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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cat poo!

56 replies

DunderMifflin · 19/03/2009 13:01

I live in a terraced house and at least four cats live in our immediate vicinity (next door or next door to that).

I am SICK of clearing up cat poo from our garden so that we can enjoy it without the stink or worrying that the children will get it on themselves.

So, AIBU to expect that, as is the case for dogs, owners are expected to clear up the mess from their animals themselves?

I thought that perhaps when you get a cat you are put on a rota system whereby you have to clear the poo from the gardens near your house?! That should stop a few people from getting them as well!

Or, what about having to licence them and if there are too many cats in a particular area you have to put your name on a waiting list?

Or both??!? Any other ideas or am I about to get flamed?!

OP posts:
GruffaloMama · 19/03/2009 13:11

Legally a cat counts as a wild animal - so ownwers aren't responsible for their actions - unlike dogs.

I own both cats and a dog but do understand that if you don't have pets they can be annoying. You could try throwing water at them or using a water pistol - it won't do them any harm but word will get round that your garden isn't a good spot... Or get a cat or dog yourself. A cat will gurd its territory and a dog will also put off the visitors. But then you have to clean up his/her poo...

Dingbatgirl · 19/03/2009 13:11

I have a silly cat who doesn't go anywhere, doesn't even bother to catch mice, so she's not a problem.

I remember living in a terraced house with alot of cats around the neighbourhood and they left poo in the middle of the lawn, yes it's horrible.

Apparently, tiger or lion poo will scare them off, or there was a post on here the other day about ground peppercorns that will solve the problem.

I don't think owners will clear up the mess because they don't know where their cats have done it, you don't know which cat would have done the poo either and who the owner might be, so on that point YABU.

Mspontipine · 19/03/2009 13:12

Throw a ball......

SoupDragon · 19/03/2009 13:14

So, you want them to follow their cat around and climb into your garden with a shit shovel poop scoop...?

Dingbatgirl · 19/03/2009 13:15

Sorry, just read your bit about the rota system! Good idea, but I don't think people would agree - the water pistol is a good idea, though

Strawbezza · 19/03/2009 13:27

Cats can't stand the smell of orange/lemon peel, try scattering some around to deter them. Only moves the problem somewhere else mind you. I like the rota idea for the owners!

DaphneMoon · 19/03/2009 13:28

We have the same problem, they seem to just come to our garden to poo then go home again. They have systematically killed several plants in our garden. We have tried all sorts of humane repellants, but they don't seem to work. We used to live next to a family with a cat that used to poo in our garden, we used to shovel it up and hoy it into their garden. Obviously when they were not looking

troutpout · 19/03/2009 13:40

we always had a cat loo in our garden (thing with a hood) our cat used that ...she was too old to jump the walls anyway.
the orange peel thing doesn't work though...they only hate it when you first peel oranges and it's really fresh..my mum had cat poo ontop of orange peel.
She used a water pistol and had success with one particular cat with that.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 19/03/2009 13:50

After much thought we got our own cat, although not recommended for everyone (we did think a lot about this before getting her). She uses a litter box so at least her poo is in one location!! We've kept the litter box because I want to minimise her messing in neighbours gardens.

Prior to our cat, we used lion poo pellets which seemed to work okay (but I think we only had one cat using our garden). Another option we found by accident was that this cat was getting in under our gate (we blocked it up when we got our cat). The first cat is too lazy to jump over the gate so doesn't come in. Maybe you could try wobbly trellis or something that makes it difficult for them to get over your fence?

We also had horrible big lumps of wood chip on our borders (about an inch or so long), these seemed to stop cat mess because the prob started once I removed them. I guess they're nasty to walk/squat on

Super soaker should do the trick or a bucket of warm water

Did read somewhere that one option is to create a space where cats prefer to use (i.e. pile of sand) at the end of the garden so at least it's in one spot. Nasty but maybe better than on your lawn? Remember to cover your kiddy sand pits!

Eeek... long post, sorry

Trikken · 19/03/2009 13:50

I think there is some sort of spray that u can get that keeps them from going in certain areas. not one hundred percent sure tho

faeriefruitcake · 19/03/2009 13:57

I have two cats and one uses a litter tray and the other the hallway floor.

Cyan pepper or chilli powder put down where the cat poo's. It will stop. They also hate citrus so lemon oil or spray citrus oil in the area.

