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.

Cats don't hate Lillies. The pollen poisons them when they clean themselves so that they die horribly from kidney failure.

It's very possible that you didn't see them again because they were dead.

I own two outdoor cats and I don't think you're unreasonable at all. Four cats pooping in your garden is unreasonable. The neighbors could be considerate and get a litter tray/area on their own property, if they won't you have to keep your garden from being a multi cat toilet zone.

More worrying is the cat’s owner complete disregard for their neighbours and their cats. And for their cats too. I have seen two dead cats on our very small road within the last two years. Presumably knocked down by cars but the real reason they died was due to their very irresponsible owners.
Many cat owners only have cats in the first place because cats are so self sufficient. They are the ultimate pet for lazy people.

The neighbours could put up brackets and netting to stop the cats getting out of their garden

We put up the cat spikes too, and neighbour with the cat did complain immediately, and the cat does still come into our garden sometimes but far less frequently. It really was a nuisance, it poo’d in the sandbox we bought out dd for her bday so that couldn’t be used, it scratched and bit our dd in her own garden, we couldn’t leave our back windows or doors open as it always just came in the house, there were a couple of occasions I accidentally locked him in our house, dragged a dead bird through the garden etc. Just a nuisance.You have the right to enjoy your garden, and the spikes don’t damage, they are just very uncomfortable so put them off. I really hope they work for you.

Water pistol when you are home and see them after a few times they mostly stay away.
if it works you then could remove the spikes and see if they return.
If they do rinse and repeat.

Ps i am a cat owner and have used a small water pistol on unwanted vistors to mine.

I find this type of thing works well in borders, and isn't too visible: https://amzn.eu/d/08Xltqqp

We cut it to size and cover empty border patches with it. It also works against squirrels.

Netting is the way to go

Exactly. Garlic is also poisonous to cats.

Get your own cat? It won’t shit in its own back garden and will chase the neighbours cats away. Dog would probably do the job too.

Not unreasonable, and every cat shit I found from this day onwards would be thrown over the fence into your neighbour’s garden.

Yet another species of shit animal owners who do nothing to control their “fur babies”.

I’m a cat owner whose cat is primarily outdoor and we were told he needed to be able to so hence not all cats can remain indoors.
Having said that, I have no issues at all with anyone taking steps to deter him from going into their garden providing it’s legal and not harming him.

YANBU I have a cat that comes in my garden and shits everywhere. He is also very aggressive. The other day, I caught him headbutting the cat flap in my patio door (it is locked... I no longer have cats).

Dogs used to be allowed to roam only a few decades ago. Dog shit everywhere as obvs they roamed (as in without owners) Then legislation was brought in.

Perhaps we will see the same with cats too in a few decades.

I saw a woman in Paris walking her cat on a leash once. Guess it was an indoor non-roaming one.

cat ownership would plummet if the owners had to actually walk them though...

anyway I digress, YANBU with the spikes.

They could keep their cats inside, or create a catio or cat proof their garden so their cats don’t stray. They don’t as at the moment they have the convenience of their cats shitting elsewhere, and no doubt killing wildlife, so why should they care!

Hose pipe, bucket of water, and wait

Self-sufficient? 😂

Where does one get a cat with thumbs and the know how to feed itself, clean the litter tray many times a day, give itself medication, take itself to the vet, brush itself, have playtime to enrich his life, buy itself many beds, toys, treats and anything else he needs, wash his bowls and plates, generally cleans up after itself and many other tasks that need done on a daily basis?

Now I know you're at the wind up so enjoy the attention I'm giving you 😁

You have created this idea of a cat being a pet. Look at farm cats. They hunt, they eat. They sleep in sheds. They clean themselves. They don’t need people. The very people who claim their cats are domesticated are the very people who declare they have a right to roam. They are also the same entitled people who disregard their neighbour’s right to a clean garden.

I don't think you are at all unreasonable. We had a few months of cats crapping in our garden. Bloody outrageous. We have 2 dogs..I have no idea why it is ok for cats to crap in other peoples gardens it is gross. I pick up my dogs crap as obviously that is the right thing to do!

OP, do you know of anyone with a dog you could have to stay for a few days? Or have you tried that?

This would be even better than spikes.

https://oscillot.uk/

People have cats, and some people have outside cats, that's okay and really pretty normal in the UK. If this is bothering you (and I can see why it would) it is your problem to solve, not the owners. That's the legal position so no point getting cross about it tbh.

All that said, something we found to be very successful was motion-activated sprinklers. The little buggers don't getting wet, so they stopped visiting us completely after a while. Something like this <amazon link>. You can just switch them off when you are out there yourself. I hope it helps.

Some cats roam into a garden that has a dog with a high prey drive. Cat gets injured/killed.
Is it up to the dog owner to deter cats? Or cat owner to stop their cat roaming into gardens with dogs that will attack them?

Well thanks for giving me the credit for the idea of the domestication of cats. It has taken thousands of years for people to listen to me and it was pretty tough but yes I, single handedly created that idea.

My family are farmers and the farm cats are big spoiled lumps. I have horses and the stable cats are equally spoiled, fed, vet trips etc. same as the farm felines.

But again, revel in my attention my fast dragon who flies 😁