Neighbour getting cross about my cats

[Faciadipasta]

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.

How do you deal with birds, flies and foxes?

I think it's laughing at they should y be allowed to roam freely?

It's like saying people should t be allowed to walk dogs because I'm scared of them,

Cats are much bolder in domestic settings than wild animals because that is where they live. I have foxes that visit my garden but they pass through and do not regularly sit on the table cleaning their bumholes.

It is just different.

My feeling is cat owners need to choose. Either cats are wild in which case what the person upthread did taking it to a shelter far away is no different to trapping a rat and taking it to the countryside, or the pets are domestic in which case they should be managed by their owners. Cat owners can't really have it both ways up.

The entitlement of some cat owners in these replies....

OP it's your cat. It doesn't matter what you think about their request it's still your responsibility as it's your animal and it's their property.

The onus and any financial burden is on the owner of the cat to try and sort it.

@carefullycourageous foxes round here sit at the back door, on tables, sheds, sleep in our garden.

As previously said before cat owners are not doing anything illegal, so that's it really.

The person taking the cat a 100 miles away, what's the betting cats are not her only "ishoo" ?

To be fair, whilst I am sympathetic to someone who has an irrational fear, I still believe the onus is on them to do something about it rather than expect the world to adapt around them. I don’t think it’s helpful to enable behaviour that is irrational.

I find all of the people ridiculing the poster terrified of cats a bit odd. Whenever there’s a post about can I take my dog into shop/pub/beach etc inevitably someone turns up saying that them and their family are terrified of all dogs so dogs shouldn’t be allowed and they are to frightened to see a dog in public and it would ruin their decade. No one tells these people to get a grip, or that these fears are irrational or that the rest of us shouldn’t be inconvenienced by their phobias. Whereas here loads of people seem to be taking that approach- seems a little odd

Some totally bonkers replies on here. We share the planet with animals. You don't have to like all animals but fact is we coexist and we don't have more rights to be here than they do.

You just have to manage it in a sensible way if you have a phobia or dislike of an animal.

I have house cats too. But they were raised that way from kittens (and are Ragdolls, which are a breed that are advised to keep indoors).
You don't seriously think it is kind to make an already-outdoors cat an indoor cat do you? That is cruel.

Dogs are fully domesticated obedient animals than can be put on leads and taken out for long walks.

Cats are semi-wild animals that allow humans to care for them. Most of them will not accept a lead and they cannot be taken for walks. The choice is to either allow them to roam freely like birds and foxes etc or keep them 100% trapped inside which is cruel.

If you’re terrified of cats, that’s your oddity, it’s no reason to lock all cats away anymore than foxes or pigeons.

Our cat took to scratching the neighbours wooden table they said it was old so not to worry but I can see why people don't like cats. We put a bracket along the fence so she can't get over

@gogohmm what type of bracket if you don't mind me asking? I wouldn't mind sticking something on the fence but I'm not adding anything that will make it look like a prison yard

I can see both sides - I absolutely adore my cat but I also appreciate the value of good neighbours and I'd hate to think my cat was doing something that was pissing people off.

Cat and dog behaviours are obviously very different hence why the laws regarding them are different, the behaviour of a 'free to roam' cat is difficult to regulate and those suggesting indoor or' catios' surely understand that this is just not possible to do in every situation.

As above, I adore my cat but I wouldn't want his cat arse on my table.

If your neighbour shoo's the cat away every time she sees it then hopefully eventually the cat will get the message - but if it's the cat's favourite spot then it'll be a long running battle.

If it was my table, I'd get a couple of outdoor plants in pots to occupy the space on the table making it unavailable to the cat.

I do think the suggestion of saying 'I'll have a word with the cat' is funny but I doubt it'll go down well.

We have a tiny garden so it's metal brackets with a piece of wood matching the fence to create an overhang. Older cat so doesn't take much of a deterrent. The main reason to keep her in was she was scratching her saggy belly on rough wood the next garden along getting to the factory to go mousing, can't get out the back and she's scared of the dog the other side. Factory miss her, she was popular there

Would love to cat proof my garden but to do so would Involve ripping out trees and hedges orders than me and removing a greenhouse.

fortunately my neighbours haven’t complained would be a bit off if they did considering they own yappy things that go off all day.

tell them to spray the cat and try pepper also advice them to tell their children to not fuss the cat as that will be encouraging it.

Maybe you could offer to buy your neighbour something like this?

It looks fun. I'm sure Ollie would also love one of these!

@Easilystartled I absolutely agree with you that it is the responsibility of the person with the irrational fear to find a way to deal with it. I just felt there was a degree of eye rolling and disbelief towards someone for being scared of cute, furry creatures.

@Charlize43 that does look fun. My kids would be jealous if I got one of those for the cats rather than for them though 😂

I only ever see this heated debate over cats on MN. In real life, most of the complaints about domesticated animals are around people who still don’t pick up their dog’s shit, or do bag it up, but dump the bag in a hedge, and owners who let their dogs terrorise both those who are scared of dogs and other, more timid, dogs by letting them off lead without being able to control them. Not to mention my particular gripe about dog owners who indulgently watch their dogs pissing all over my gateposts.

Why is wiping a table top with an anti-bac wipe, which, incidentally, most people would do anyway before eating off an outside table, any more onerous than having to scape dog shit off shoes, which I’ve had to do many times?

@watcherintherye ”I only ever see this heated debate over cats on MN. In real life…”

What a weird comment - who do you think is posting here, bots? MNers are (as far as I know) real people and the debate over cat control has ramped up a lot over recent years as people gain more awareness over our impact on the environment.

OP you are a leader amongst cat owners!

How can you influence others to have litter trays for outdoor cats?

It’s a basic owner responsibility, surely? Like dog owners had to start picking up
poo a couple of decades ago.

Next up: bells on collars to give the birds a chance.

Tell them to super soak him every time and he'll soon get the message.

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

I agree with this.

I like cats. However, my neighbour’s cat has started coming into our garden and doing a lovely big poo under the kids’ trampoline. It’s highly annoying - I don’t have a cat and don’t really feel like picking up someone’s else’s cat poo.

id never hurt a cat and nor do I agree with the PP who drives the cat 100 miles away. However, there are many crazy people out there who don’t like your cat and if you want your cat to roam freely then this is the risk you take. That, along with other risks such as the cat getting hit by a car.

Onus is on the owner to cat proof the garden if they want to ensure their cats safety. No one else owes you that (eg reference upthread to lillies)

I'd love a visiting cat...I can't have one of my own at the moment so would love to cuddle a neighbours cat...I'd even clean up shit and hairy chairs...send all these nuisance cats my way.

Obviously people are entitled to grow lo
lillies if they want to. I accept the risks of cars and poisonous plants. Not the risk that a crazy neighbour might kidnap the cat and take it 100 miles away though.
To be fair to my neighbour I'm pretty sure he isn't planning this!