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.

Is stealing a cat and transporting somewhere illegal @KosherDill ? I mean I don't like cats but I wouldn't do that.

@KosherDill how would you feel if your neighbour took an air gun and shot all the birds as they left your garden?
I would never do that btw because I'm not a dick but neither would I steal someone else's cat and take it to a shelter 100 miles away.
I hope really you get a family of foxes decide to make your garden their toilet.

What a dick.

But regardless, microchips will ensure the cats are not gone long before they’re back.

Hoping you don’t fall face first in to a big steaming turd in your garden and don’t break your limbs doing so. That would be terrible. 💩

Actually having thought about it @KosherDill must be a troll. Nobody would actually do that in real life. Its mental.

@KosherDill mine doesn't kill anything. He also won't toilet outside and comes back in to use the litter tray
But he does like a nap in the neighbours hedge. All you would have to do is yell and he would run off!

that is so sweet

Growing up in flats with communal washing area and shed area, all the cats would be wandering around. There was one who used to come in to our flat, loved him!

My childhood cat would frequent two of the neighbours houses, getting food and having naps there.
Not sure what you would do in that situation? Make the neighbours who also like to see the cat cat-proof their gardens too?

Me and my DD adore seeing cats out on the streets while we are on a walk, was also a fave for me and my mum growing up, to see which outdoor cats we could befriend on the streets. Lovely.

At my grandma's there are two next door who are always out the front in the cul-de-sac. They like to sit out there and in the summer they sleep under the cars. My DD likes to sit outside and watch them. They aren't friendly enough to stroke but she is fascinated by them and just likes to watch.

Would hate it if everyone cat-proofed their garden. A cat in my garden is a welcome guest.

Dogs DO roam freely. It's considered a breach of their owners' human rights to keep them under control!

OK they don't (usually) roam around like cats do. But most cats seem to be really nervous round here, so if we were in the garden they wouldn't come in anyway. And if I am in the house, it doesn't matter what is in the garden. I find the posts on MN about cats in gardens really quite odd. Cats are not dogs. They are animals that roam freely because that's what they do, and they don't tend to jump up at people scratching or biting them like some dogs do. Yes they poo but they usually dig over it. And you will find a lot of other poo in your garden, I watched a female blackbird poo in the middle of my lawn this morning! Should we ban wild animals too?

Anyway lots of ideas on this thread that people can use if they don't want cats around (and will probably keep other animals away too).

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

We've had our fence toppers up for 6 years. Only once did a particularly agile neighbour's cat get in. He was so freaked out by not being able to get out, he never came back (after we let him out of the gate). This seems to be similar to other people's experiences too.

You may not, but you'd be surprised at the number of people that are just bat shit crazy!

So many ishoos

Many crazies. Look at the cat in the wheelie bin lady.

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

The companies I mentioned earlier in this thread can give you a quote and diagram of how your garden can be secured all the way around, if you want to. It costs at least hundreds, if not thousands for one of the big companies to do it for you, but you can get the materials yourself and DIY it for under £100 usually. The FB group I linked to has the best knowledge if you want tips on if catproofing your garden is a viable option for you.

Hate, hate cats I would just spray it with icy water.

My cousin hosed a cat that was crapping in her garden once. Owner tore a strip off of her so she sent the poo straight over the garden fence into the owner’s garden.

What a cruel thing to do,causing acute distress to the cat and the owner. I hope you get caught in the act and arrested.

Buy her some tinfoil for her table? it would work on two of my cats the third is weird and carrys it around in his mouth to scare his brothers (who usually chase him as he is the smallest)

I love the cats who live next door to me. They roam around or sunbathe in our garden loads and I’m pretty sure that they’re the reason we no longer get cats shitting in our flowerbeds as they see off all the other neighbourhood cats who do this. They clearly see our garden as an extension of theirs and that’s fine with me. Entitled but gorgeous little bastards.

If I saw @KosherDill stealing my cats and trying to send take them I think they'd be the one who ended up in a box.

Vile.

Why icy? Cats don't like being sprayed with water fullstop. No need to make it more cruel just to be nastier.

Happy to help out if needed. 😉

And me @BeerPongChampion and @WutheringShites86

Then keep your cats of private property?

Cats are supposed to hate citrus smells so a strong candle left on the table my work?

Seems a bit of a ridiculous thing to complain about. I have many problems with local cats and I wouldn't even think to mention it. The owner can't do anything to specifically stop them sitting on a table other than keeping them indoors permanently. I have a glass topped table and they do quite like to sit on it because it gets so warm. I just shoo them away if I see them or occasionally squirt with water if I happen to have a water pistol to hand and a reoccuring visitor. I suppose you could consider putting something spiky or uncomfortable around the edges of the table to stop them jumping onto it but it'd need some thinking about because it'd need to not blow away but be easily removable for human use.

Agreed.

And I'd like to see anyone try and get my cat into a carrier without being mauled by said feline and possibly losing the use of their eyes.