It's irritating and so very smelly but cats can roam up to a couple of miles so it could be other cats as well.

Bellebelle · 19/03/2009 14:04

You can get a spray which is actually called 'spray it and get off!' which we have used with our cats to great effect. My cats are indoors but I thought that cats were meant to bury their poo? I know it doesn't help your plants but at least you wouldn't be worrying about anyone falling/stepping in it. Maybe they're just lazy cats

SarahL2 · 19/03/2009 14:05

We are the only garden around without a cat so our garden is the local loo.

When I was pregnant we tried putting fishing wire along the tops of the fences to stop them being able to walk along them and get into our garden (I'm allergic to cats so have never had one and was paranoid about toxoplasmosis)

My neighbours kids now enjoy boucing on thier trampoline (which is pushed right up against the fence ) shouting "bitch" and "you dissed our cat" whenever they see me.

Joy

blondiep14 · 19/03/2009 14:24

yuk, we had this until we got a dog, now no more cats or their stinking pooh!

one particularly charming moggy used to pooh in the flower tubs out the front of the house but i put some stones on the top of the soil and that stopped it, guess it must be the uncomfortable factor mentioned.

Original poster
DunderMifflin · 19/03/2009 14:29

Thanks everyone - but I've tried (most) of these solutions and they're either temporary or don't work at all.

I know it sounds harsh and I know all you cat owners are lovely people (indeed, some of my best friends also own cats !) who sound as though you try to stop your cats pooing in other people's gardens BUT I don't think (as a non-cat owner) I should have to be clearing up ANY poo or dealing with any of the other associated problems!

OP posts:
pollywobbledoodle · 19/03/2009 14:36

really pees me off too....dh weighed it once and we had nearly 1 and a half pounds of it in 1 week....

i realised it was getting out of had when i started sitting on the back step with a loaded supersoaker in the afternoons

seriously tho' why shouldn't we throw it into the owners garden....they are being irresponsible in not training their cats to use litter trays

jesuswhatnext · 19/03/2009 15:08

i have 4 cats, love them to bits, however,

CAT POO IS DANGEROUS - i have no objection to my neighbours squirting my pets with water! they run home, poo in litter tray, it goes in bin! job done, so to speak

Nekabu · 19/03/2009 15:10

I love cats but hate cat poo in borders and expect my neighbours feel the same, so mine all use their litter trays and although they go out, they all come in to go to the loo. I would much rather do the kitty litter a couple of times a day than come across an unexpected item when weeding ... bleah ...

I did have a neighbour's cat using one of my borders as their favourite toilet spot and found spraying Catapult (I think it's called? It's in a yellow bottle with blue writing) frequently did the trick and stopped it going there.

PrimulaVeris · 19/03/2009 15:16

Total sympathies. My next door neighbours have 3, all rescue cats which is very worthy but they don't venture far (too timid) ... in fact, they don't venture further than our garden. Which is the size of a handkerchief as it is. Now it is full of poo, my lovely flowers dug up ....

And on top of that one of the mogs keeps eyeing up the pet hamster through the window

undertheduvet · 19/03/2009 15:21

I sympathise, we had this problem too and its hideous. If there is a worse smell than cat poo in the world then I dont want to smell it!
I bought this sonic repeller and touch wood its got rid of the problem so far.

BustyMcGee · 19/03/2009 15:22

This worked for us but is a bit odd, try collecting your own wee (and any willing family members) and pouring it about where the cats go.

duchesse · 19/03/2009 15:26

Apparently tiger dung works well (obtainable from your local zoo alledgedly), but I'm not sure it's not a frying pan/ fire situation. Although at least the tigers' health would be closely monitored..

Original poster
DunderMifflin · 19/03/2009 15:52

OR, when you get a cat you should have to sign a rota to clear up the poo in your immediate area!

I would love it if it became as socially unacceptable as letting your dog poo and then not clearing it up (although I realise that not everyone does this either... )

OP posts:
herbietea · 19/03/2009 15:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

screamingabdab · 19/03/2009 16:04

My cat poos in my garden (she is too lazy to jump over the fence). Clearly she has not read the books that say they don't poo in their own territory.

She is also so crap that she lets all the other cats poo in our garden too!

herbietea Waterpistol is the only answer that works (obv. I don't shoot my own cat, though DH would like to ...). My vet recommended it