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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want cat-owner to acknowledge impact on me?

370 replies

SafetyLady · 15/09/2023 14:06

My neighbour's cats use my garden for a toilet. I'm sick of having to deal with it. On top of plant pots, in my veg bed, etc. They make no attempt to bury it so it sits there stinky until I pick it up. Properly turns my stomach and spoils my enjoyment of my garden on a daily basis.
I know they can't be kept out or trained not to. I'd never want to harm them - they're just being cats! I'd just like some acknowledgement from neighbour that their choice to keep outdoor cats is causing this.
I did ask if they would be willing to take a turn dealing with it, and got told no, cats bury it so you can't even see where it is (some do - theirs doesn't), and anyway that's why they don't keep them in - they don't want to deal with litter tray (were originally indoor only kittens).
AIBU to be upset?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
KitsyWitsy · 16/09/2023 15:36

If you’re picking it up, why wouldn’t you just bin it?

TeenLifeMum · 16/09/2023 15:37

My neighbour accused our cat of pooing in her garden. It wasn’t my cat. I knew this because she used her litter tray and was very old and confused so only went in the garden with me and not ever alone. She couldn’t even get over the fence. But neighbour knew I had a cat so made an assumption. Fox poo looks similar and they don’t bury it like cats usually do. Get a water pistol and spray it when it tries to poo.

Flossflower · 16/09/2023 15:38

KitsyWitsy · 16/09/2023 14:30

I have 9 cats. My neighbours are always moaning about it. One is quite vocal in particular and has said he will throw it in my garden. If he does that I will report him to the police/council for harassment/nuisance because whether anyone likes it or not, cats, by law are free to roam and can shit where they like.

I also feel very sorry for your neighbours. I think you are the one causing the nuisance and the council with very limited resources will probably not deal with your complaint.

Chaniya · 16/09/2023 15:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Flossflower · 16/09/2023 15:40

KitsyWitsy · 16/09/2023 15:36

If you’re picking it up, why wouldn’t you just bin it?

Because it stinks the bin out.

missjonesy · 16/09/2023 16:15

They definitely do poo on a lawn……we have one that keeps crapping in our grass.

LostAtTheCrossRoad · 16/09/2023 16:31

Keep a small trowel by the door and chuck it back over. Every. Single. Time. Fuck that shit!

Sierra26 · 16/09/2023 16:31

Omg I was about to start this thread. I wanted to know if cat owners know/care that their cats shit all over their neighbours gardens and dig up their plants.

I know they can’t help it, but it’s the acknowledgement and reaction I kind of want to hear.

PoliticallyIncorrectHitchling · 16/09/2023 16:37

KitsyWitsy · 16/09/2023 15:36

If you’re picking it up, why wouldn’t you just bin it?

Its easier to fling it back on to the owners house, your cat, your poop.

Jaxhog · 16/09/2023 16:43

Speaking as a cat owner, you cannot do many things to stop your cat pooping where it will. But when one of ours decided to poop next door, we went around and dealt with it. We also gave him a water pistol when our cat tried it again, which mostly worked.

Jaxhog · 16/09/2023 16:43

The neighbour, not the cat!

TheFormidableMrsC · 16/09/2023 16:44

I'm a cat owner. Id throw it back over the fence.

WedRine · 16/09/2023 16:52

YANBU. We had issues with a neighbour's cat crapping on my patio -where the kids play! It was a viscous thing as well and completely unafraid, there's been a few times it's gone for one of the DC when they were out playing. The owners only intervened when I planted lillies around the bushes (where the cat was coming into the garden).

WhyShouldThatMeanItIsntReal · 16/09/2023 16:55

Can’t be bothered to read the full thread but I recommend the movement sensors that emit a high pitched alarm only cats can hear. £20 from Amazon and we haven’t had to deal with cat shit since the day we bought them.

Flossflower · 16/09/2023 17:17

Jaxhog · 16/09/2023 16:43

Speaking as a cat owner, you cannot do many things to stop your cat pooping where it will. But when one of ours decided to poop next door, we went around and dealt with it. We also gave him a water pistol when our cat tried it again, which mostly worked.

I think that there are things you can do. Years ago someone who lived across the road, let their cat out every morning at the same time. The cat immediately came over to my front garden and crapped. I asked them, rather than let the cat out, if they could put down a litter tray and let it out after the cat had used it. I don’t think that is too much to ask. It is just they didn’t want to deal with the sh1t either. After they refused I lay in wait with the super soaker.

Tootsey11 · 16/09/2023 17:27

Dp bought a sonic gadget thing from amazon for 15 quid. He had a neighbours cat destroying a flower bed. No cat has been seen since it was installed. Problem solved.

Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 16/09/2023 18:10

“I have 9 cats. My neighbours are always moaning about it. One is quite vocal in particular and has said he will throw it in my garden. If he does that I will report him to the police/council for harassment/nuisance because whether anyone likes it or not, cats, by law are free to roam and can shit where they like.“

^thats is hands down the most selfish type of pet ownership. Disgusting that this person chooses to have excessive numbers of pets and is so selfish they don’t care to do anything to sort the issue of their pets shitting in the garden. For what’s it’s worth I agree that I’d return the shit to you too. Good luck getting the police to care about a minor neighbour despite like that. The least you could do do is offer to clear it up once a week.

Nanny0gg · 16/09/2023 18:12

septembersunrise · 15/09/2023 14:25

This is unusual because cats usually will bury their poo. Are you sure it isn't foxes?

If you are certain it's cats snd have seen them with your own eyes, you can plant short bamboo canes. Cats also don't like lavender (apparently). Or put pebbles around plants (this is good for weeds too). Cats will never poo on a lawn or on concrete. If your borders / flower beds are no good they will go elsewhere.

If there is visible poo on your lawn or on a patio, this will be foxes marking territory.

My cat didn't bury his either.

Nanny0gg · 16/09/2023 18:14

TroglodytesTroglodytes · 15/09/2023 14:47

I’m a cat owner and do provide a litter tray for my two, however cats are fastidiously clean and prefer to toilet outside. That’s what is happening to you.

They will also be keeping your street rodent free and providing cuddles and visits to any neighbour that invites them in, elderly people, the lonely etc. A bit of waste in the garden is a small price to pay for their presence.

I've had cats most of my married life(40+ years)

Your last paragraph is utter...words almost fail me...hang on...tripe

Nanny0gg · 16/09/2023 18:15

Screwballs · 15/09/2023 14:52

Its nature. Literally nature. You must be horrified at what Tigers get up to in Africa.

As if you are sat there thinking they are malicious little bastards that only kill for shits and giggles. How utterly bizarre.

Show quote history

I'd be amazed to find a tiger in Africa...

Nanny0gg · 16/09/2023 18:16

Screwballs · 15/09/2023 14:55

Cats shit everywhere, birds shit everywhere and god knows dogs shit everywhere. You also realise ants shit, spiders shit, hedgehogs shit, squirrels shit? Oh not to mention the about of shit humans manage to produce. But oh my god, THE CATS, end of the sodding world.

I don't have random dogs coming in my garden using it as a toilet.

Must agree about the bloody pigeons - drive me nuts. But they're not someone's pet.

Nanny0gg · 16/09/2023 18:19

Screwballs · 15/09/2023 15:04

If your dog ripped my cats head off, id be reporting that it had bitten me and make sure it was put down. Having a vicious animal is not that same as an animal doing its business outdoors.

Show quote history

The dog is obeying its natural instinct in a garden that the cat doesn't have permission to enter. If a friend took a cat round I assume the OP would keep her dog away from it

Does your cat kill wildlife?

Oh and where is the evidence of the bite?

Chaniya · 16/09/2023 18:20

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Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 16/09/2023 18:21

People really will stretch to justify why it’s ok to allow their pet to shit over other peoples gardens.

It’s nature…..sorry but current domesticated cat ownership is not “nature”….they actually birds etc…actual nature. Humans shitting is nature too is it?

It’s not the same as pigeons shitting because they’re wild and yes many people consider them pests. To be honest thought unless you live in an inner city you won’t have a massive pigeon shit problem.

it’s not the same as dog shit because people don’t let their dogs repeatedly into your garden to shit (generally) and it’s socially unacceptable to allow dogs to poo and not collect it. But somehow here we have allowed it to be acceptable for some selfish person to have access cats they allow to poo everywhere!!

Just be a responsible pet owner..like we expect for all other pets!! Or don’t choose to get a cat.

Emz6103 · 16/09/2023 18:28

I have three cats and have a litter tray. They will come in from outside to use it. I hate cat owners who know their cat's gonna shit on someone else's garden yet get upset if people don't like it!! I've had this problem before I had cats and it's a fkg nightmare!! I sprinkled cayenne pepper all around my boarders and where they used to go....cats hate it!! Yes it worked. If you don't want stones/water/cayenne pepper etc thrown at your car use a fkg litter tray and deal with it. Be a different story if I sent my kids round to shit in your garden. I say do what you have to and it's on the lazy cat owner. You can get sensor spray that sprays water when it senses something walk past too