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.

I live in London, always have foxes in my garden and they are shitting and licking their bumholes all the time.

It really isn't that 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

What utter nonsense! Good job cat owners don't care about your "feelings"

I do. I have 2 strictly indoor cats. Not the answer to my question🤔

I think @KosherDill is a fantasist.

he/she has clearly never tried to take a cat to the vet😂

Actually it's not her responsibility at all. Cat owners reputations is that they have cats. Thats it. Cats can go where they like

On your garden table right up by your house?? You have brazen foxes in London

I think that sort of thing is genuine MH problem, not really about the cat. The cat just happened to be there. Actually felt quite sorry for her, what she did was plain wrong but it went completely viral and that sort of incident then compounds the issues.

I responded mildly snippily to perceived mild snippiness.

I do not consider myself to have issues in excess of the average, have yet to meet a human with none but I am OK I think.

I am no fan of cats and think cat owners don't understand how much non-cat owners can dislike them. I wouldn't transport one 100 miles though, or indeed anywhere. I wouldn't ever harm one however much I dislike them.

Fwiw I live in London too and I can guarantee they will have foxes on their table at times too. We have to get the milkman to leave bread and milk in our porch because the foxes will get into it all if I don't bring it in within about 10 minutes otherwise. This has happened quite a few times. In fact I live in the next Borough to where the news reported on a fox going onto somebody's House and attackng a baby a few years ago if you remember that story?

No that wicked woman just didn: t like cats and here was a chance to hurt one.

I have cat-proofed my garden using products from a company called Protectapet (there are a few other similar products about too). I did it primarily for the safety of my two cats but it does have the added advantage of not upsetting my neighbours. Not that I think it would as my next door neighbours have two very noisy dogs and there are quite a few cats which wander the rest of the neighbourhood. It was reasonable expensive (almost £1000) but I have a fairly big garden. Like a PP said you could probably DIY it for a lot cheaper. My cats are young and have tried everything to climb out but they haven't been able to manage it. I'd really recommend it to anyone with a suitable garden - it protects your cat from crazies who might steal it and transport it 100 miles away too! 🙄

As someone else mentioned, the type of cat fence I have only keeps cats in, not out, and we have had a few visitors. Generally when they have been trapped in once, they learn their lesson and don't come back! However, my boy cat appears to have an admirer and she has been in to the garden 5 or 6 times and twice into the house (the first time I found her sound asleep on my bed!) 😍

For the OP, my cats do hate the smell of citrus so maybe as previous posters have suggested you could buy your neighbours a couple of citrus-y candles. It might be a nice gesture if nothing else!

Oh, forgot to add that my cat fence does look a bit like a prison yard though so maybe if you told your neighbour you were thinking of putting one up on your adjoining fence and showed them a pic, they would suddenly decide the cat sitting on their table was the lesser of two evils! 😉

@Crazycatlady75 I like your thinking there 😉

Who uses their outdoor table without wiping it down first? Ew.

I've just watched two robins shit on it, and a blue tit and great tit gang chase a lone sparrow off it that involved much flutterings and contact and poo..

I think the squirrel has sat on it, which means he's rubbed his botty on it and probably his nuts too..

I don't get foxes or cats in my garden, but we do have rats, mice, squirrels, birds etc when the dogs aren't looking (or are asleep out there in the sun).

Outdoor cats should really be kept in your garden by catproofing the fencing or in a catio/cat run (a catio btw is an enclosed patio, wood frame, wire mesh, that you can go and sit in and so can your cats. A cat run is more a wooden frame attached to the house with a catflap to it that the cats would use but you wouldn't.)

The risks to outdoor cats are pretty high - shot, run over, killed by other cats, foxes, birds of prey, stolen by arseholes, poisoned... thats not a risk I would take with my pets.

I once worked with someone who had a true phobia of cats. Her problem of course that she couldn't sit in her own garden

Yes It is her problem.

Unfortunately this world isn't only for humans

They are worried about the cat making the table dirty?

Might I suggest that you provide a cushion for the table. Cat sits comfortably on cushion, table doesn't get dirty.

I like this idea!

Erm cats are not wild animals like foxes or birds etc they are here because someone has them as a pet.By that stance people should let their chickens roam on other people's property etc

@Same1977 I'd have no problem with chickens, but they'd have to scale the fence (6ft) because opening the gate is an unfair advantage.

Also a good idea to take them I'm at night, foxes are prevalent!

Cats do know their way home.

Not really a good example you've given.

@Same1977 you can't come on my property to get your chickens, is what I meant by getting them home.

It definitely is illegal. In the eyes of the law a cat is property of its owner so it's the same as stealing any other item of property. Also add in animal cruelty.

There's also the issue of the cost to the animal charity and taking up a space that another cat might need.

Scummy all round.

I like cats and don't mind them in my garden.I do however object to the premise that anything the cat does is other people's problem.
No other animal that is a property (dogs,sheep,chickens etc) have this sort of protection by law.There could be children in the garden who are scared of cats,someone allergic etc.Perhaps a good chat would be in order with the neighbour to see if anything can be done and if not then at least make sure they know you do care and acknowledge the problem

This.

@GiselleRose 😂

@KosherDill you really are despicable and trust me you'll get your comeuppance for doing something so cruel and nasty. Luckily my cats are predominantly housecats but get to wander in my cat proofed garden but trust me if I thought you did that to any cat that I knew, you'd be very sorry. Complete arsehole.