To want cat-owner to acknowledge impact on me?

[SafetyLady]

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?

We bought this sonar thing that made a high pitched sound. It kept them Away

It would be best if you could deter the cats from coming into your garden - if you soak them with a water pistol every time they come through, they’ll find a different garden to go in.

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 dislike humans with a passion but love animals and would never hurt one but I've chucked poop other my previous neighbours fence twice after their cat made a mess on my lawn, saw it do it. Neighbour got her dh to come round to speak to me and I told him I wasn't going to put up with it and as it was their cat, its shit belongs to them. so I was returning it.
He looked sheepish and wandered back doors. A few days later ds brought a super soaker, mog chops soon got the message and hasn't been back since

This selfish attitude is so infuriating.

Cats obliterate wildlife and shit in other people's gardens.

I definitely wouldn't even remotely consider being so cruel, however I don't think cats are 'innocent' animals if we include the amount of birds/mice/other small rodents they kill. There are far too many cats in this country, of course that's the fault of humans and not the cats!

Totally agree. We've done similar for our cats - basically a patch of loose earth right at the end of the garden for them to use as a tray. Our old cat used the same patch so it definitely is possible to train cats where to toilet outside. I've also told my neighbours if they ever catch my cats pooping in their garden to let me know and I'll be round to clear it up. My cats, my responsibility.

Oh and cats definitely do poop on the lawn! I've seen my own and others do it. We have foxes visit our garden too. They poop on the lawn also but fox poop and cat poop are not at all similar and it's easy to tell the difference.

I would get a water sprayer, the type you can get for watering house plants, and aim it at the cat if you catch it using your garden as its personal toilet. It won't do the cat any harm but should deter it from repeating the behaviour.

Trog not everyone loves your cat just because you do, It's the same with dogs that race up to you and slobber and the owners think it's lovely 'he wants to be friends' well I don't so just fuck off.

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.

@SafetyLady
If you make the area uncomfortable they may go elsewhere - I arranged sticks everywhere so there was nowhere for them to settle. This seemed to work.

Your neighbour sounds like a PITA - pledge never to take a parcel in for them!!

You need a couple of these in your garden, our local cats now walk around our garden to go and poop somewhere else! Most of my neighbours have them as when we got them said cats moved to the next house, they got fed up and got them too and so on. The only ones that don't have them are where the cats live!

Try placing used teabags sprinkled with a few drops of Olbas Oil around the areas the cat is using. They can't bear the smell of it (the Olbas Oil, that is - not their own crap!).

I'm not sure this is totally true.
I've had cats all my life, cats definitely do poo on lawns and concrete and also, not all cats bury their poo.

Cats are bred for human pleasure. They are not wild animals.

We only have so many cats because cat people want to own them.

Nothing like tigers.

I'm a cat owner and I think it's kind of hilarious you would say this to someone annoyed with a cat shitting in their garden 😁.

Like they're suddenly going to say - 'y'know, you're right. It's not just stinking faeces it's a community service. Forget it'.

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.

You’re not being unreasonable. A sad number of cat owners believe they don’t have to take responsibility for their pets. They allow them out into a dangerous environment (and blame everyone but themselves when they get killed/injured), they kill wildlife for fun, they kill other people’s small pets while trespassing, and they foul other people’s property. All domestic animals should be contained, it’s a simple as that. Sadly the law hasn’t caught up with civil society on this one yet, I guess they’ve had more pressing things to concern themselves with, but this is a real and every day problem for a lot of people I promise you.

It is indefensible, and it’s not unreasonable for you not to want to clear up after some lazy sod’s pet.

some people simply have no place in society.

Whatever you do, don’t plant bamboo. You will never get rid of it. And cats definitely do poo on lawns.

Dogs and cats are pets, their owners are responsible for their shit.

Wild animals are different.

This is really simple to understand.

Mine used to poo on a strip of gravel outside my back door. I got garlic flavoured cat deterrent and they stopped. Worth a go.

Who wants shit in their garden? Ant and spider shit is a ridiculous comparison.
If your next door neighbours came round and took a shit in the middle of your garden you'd be less blasé, I presume?

I understand the concept, but in this particular instance I think it’s a negative indicator. Just as I understand that some people enjoy keeping and shooting guns. Doesn’t mean I have to endorse their preference.

This is just not true sorry.

I've watched cats do it.

What you need is holly. Clip the leaves off so they fall flat on the ground and spread them over the surface.