This is quite long for how petty an issue this is, but im trying to give all the context!
I live in a maisonette. Its above a small parade of shops. There are stairs at the side of one of the shops that leads up to a pathway where there are 12 separate properties. Each property has a walled off yard area thats a decent size with a garden gate to the walkway. They all have their own front door and are standard 2 floor homes. Basically, they are terraced houses, but up a flight of stairs, theres no locked entry way, post and delivery workers just walk up the stairs to the front door of each property. The walk way and stairway are council managed. On my rent each week there is a £8 charge, which is divided between "grounds maintenance" "estate care taking" and "communal cleaning charge".
When i moved in about 6 months ago now, the front yard had been being used by a local cat as its litter tray. It was disgusting. We cleaned it out but the cat returned for a while. I ended up spray citrus scent everywhere and "scaring" off the cat when it appeared. Eventually it stopped visiting. Instead, it has taken to using the walk way.
For clarity i have a cat too, but an indoor cat, he is 13 years old and has always been an indoor cat. I know specifically which neighbours cat it is - one 3 doors down. However it has chosen the space out side my next door neighbours property. A space i never go to as its the opposite direction down the pathway to the stairs.
The council are refusing to clean it up. So my next door neighbour has come to the conclusion its my responsibility to clean it up. Initially this was because it "was my cats mess as she had seen it in the window and it wasnt a problem until we moved in". Then when i pointed out actually no, its not my cat, he stays in side, its the neighbours 3 doors down who used to use my yard area, she has now decided its still my responsibility as i forced the cat out of the area it was using prior onto the communal walkway. The owner of the cat is physically disabled (according to the next door neighbour, ive never met hem just seen the guilty cat in their windows) and cant come and clear it themselves. So the neighbour is adamant its on me to clean up.
I dont want to clean up after another persons cat when its not even on my property, its outside someone elses and i pay the associated fees of living in a property with a communal area for stuff like that to be done. Im busy, i work 13 hours shifts 4 times a week, im studying for me MSc, im a single mum of 3, my own huse up keep is stressful enough without adding someone elses. If the owner of the cat is incapable of doing it, then surely it falls on my next door neighbour if the council are refusing to clean it? Not me? But i also dont want to be in an argument with next door neighbours who have lived there for 30+ years when i have only recently moved it.
Would you suck it up and do it occasionally, say once a week to keep the peace amongst neighbours. Or tell them not my cat, not my walk way, not my problem?