Cat spikes around garden

[VividDenimTiger]

So, we live in house with a small garden. The neighbours cats have been shitting in our garden every day for literally 5 years. We have tried EVERYTHING to deter them- sensors, water sprays, planting cat deterrent plants, lion poo, spraying stuff. You name it, we have tried it.

Our garden stinks of cat shit all the time. The neighbours who own the cats- sit outside in their garden all the time enjoying life because their cats don’t shit at home.

It’s broken me - we can’t actually use our garden at all at the moment as it’s terrible- they shit in the beds, dig up our plants and spray against the shed.

So we have put up cat spikes to try and deter them as a last resort. I hate them and they look awful but I am hoping it might deter them. Neighbour has already made it clear how unreasonable we are - they are on our side of the fence so no boundary issues. I am trying not to fall out with them but we have asked them many times to try and contain their cats- they have 4.

so AIBU? I am literally at the end of my tether. My kids can’t play in the garden as there is constant shit. It’s stressing me out so much - we just want to use our own garden so this is honestly last resort. I am really upset by it all.

This is why I didn't let my boy out 😧

Sorry I was replying to someone else who mentioned the legal part

Throw the shit into neighbours gardens.

I appreciate you can’t, but equally it is not fair of them to have four cats and for them to prevent op having enjoyment of her garden, technically I wonder whether this could be considered a nuisance, especially as they are refusing to help in any way to reduce the problem or clear it up.

Also- it’s slightly insane that we have to ask people every day for years to remove shit from our garden. I shouldn’t have to do that- it’s almost broken me!

It also fills me with rage that their garden is lovely and they can sit and have bbq’s where’s ours is ruined and stinks of shit.

Chicken wire over the flower beds stopped it for us while the seeds were growing. Not ideal but it works at least.

Or if you plant and then cover the beds with wood chippings that also puts them off

Or a bucket of water if you're quick enough.

They decimate the wildlife too. Was dreadful seeing the baby robins dead the other week - feathers everywhere.

those poor adult robins who nurtured them for weeks

Cat owners could put something up on their fences so cats don't roam into other people's gardens.

I think cats are lovely but are really anti-social pets to own in this regard.

Cat shit in the garden gives me the rage too.

Owners should take more responsibilty at keeping them in their own demise.

The damage to wildlife too. I would never have a cat for this reason.

we tried wood chippings too last year and a mesh over the beds but they just shit on top of it 😩 Honestly when I say we have tried everything, we genuinely have!

The amount of poo I clear out of the litter trays for our two cats, multiplied by two as there are 4 cats in OPs garden is a serious amount of shit and I wouldn't want it left lying around in my garden for one day let alone 3 or 4 days.
Our cats are indoor cats but have a run in the garden but we have to use spikes on the fences to stop the local free range cats getting in.

Im a cat owner and dont think your BU but be warned they won't necessarily stop all cats!

They can cat proof their own garden.
They can try to teach the cats to use litter tray at home.

Having four cats, knowing they make neighbours garden unsafe and unusable, just shrugging about it, and than complaining when the neighbours tries to defent their space is pretty antisocial.

I love cats but we're considering this too.

We got an aviary for ds' budgies last year and one that climbs (noisily) up the aviary, often more than once and sends the birds into zoomies, so they're crashing around in the dark in panic.

YANBU. Cats are disgusting, filthy creatures. Spikes are generally very effective deterrents.

It’s strange that they all head to your garden to shit though and not other gardens. I wonder if there’s something you have in your garden specifically that they like.

I get a few local cats in my garden - probably several times a week - and I’ve only once found cat shit in my garden. I wonder if it’s because I have a cat myself (indoors) who glares at them out of the window if they dare to venture into the garden.

Chuck the cat shit over the fence.

We used to have a small bucket of conkers by the back door if we saw a cat in the garden we would throw a conker at them and shouted. Now if we see any cats in the garden they quickly skirt around the edge and never linger in my garden.

Effectively we have trained them to know it is not a safe space.

We never managed to actually hit one with the conkers!

I love my cats.
i love them enough to make sure they never end up in a neighbors garden.

spike away.

YANBU - I was you in my last home. Tried everything but not the spikes (mostly because I didn’t think to).

I moved into my new home last year and have since gotten a cat but she’s an indoor cat (although I plan to cat proof the garden for her to go out into)

I feel your pain and I do not think you’re BU

I keep my cats prisoner.

Another prisoner

cats are incredibly clean actually, this is rubbish! Doesn’t make op feel any better I’m sure but it’s true.

I have and love cats and would be fine with a neighbour putting up spikes - before you come at me.my cats have 2 indoor litter trays and an area behind our shed they use for their toilet. Obviously I dont 100% know they dont also use other areas but from the amount I pick up id be surprised!
OP have you tried one of those deterrent that use a high pitched noise humans cant hear? They're meant to be good. Also motion activated sprinklers are too. I mean if you'd rather just keep the spikes then fair dose but maybe these might be better?
Failing that - and this is a wildcard - have you thought about getting a cat yourself? Cats are territorial, so if YOUR cat claimed the garden the others would probably stay out. Obviously this only applies if you'd actually like to have a cat but might be worth a thought?

Ah yes the prisoner who has all needs fufilled safely without being at risk of being killed/poisoned or injured by a car, fox, dog or shitty human.
Outdoor cats are illegal in most of Australia yet they still have cats that are healthy happy and loved.