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.

Spray the table with white viniger and peppermint oil. Cats hate it.

I'd hate to see a cat rubbing its bum on a table, where I'm going to be sitting to eat.
I already rub off bird-poo, don't want more cleaning.
There must be some kind of spray they could put on the table to deter the cat.

Oh we still have litter trays too. Outside under cover and inside near the cat flap. So hopefully ours are only going there… well I know they are using them since I clean them out but yeah.

Animals going on my outside table really doesn't bother me. We just use plates but for anyone it does I'd have thought they'd be inclined to give it a wipe anyway?
That said maybe I could research cat repellent sprays and buy them one. Im not convinced they actually work though.
And yes the DC playing with him probably does encourage him to spend more time there. Interesting that only 1 cat seems ro be causing this problem though. Both of them do spend time next door but my boy cat is much bolder than the girl.

😂😂the anti catters on this thread are a scream - “the onus is on cat owners to secure their gardens”. Um, nope. Plus all the heart rending posts about fear and terror of moggies. These people really need to get a grip.

Cats are generally a pain in the bum, digging up seed beds/plants and hiding poo - yuck, killing things but there is little you can do to stop your cat being a cat - it is what it is. I imagine the neighbours are concerned about the hygiene with a cat walking on their table. Hopefully the neighbour will water pistol it and it will eventually get fed up and move on. Perhaps a bit of fairy liquid in the water might help. I think cat lovers don't always understand what a pain they are to others and because they roam free the damage they do and annoyance they cause. You have at least suggested a water pistol.

i think cat owners should be the ones to cat proof their gardens...they choose to have cats

But the issue is your neighbours ARE bothered. Yes opinion is divided but your cat is annoying your neighbours. This thread has shown your neighbours are not complete outliers so I think working out how to discourage the cat from sitting there would be the neighbourly thing to do.

😂😂the anti catters on this thread are a scream - “the onus is on cat owners to secure their gardens”. Um, nope. Plus all the heart rending posts about fear and terror of moggies. These people really need to get a grip

well ok don’t secure your garden by all means. but don’t come on here complaining when your cat gets locked in a shed, or gets hit by a car, or some crazy person does it harm. That’s the risk you are taking 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think on one hand the neighbours are encouraging the cat to come into the garden by playing with him - but they want to control where the cat sits in the garden!

they can use a water pistol - but their kids probably wouldn’t let them if they like the cat coming into the garden.

they should wipe down an outside table before they use it regardless of the cat though. There will be all sorts on it at night! Your cat probably isn’t the worst!

I don’t have a cat @PearTree120 - I just think the anti cat posters here sound like loons. As pps describe, cats have the right to roam. It’s the law so you just have to deal with it I’m afraid.

@carefullycourageous thanks for that helpful advice but in case you hadnt noticed that's exactly what this post is about!! I think it's nuts to be bothered about it, but whatever, its their table. I was looking for ideas to discourage him from doing it.
So far I have suggested he spray the cat and I'm open to buying him some sort of cat repellent if anyone can suggest one that works.
I MIGHT even be open to the idea of sticking somthing on the fence to deter the cat from going that side as long as it wasn't too much of an eyesore (and as long as neighbour actually agrees since its his fence!)
Not sure that would work though because wouldn't cat just go a different way?

YANBU.

Have you asked crazy neighbour what the problem actually is? If it's that they don't want cat arse on a table they eat and drink from, I would just point out that unless they are wiping the table down every time they use it, it's covered in bird shit and God knows what else.

Dirty Bastards

Alright, don't get snippy. Maybe you're a crapper neighbour than you think is my point. Good relations with neighbours are worth a lot but if you just think they are being stupid they may sense that from you.

The issue really for the neighbour is probably about you looking like you give a shit.

Now now @carefullycourageous - you are the one getting snippy it seems. Ishoos?

You mean like this?

Ok. If we're looking at who is the better neighbour I really dont think they can complain too much. Obviously you wouldn't know this but they were doing on and off building work for YEARS. It was constant noise with what seemed like no end. We haven't had it for the last few months but who knows whether they have actually finally finished. I even had their builders come in my garden without my permission to get better access to a wall they wanted to paint. Completely bloody freaked me out.
And their kids are constantly throwing balls / shuttlecocks / Frisbees (accidentally) into my garden. But I don't get pissy about that.
Anyway like I said nobody on here would know that and it's not a drip feed and actually I don't think they do think we're crappy neighbours- not as far as I know anyway. And I'm not even complaining about their neighbourly habits. Just I think they're nuts but trying to be reasonably accommodating IF there is an easy way.

This was his busted face when I found what he was doing

Just interested..how exactly do you “cat proof” a garden?

I found it very funny when we moved into our new house and the surrounding houses seemed to all have cats. It was like a big circle of cat lovers and the cats didnt give a fuck where they went. I was gutted to see evidence of them shitting in my flower beds.

That was until my two dogs got free reign over our garden. It took a couple of weeks of seeing them off. Some of the cats were particularly arrogant but eventually our garden is 100% cat free. Available to hire if anyone wants them ;-)

They have absolutely no idea what to do if a cat actually stood their ground and i have witnessed them looking at each other puzzled when they do actually corner a cat but its all in the noise and the chase for them.

For the record my NDN has a cat who likes to sunbathe in their garden. My lads will happily co exist while it is purring and chilling in its own garden. No barking etc.

Cat proofing only works one way though. If a garden is cat-proofed it means they can get in, but they can't get back out.

Whilst the law in effect gives cats the right to roam, it is highly misleading to state that there is specifically a law that states cats can roam…it is an anomaly of the law on the keeping of livestock and dogs that owners are obliged to keep their animals under control on their property. And cats are not considered livestock and therefore were never included in that as they were considered unlikely to cause damage to people or property.
However, cat owners are obliged by law to have a duty of care to ensure their cat does not injure anyone or damage property and that can include persistent fouling, noise, damage to plants etc. Theoretically a cat owner is obliged to pay out for any damage to plants in their neighbours gardens where cat has sat on them etc.
This means that cat owners cannot just shrug their shoulders and say “right to roam” . You have to take action to ensure there is no way your cat can do damage on someone else’s property.

@MagpiePi Haha! Perfect!

The neighbours could also install movement water sprinklers which would give the cat a shock and might put it off. I do feel for your neighbours, cats do spread disease and cleaning it's bum on their table is pretty rank. Other animals don't do that.

I no longer put up with it. If they repeatedly invade my garden, off they go into a carrier and far away.

Tired of having birds and other wildlife killed because people won't control their pets.