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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour getting cross about my cats

220 replies

Faciadipasta · 14/07/2022 21:07

We have 2 cats. They have a catflap so go outside when they like. My neighbour has started complaining that one of them likes to sit on their outside table (during the day, not while they're actually using it)
AIBU to think this is a bit nuts? I mean we get foxes, magpies, all sorts so why worry about cats?
I mean if the cats were pooing in their garden I'd understand- they use a litter tray so pretty sure they don't - also I'm sure neighbour would have said, but sitting on their table?
Would you try and think.of a way to stop cat doing it or ignore? I've told neighbour to spray the cat with a water pistol if he wants but haven't really got any other ideas.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
FloydWasACat · 15/07/2022 05:55

Wtf is a "catio"?!?

tomatopsste · 15/07/2022 05:55

hulahooper2 · 14/07/2022 21:15

I am terrified of cats and would hate anyone s cat in my garden . ITs your pet , don’t inflict it on others . Dogs aren’t allowed to roam freely , neither should cats.

🙄

Mabelshouse · 15/07/2022 05:57

Cats are a bloody nuisance. Sorry but they are and they decimate the bird population. Loads of cats where I live. Shitting in gardens and killing birds. I am in the process of putting cat deterrent spikes on my fence (the legal ones ) and if I see one I squirt water at it.

butterflied · 15/07/2022 06:05

BigCheeseSandwich · 14/07/2022 21:35

“Fellow cat owner here, it is your responsibility to keep your cats off your neighbors property. Stop giving cat owners a bad reputation.“

This.

Agree. I'd hate it. Weird responses.

Belledan1 · 15/07/2022 06:11

My neighbour said our cat at exactly the same time each night waits to wind up their dog when let her out by sitting on the fence. We are wondering if our cat sets an alarm lol. Person was quite serious and asked us not to let it out at this time. She has a cat flap. They don't seem bothered though that the dog barks everytime their door goes, when their son 's loud car pulls up or if they are out a while. I never said this to them though.

tomatopsste · 15/07/2022 06:12

rnsaslkih · 14/07/2022 22:17

Perhaps the neighbours think that it’s unhygienic to have cat arse (or even cat mouth if the cat kills things) on the surface they are going to eat off. Not sure what they really expect you to do about it though. Cats do tend to be a pet that aggravates neighbours when the houses are tightly packed - like most are these days. I paved over my front flower beds as the neighbour’s cat wouldn’t stop shitting in them. I picked up so much shit, wasted so many gloves, it was ridiculous. I didn’t even know where I should put the bloody stuff. I tried everything over a period of 10 years and then gave in and removed the front garden (flower beds, bit of grass) in favour of paving. I can accept cats are sweet, but they are annoying to neighbours.

Tell
them to use plates to eat off? Eating off the table is awful!

Hope the birds and flys are aware the table is a no go zone?

tomatopsste · 15/07/2022 06:24

@KosherDill I don't who is more crazy and nasty, you or your co worker!

Good job people have micro chipped cats, so they would be contacted in case this type of craziness took place.

Mabelshouse · 15/07/2022 06:25

So we are expected just to put up with cats roaming around our gardens, shitting on our flower beds, winding our dogs up? Because that seems to be the message some of you are giving?

my previous NND paid to cat proof her garden so the cat couldn’t get out.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 15/07/2022 06:26

@KosherDill you took the cat to a rescue center 100 miles away? Wtf is wrong with you???

To everyone saying they would throw water on the cat - that's fine. I've suggested neighbour spray him, if he wants to. And those complaining about cats who shit in other people's gardens - I can see your point there, but mine use a litter tray (we have 1 inside and a covered one outside) so that is not the problem.

I do think neighbour maybe just doesn't like cats, although his DC definitely DO because they like to pick him up and play with him when he goes over.

I honestly think it's mostly because he thinks cats are dirty so doesn't want him to go on their table which I would understand if it was indoors but we have a MASSIVE fox problem round here so I really dont see why he's bothered about my healthy domestic cat when he probably has mangey, flee ridden foxes doing the same?

Also unless I contain the cat completely there is no way I can get him to stop sitting on the table as far as I can see.

Not relevant really but neighbour on the other side loves the cat. If she hasn't seen him for a while she'll stop me and ask where 'her' cat has been hiding.

OP posts:
redfairy · 15/07/2022 06:28

@KosherDill What a truly awful thing to do.

carefullycourageous · 15/07/2022 06:29

Mabelshouse · 15/07/2022 05:57

Cats are a bloody nuisance. Sorry but they are and they decimate the bird population. Loads of cats where I live. Shitting in gardens and killing birds. I am in the process of putting cat deterrent spikes on my fence (the legal ones ) and if I see one I squirt water at it.

