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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to put cat shit through next door's letterbox?

259 replies

LakieLady · 04/04/2023 15:54

It's in poo bags!

I've just cut some of the grass for the first time, and have picked up 3 lots of cat shit from an area of lawn about 30' x 15'. I know it's from next door's cat, one lot was in the spot where I saw the beast squatting for a leisurely dump this morning, and the other 2 lots are identical in size, shape and consistency, plus their cat is the only one that dares to linger in my garden.

And we never speak, so it's not as though I'd be damaging our relationship, because we don't have one. Mr NDN has never spoken a civil work to me in the 30 years I've lived here.

OP posts:
Aoife1999 · 05/04/2023 06:43

I detest cats but if one crapped in my garden I wouldn’t put it through neighbours letterbox after all they aren’t telling it to crap in your garden. If you frighten it enough when you see it it will eventually stop coming, compressed air works well to scare the pest away

TottyKnickers · 05/04/2023 07:18

Iwannabeacrocodilehunter · 04/04/2023 18:41

You can stop a cat. I did. It took a lot. And you have to be persistent. But it’s possible.

My garden is natural grass, wood chipping, blue slate and boarders. My neighbour (and offending cat owners) have stones and artificial lawn.

Since taking multiple measures including sonar, netting, coffee, spices, sprays, spikes etc the cat no longer poops on my lawn and instead FINALLY uses his owner’s garden and it is an utter DELIGHT to hear the husband complaining when he has to stop their children from playing as he’s trying to clean crap out of the fake grass again.

Show quote history

How though? Just a water pistol?

Ursualesther · 05/04/2023 07:28

Thankfully the OP seems to have shuffled off. Hopefully a touch red faced. Although I suspect not. Anyone who suggests something like this - isn’t someone to get embarrassed

TheyclosedmyCosta · 05/04/2023 07:36

You catproof your garden

Has anyone explained how this is done? Given how good cats are at jumping great heights and squeezing through small spaces it doesn’t really seem possible

TheyclosedmyCosta · 05/04/2023 07:38

“I should make it clear that DH did pull back when he realised the cat wasn't moving, and sort of ended up shoving him heavily with his foot, rather than outright kicking him - he was unharmed”

I doubt it* *

snitzelvoncrumb · 05/04/2023 07:39

Over the fence will be easier.

MumOf2workOptions · 05/04/2023 07:40

I'd bag the poo up and knock on the door and speak to your neighbours about it, although not a lot they will be able to do! But just to make them aware.
You could then buy some "get off" crystals and put them down

Ursualesther · 05/04/2023 07:48

ArDi · 04/04/2023 18:45

No, he didn't kick the cat hard. He shoved it with his foot. No animals were harmed in the making of my anecdote.

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Oh bill shit he didn’t kick the kitten far @ArDi

own it. You and your DH are twats

and aimed a kick at him, hoping his swinging leg would scare the brute away. Unfortunately (for both parties, as DH has never quite recovered from the guilt) the cat was so engaged in its ablutions that it failed to register the danger, and DH's foot connected firmly with kitty's behind, hoofing him across the lawn and over the shrubbery

Antiquiteas · 05/04/2023 07:50

Ursualesther · 05/04/2023 07:48

Oh bill shit he didn’t kick the kitten far @ArDi

own it. You and your DH are twats

and aimed a kick at him, hoping his swinging leg would scare the brute away. Unfortunately (for both parties, as DH has never quite recovered from the guilt) the cat was so engaged in its ablutions that it failed to register the danger, and DH's foot connected firmly with kitty's behind, hoofing him across the lawn and over the shrubbery

Show quote history

She was going for funny, thinking she had the right crowd, but it landed badly, so she’s changing tack.

Ursualesther · 05/04/2023 09:03

Exactly

I can’t imagine her anecdote going down with any crowd other than a crowd that find animal cruelty funny

ladykale · 05/04/2023 09:06

But isn't this what gardens are for?

This is what foxes do too.

It's an outdoor space. Annoying but really not a big deal

NQOTDarling · 05/04/2023 09:09

What do you see as the solution?
Cats are not like dogs - they tend to poo wherever and whenever they want to and generally, they aren't being followed by an owner with a scooper and a bag...
Would you envisage ringing the neighbour to come round to pick it up each time it poos in your garden? Or would you like him to do regular poo patrols in your garden just in case the cat poo-ed and you didn't notice?
Would you like it to wear a nappy?
Also, is this the first time in your 30 years of neighbourliness, that they have got a cat? If not, where did the previous cat poo?

Untitledsquatboulder · 05/04/2023 09:19

NQOTDarling · 05/04/2023 09:09

What do you see as the solution?
Cats are not like dogs - they tend to poo wherever and whenever they want to and generally, they aren't being followed by an owner with a scooper and a bag...
Would you envisage ringing the neighbour to come round to pick it up each time it poos in your garden? Or would you like him to do regular poo patrols in your garden just in case the cat poo-ed and you didn't notice?
Would you like it to wear a nappy?
Also, is this the first time in your 30 years of neighbourliness, that they have got a cat? If not, where did the previous cat poo?

The solution is very simple. Cat owners cat proof their gardens and keep their cats on their properties. Then there'd be no more cat poisonings, cats mauled by dogs, cats run over on the road and cats shitting in other people's gardens.

