin

Retiring my sword now and going back to my usual username. Thanks for the support all the anti cat POO in gardens people. Thanks for the sport you bunch of crazy cat lovers. May your socks always be damp and your cats puke on your beds.

OP posts:
TatianaBis · 09/11/2021 11:37

Simply, I do not think pet cats should be allowed to roam.

Good luck with that.

SueSaid · 09/11/2021 11:41

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

Well no, someone else is caring for them aren't they Confused. Or do you just open the front door and let your dc wander about other people's property pee'ing and crapping as they go??

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 11:43

You can think what you want op. But in this country the vast majority of people get cats because they are allowed to roam. No normal house has enough land for a cat to live a fulfilled life if they are used to and want to go out. End of story.

Mine are all rescues. I would never buy a cat but I will continue to rescue. I am under no illusion that my big ginger Tom actually needs me. He would be quite ok if humans ceased to exist tomorrow. But he does also love a cuddle and a fuss from me and the vast majority of my neighbours. He's a user and I honestly don't care.

DrawsSword · 09/11/2021 11:43

@TatianaBis

Simply, I do not think pet cats should be allowed to roam.

Good luck with that.

It's an opinion, not a legislative petition Hmm
OP posts:
tallduckandhandsome · 09/11/2021 11:43

But also, it's just not ok for them to shit in someone else's garden!!

Is is ok, because they do.

If it wasn’t ok, they wouldn’t be doing it would they?

You’re arguing against a fait accompli.

DrawsSword · 09/11/2021 11:47

@tallduckandhandsome

But also, it's just not ok for them to shit in someone else's garden!!

Is is ok, because they do.

If it wasn’t ok, they wouldn’t be doing it would they?

You’re arguing against a fait accompli.

No Handsome, it's not ok. But it is accepted
OP posts:
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 11:47

@JaniieJones

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

Well no, someone else is caring for them aren't they Confused. Or do you just open the front door and let your dc wander about other people's property pee'ing and crapping as they go??

Technically one of my cats leaves my house and goes to 1 of at least 5 other neighbours houses. I got sent a photo the other dinner time of him asleep on their bed. So he is probably being cared for most of the time
SueSaid · 09/11/2021 11:47

' Cat owners tread this interesting tight rope of my pet cat is (legally) allowed to roam, they are wild, cannot be trained, what do you want me to do, I'm helpless, whilst also balancing what lovely attentive pets they are, I love them so much, they sleep in my bed etc. I find it a funny contrast. Is it a wild animal or not?'

Yes, selective pet ownership! Cuddle little kitty when it's a pet but leave others to deal with their crap when it's a 'free roaming' wild animal 🙄.

twelly · 09/11/2021 11:49

Cats are free to roam and therefore they will - when they poo they do try and cover it. All the other animals which enter garden such squirrels and birds also poo - this is what animals do.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 09/11/2021 11:49

@JaniieJones

' Cat owners tread this interesting tight rope of my pet cat is (legally) allowed to roam, they are wild, cannot be trained, what do you want me to do, I'm helpless, whilst also balancing what lovely attentive pets they are, I love them so much, they sleep in my bed etc. I find it a funny contrast. Is it a wild animal or not?'

Yes, selective pet ownership! Cuddle little kitty when it's a pet but leave others to deal with their crap when it's a 'free roaming' wild animal 🙄.

Semi domesticated I think it's called. I don't think anyone has called them wild
SueSaid · 09/11/2021 11:52

'it's not ok. But it is accepted'

Yes tolerated and accepted because we have no choice in the matter but it is not ok. Lets hope the law changes to put an end to it and pet owners have to look after their own pets on their own property.

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