Why are cats allowed to be a pain in the arse??

[sofaprincess]

We recently moved into a new house and we have a dog. She is quite a large dog and I have spent a huge amount of time training her and trying to ensure she is well behaved out of the house and friendly or indifferent (depending on the situation) with other people and dogs. I am always conscious that people might not like dogs and we steer clear of people in the street and always clear up her mess. She loves spending time in the garden and that is supposed to be her safe space.

My issue is this - my husband is picking cat poo up regularly from our front garden and has identified the culprit, but really what can we do (rhetorical)? But worse than that, a different cat likes to come and sunbathe in my garden (on the shed roof or other high up places) which causes my dog to bark continuously until I go out and lure her back inside. I’m starting to feel a bit fed up with nuisance cats - we should be able to enjoy our outside space without dealing with bloody cat issues……right?

YANBU - cats are are pain in the arse and they should be regulated in the same way as dogs are (ie owners need to ensure they have them under control)

YABU - cats will be cats and they should be allowed to free roam and sunbathe/shit where they like

Dog owners are the most ridiculous and entitled people on MN. They think the world revolves around their vicious, loud, shitting, animals, and think everyone else should put up with it. They shit everywhere, or leave their shit in bags for others to pick up. They run at you and jump up, whilst their owners look lovingly on. They bark constantly. They can be loving one minute, and literally kill you the next. They need armed policemen to control them.

See how ridiculous your statements are......

Cats are a nuisance. My dad has lots of bird feeders/baths in his garden and loves to sit and watch the birds in his retirement. He's upset often, finding dead birds/evidence of dead birds in his garden.
I used to put my eldest in the back garden in the pram for a bit of fresh air when I was hanging the washing out and pottering. Next doors cat was determined to sit on the pram whenever my back was turned. It used to drive me mad chasing it! Imagine a dog trying that?!

YANBU. Cats are fucking horrible creatures.

The amount of sadface "oh no my beloved cat is missing/was run over" on FB.

No sympathy I'm afraid.

This is perfectly avoidable by being a responsible per owner and keeping your "beloved" pet confined to your property. Better for the cats, the neighbours who don't want to deal with your cats shit, and local wildlife.

I agree with the super soaker suggestions. I often spray ones I see in my front garden. Does them no harm but gives them a fright.

Cats have a different legal status to dogs. I guess you can campaign to change that, but I doubt you'll get far.

I'm always amazed at how much some people believe they should be able to control their environment. Kids shouldn't play, cats shouldn't roam, neighbours shouldn't do everyday activities. Shall we also forbid rain and only allow birds to fly in certain airspace? Just accept that you cannot control everything!

I've nothing against cats although they're an annoyance. They can hang out in my garden all they like but I'm clear to their owners that I have dogs who have free access to the garden, one doesn't like cats and I hold no liability whatsoever for what happens to them if the dog gets hold of them on my property.

Keep them out of my garden. If you choose to let them stray into my property and they get hurt, its your problem. I have beware of dog signs, high fences with pigeon spikes, I've done my duty. They're no danger to people as they're friendly and I've made every effort to keep cats out.

This kind of attitude is what gives cat owners a bad name.

Dogs are amazing animals that can be taught to do amazing things - like rescuing stupid humans that get themselves into dangerous situations, sniffing out stupid humans that are breaking the law and being the eyes of a human that can’t see, to name a few. Added to which, they are loyal and protective and bring a lot of joy to a lot of people.

I appreciate not all humans are dog lovers, but those that think they are stupid are, well, stupid!

If I can afford to fence off my garden so that my cats can’t escape Than I would. I do have two cats and my
garden isn’t cattio’d yet. That’s just me.

And the problem is not that cats can't be controlled, it's that it's a much better life for a cat if it's allowed to behave naturally- establishing a natural territory, interacting with it's environment and exploring freely etc. It is unnatural to keep a cat indoors or in an outdoor caged area. They do not respond well to walking on a lead, or being taken for forced walks into unknown areas like dogs because they are territorial animals, not pack animals.

As for poo? Gardens are full of it from all kinds of animals- foxes, badgers, mice, birds etc. I can't get bothered about a bit of cat poo! They poo in the soil where it goes unnoticed most of the time- I occasionally find some while weeding or planting, but I'm always wearing gloves and I just scoop it up and chuck it under a bush out of the way- it then just breaks down and disappears.

Now people work from home, no one should walk outside the house in working houses because the foot steps are too distracting.

We think we’re so important as humans, every animal on this planet has a right to be here and trying to control everything gets us nowhere. Humans are the scourge of this planet, not cats in someone’s precious garden.

Many would argue that if you can't do those things, you shouldn't have a cat to begin with.

Clearly

Train your dog to stop barking when it's in the garden. Our next door neighbours have a dog that barks constantly when outside (not at cats just constantly because it doesn't like being outside) and they don't do a damn thing about it. It is the most irritating noise imaginable. Doesn't help that my DS (2.5 years old) is terrified of dogs so I have to keep telling him all day long that the dog is outside and won't be coming in our house and it's a friendly dog etc. He won't go in the garden to play because if it.

My advice - train your dog to ignore cats and not to bark in the garden. Dogs are very trainable, cats are not! As for the cat shit, yes thats gross and annoying and happens in my garden too but i just dispose of it. Would rather have a cat shit in my garden than listen to a dog barking. At least cats don't shit all over the pavement and parks like folk let their manky dogs do and don't clean it up. I appreciate that you seem a responsible dog owner (apart from allowing the barking).

Dogs also are significantly more dangerous that cats.

I love both cats and dogs, and keep both, I just don't buy that one is a reasonable pet to keep and the other isn't. Both have an impact, both are an absolutely normal part of society.

YANBU - cats are are pain in the arse and they should be regulated in the same way as dogs are (ie owners need to ensure they have them under control)

It would be extremely difficult to regulate, and location would have to be factored in (including those cats living almost completely outdoors).

However, in standard residential areas people could be obliged to keep their cars contained within outdoor areas and house. I know of several people who have 'catproofed' their gardens in order to stop them escaping but still allowing access to the outdoors.
Personally I haven't had trouble with other cats roaming, and it's a familiar sight, but so many are killed or injured on the roads, stolen or similar.

I have a couple of pedigree house cats, who never go out, nor do they want to.

Cats not cars

You’re the worst kind of person.

I now have two cats indoors and previously had a pair who lived happily for 20 years without bothering anyone, without getting run over, without going missing, without fleas and diseases.

Outdoor cats are more akin' to a pest than a pet.

I do hope that the law changes.

So you only don't care if it doesn't affect you. Figures.

Ever heard the expression "it's like herding cats".They're not like dogs, you can't make them do things.

The vitriol that comes out on these threads is nauseating.