Discouraging cat from pooping in garden

[DoleWhipFloat]

Not a huge problem…

I live in an area with a number of kitties.

I like cats, but for some reason, they all love to poop on my lawn.

I’ve tolerated it for some time. But I love my garden and try to take care of it. Most of the neighbours have paving slabs, which is why I think my garden is so popular with other peoples furry friends.

Anyway, I had enough of picking up cat poop, so I tried some pellets; spices; citrus fruit peels to no avail. Then I tried fake cats and sonar devices, but no luck.

I’m not at home to chase them away or spritz them with water, so today I tried something a bit new.

I bought a huge yellow net. I mowed the lawn. Placed a pole in the middle of the grass to hold the net up in the centre and then stretched the net across my lawn, pegging it down at the sides. My thinking is the cats can’t get on the lawn, due to the net.

Ok, the garden doesn’t look great, it’s giving me circus vibes but, I hope that the cats will get used to NOT using my lawn and then I can take it down.

Also to note, I don’t get other wildlife coming into the garden. No hedgehogs or squirrels ever seen etc.

Friend pops over today. Says that I’m just passing the problem on to someone else and it’s ridiculous. She has cats and would hate for her neighbours to do what I’ve done.

Aibu?

Yes - take the net down, it’s ridiculous
No - leave it up, it’s a great idea

So, your friend would hate if her neighbours tried to keep her cats from shitting in their garden? And it's just you "passing the problem" (the "problem" she created; her words) to someone else?

I'm not sure I'd be bothered with this person's opinion. Do what works for you; you aren't hurting the cats so I'm not sure what the issue is.

Try coffee grinds - good for plants and cats hate the smell.

I don’t think it’ll work tbh, as soon as you take it up there’ll be cats.

But there’s no reason not to try it and your friend’s reaction is pretty odd.

In fairness to my friend, I don’t think she’s saying it’s wrong because she likes her cats pooping elsewhere. Friend’s cats always poop in her garden and then just like to roam.

I think she’s just more community minded. So making the point that if cats don’t poop on my lawn, they’ll find somewhere else and that could be a child’s sandpit or a home where an elderly person lives. And that the net itself is a hazard for the cats.

I can understand what she’s saying, but at the same time, I really can’t keep picking up poop like I am. It’s around 2 a day…but I’ve had days where there has been 6 poops!

UPDATE

It’s working. Half a week in and no cat poop at all!

Neighbours cat sat on the roof of my car staring me down 😂 but then wandered off in disgust.

I have not had to pick up poop in 4 days! My lawn is recovering and my plants are coming into leaf.

I’m going to soon switch to a more discreet green net and I intend to continue to net my lawn until July, when I get out my deck chairs and have the days off. Hopefully by then, the cats will realise that my garden is a no go for them. No idea where they are relieving themselves now, but hopefully it’s their litter trays!

My neighbours all have dogs. My cat only poos in my garden! Perhaps you need a dog!

Sorry no actual help, my cat will poo on the lawn over a litter tray. I can't make her do what I want.

@robocracker

My neighbours all have dogs. My cat only poos in my garden! Perhaps you need a dog!

Sorry no actual help, my cat will poo on the lawn over a litter tray. I can't make her do what I want.

I don’t do well with pets to be honest. I can’t stand the fur and picking up after them. A dog would be the last thing I’d want 😂

But the net is working well and once I swap it for a green one, I think the garden will look that much nicer. It took about ten minutes to lay properly and peg down, so it wasn’t too much hassle either.