Can't or don't want to cat proof? Can't afford it? Then don't have a cat.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 05/04/2023 09:40

My pet elephant knocks down my neighbours fence, sits on their car and shits all over their garden. They have complained to me but I've patiently explained to them that's just what elephants do and there is simply nothing I can do about it.

If they don't like it they should constantly watch their garden and use a water pistol to scare the elephant away.

PinkSyCo · 05/04/2023 09:42

NQOTDarling · 05/04/2023 09:09

What do you see as the solution?
Cats are not like dogs - they tend to poo wherever and whenever they want to and generally, they aren't being followed by an owner with a scooper and a bag...
Would you envisage ringing the neighbour to come round to pick it up each time it poos in your garden? Or would you like him to do regular poo patrols in your garden just in case the cat poo-ed and you didn't notice?
Would you like it to wear a nappy?
Also, is this the first time in your 30 years of neighbourliness, that they have got a cat? If not, where did the previous cat poo?

There should be a law that enforces cat owners to train their creatures to shit in a litter box at home and to wear bells on their fucking collars too! Why should non cat owners have to clear up the stinking crap and dead birds left on their property by other people’s pets?

Iwannabeacrocodilehunter · 05/04/2023 09:48

TheyclosedmyCosta · 05/04/2023 07:36

You catproof your garden

Has anyone explained how this is done? Given how good cats are at jumping great heights and squeezing through small spaces it doesn’t really seem possible

Like this. People with cats should have to do this. Instructions can be Googled.

... to put cat shit through next door's letterbox?
jannier · 05/04/2023 10:15

Untitledsquatboulder · 05/04/2023 09:19

The solution is very simple. Cat owners cat proof their gardens and keep their cats on their properties. Then there'd be no more cat poisonings, cats mauled by dogs, cats run over on the road and cats shitting in other people's gardens.

Can't or don't want to cat proof? Can't afford it? Then don't have a cat.

Show quote history

Cats naturally roam over a very large area confining one to a garden (presumably by making it one big cage) is no better than caging a wild animal in a zoo society recognises that it's not ideal now but you think it's okay for a cat.
A lot of people also think it's all cats poo when it's foxes

passiveaggressivenonsense · 05/04/2023 10:21

My neighbours are total psychopaths, count yourself blessed that in 30 years it's just cat poo. I wouldn't bag it up. Pick it up with a spade and fling it back over their fence.

WeeOrcadian · 05/04/2023 10:21

Don't be fucking vile. Animals poo outside.
Get some orange / lemon peel / juice and sprinkle it around your garden, it deters cats.

Ursualesther · 05/04/2023 10:23

Mr NDN has never spoken a civil work to me in the 30 years I've lived here.

Possibly because you aren’t a civilised person op

Untitledsquatboulder · 05/04/2023 10:51

@jannier bollocks. Dogs naturally roam over a wide area, when I was a child proe used to let their dogs roam just like cat owners do now. We came to understand that it was unsafe for the dog and antisocial for everyone else.

If it's so cruel to keep cats on your property then simple - don't have one. No one has the divine right to keep an animal.

Jayne35 · 05/04/2023 11:08

A lot of people also think it's all cats poo when it's foxes

Fox poo smells hideous, big difference to cat poo.

justteanbiscuits · 05/04/2023 12:51

Just dashed out to the garden for something. And trod in bloody cat poo in my lovely lovely slippers. No, our grass isn't the shortest right now because it's not had it's spring mow yet, but it's my garden so I should be able to have my grass how I want it.

And cats do not deter foxes! We installed better fences to deal with foxes. Fox poo can't be mistaken for cat poo either.

Mamamia32 · 05/04/2023 13:32

I wonder how many people on this thread would be happy to get a dog and never let it out further than the garden. Let alone keep it inside a house for it's whole life with no fresh air at all. It's no less cruel to do that to a cat.

They should be microchips, spayed/neutered, fed and treated for fleas etc.. beyond that they are very independent creatures. Affection is on thier terms and if you don't treat them well they will leave and find someone else who will. Unlike dogs who have unconditional love and need to be under the control of an owner.

Cats naturally want to hide when they poo and they like to bury poo, it's a survival instinct so that predators can't trace them. Litter trays were designed with this in mind, it doesn't take much to litter train a cat because they naturally want to go in gravel/sand and bury poo. A cat can be litter trained inside and still go to the toilet outside, there really isn't a way for owners to make them come back indoors to use a litter tray every time. A lot of people on here seem to think it's possible but it's not.

Dog poo needs to be picked up because dogs are happy to poo in the middle of a pavement. I have to dodge dog poo every day on the school run. I hardly ever come into contact with cat poo outside and if there was one in the garden I think flicking it over the fence is fairer than shoving it through a letterbox.

If you've got an area of your garden attractive to cats then the awnser is to mow the lawn, plant things cats don't like, buy lion poo pellets etc... If you can catch a cat in the act then squirting it with water is also harmless but will hopefully scare it away.

Antiquiteas · 05/04/2023 13:36

Jayne35 · 05/04/2023 11:08

A lot of people also think it's all cats poo when it's foxes

Fox poo smells hideous, big difference to cat poo.

Cat poo is truly one of the worst smelling shits out there. And let’s be honest, none of them are great.