I agree. Cats are a PITA and the law is out of date - owners should be responsible for their cats.

The OP is at least reasonable by supporting the neighbour in squirting water at the cat. It is very difficult because I would not want to harm an animal but I should not have to have other people's pets in my garden. Cats destroy wildlife and shit everywhere.

romdowa · 15/07/2022 06:30

FloydWasACat · 15/07/2022 05:55

Wtf is a "catio"?!?

It's an outdoor enclosure for a cat. Basically a wooden cage

carefullycourageous · 15/07/2022 06:32

Cervinia · 15/07/2022 05:43

Are you serious? If you are that is despicable and disgusting. Probably amounts to animal cruelty.

Show quote history

This is the flipside of what cat owners hide behind when they claim they have no responsibility for where their cat goes and where their cat shits. It is wrong but the legal situation around cats is anachronistic and out of date.

tomatopsste · 15/07/2022 06:34

@carefullycourageous it doesn't matter how out of date it is, it's the legal situation.

You don't get to change it because you don't like it.

carefullycourageous · 15/07/2022 06:40

tomatopsste · 15/07/2022 06:34

@carefullycourageous it doesn't matter how out of date it is, it's the legal situation.

You don't get to change it because you don't like it.

What a funny answer - I know I don't get to change it, but thank you for explaining to me that I am not in charge of the world, I hadn't realised Grin

But 'we' (the nation) change legal situations all the time, and my personal view is this one is out of date.

I would imagine it won't change any time soon because it is not the highest priority when we are in such a total mess nationally!

heattreat · 15/07/2022 06:46

*But 'we' (the nation) change legal situations all the time, and my personal view is this one is out of date.

I would imagine it won't change any time soon because it is not the highest priority when we are in such a total mess nationally!*

Yeah don't hold your breath, iid say not the highest priority, I'd say one of the lowest priorities. In fact I can't think of a lower one 🤔

Perspective and all that?

Some people have so little in their lives like @KosherDill that they make a mission out of a cat.

Batshit crazy!

Easilystartled · 15/07/2022 06:49

I’d buy your neighbour an anti cat scent and a water pistol. Neither will likely have much effect but at least it shows willing.
As for the person who is terrified of cats……..
Wandering around and sitting on tables is normal cat behaviour. Being terrified of a small, fluffy, domestic pet is not normal human behaviour. So I wonder which side needs to adapt.

Pugdogmom · 15/07/2022 06:52

Fellow cat owner here, it is your responsibility to keep your cats off your neighbors property. Stop giving cat owners a bad reputation.

OP....make sure you tell your cat that he is letting down your family and fellow cat owners....🤣🤣🤣

Batshit post.🙄

2u2me2me2u · 15/07/2022 06:56

GiselleRose · 14/07/2022 21:09

Just do what I did and tell your neighbour that you’ll have a chat with your cat about this.

Piss funny this … love it 😂

SpringIntoChaos · 15/07/2022 06:59

hulahooper2 · 14/07/2022 21:15

I am terrified of cats and would hate anyone s cat in my garden . ITs your pet , don’t inflict it on others . Dogs aren’t allowed to roam freely , neither should cats.

Don't be ridiculous 🤣🤣🤣 Cats and dogs simply cannot be compared! Bonkers 🤣🤦‍♀️

Mabelshouse · 15/07/2022 07:02

why is it batshit to suggest cat owners take responsibility for their pets?

And why are people laughing at someone who says they are scared of cats? People have many irrational fears. How arrogant to just dismiss them. Lots of people are scared of dogs.

Lampan · 15/07/2022 07:02

My neighbour’s cat does this on my outdoor table and I hate it. I don’t want some cat sitting licking it’s parts on a surface where I often eat meals.

nooboonoo · 15/07/2022 07:04

I'm glad I don't live near any of the cat controllers or anti cat people on here.
I'm not a cat person but if one comes into my garden I just shush it away. Easy.

Some of you would love my neighbours with noisy hens though.

Justleaveitblankthen · 15/07/2022 07:12

I would just tell her that you've had a word with him and that if he does it again you'll take away his Xbox 😏

ClinkeyMonkey · 15/07/2022 07:16

I'm very fond of cats and would love one to own me, but this isn't possible as three out of four in our house are highly allergic. What I'm not though, is scathing and dismissive towards someone who is frightened of them. What an awful way to be - so lacking in empathy towards someone who has a fear of something.

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