Understanding the nature of my complaint can be double sided. However, this has been a rather frustrating issue in which I have no idea how to handle it humanly, or in a civilized manner. I have put so much time, effort and money into my front yard and garden area. Over the past year it’s been an ongoing process of planting and then replanting garden flowers, greenery, shrubs, etc. I’ve put soil and had to haul away and replace the soil again and again. Not because I wanted to, but because I have no choice. The neighbor has two cats (and one just had kittens which really is the latest gripe in my story) but the cats he has currently taking over my life are enough. I have a dog, that is confined to one side of my yard only. She has one area of the inside of my house that shes allowed to be in. Yes my pet would love nothing more than to pee and poop and wreck my garden and hang out in the front yard and, or roam about my entire house, especially when nobody’s home. But, heck no! Why because she will cause unnecessary damage or leave fur, or odor, and she’ll think she can lounge all over the furniture etc… My dog is an inside / outside dog, but we keep her contained in a specific part of both, which she knows she is only allowed in. Even if I open any gates or accessible areas, she knows not to cross the line. We once had a cat, which was my Daughters when she was around 12 years old. We found it, brought it home and cleaned her of fleas, and got it fixed and all that… The cat was her responsibility. She took the cat outside, watched over it while it played in its restricted areas, it knew to use only its liter box when relieving itself and when it hungry or thirsty it would stand right in front of its bowls and meow until someone refilled her dishes. The cat learned early on exactly what it was supposed to do and not do. Cats aren’t stupid. People, as pet owners, have a responsibility to contain and, or control their pets, albeit cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters or whatever it is that they so choose to take in and care for. If they can not contain and, or keep their pets, cats included, under control or within their own living space, whether inside or out, then they needn’t assume the responsibility, or ownership of a pet. My opinion is, we need laws, or local ordinance in place regarding cats who roam freely, with its owners permission. There are many reasons why allowing your pets (cats in particular) to roam the neighborhood unattended, should be restricted. The idea that this is good practice is ludicrous. It’s unsafe and unhealthy for starters. Many people have this idea that it keeps the mice or virus infected rodents away… Well have you stopped to realize that this very same mice catching creature is the very thing that’s attracting the rodents, which we certainly do not want around? The scent these cats leave behind with their urine and poop, brings in unwanted critters, and mice or rats will feed off their poop. For every one or maybe two rodents your cat might catch and kill, 6-10 more he’s actually attracting into your living environment. To begin with, you wouldn’t even have the problem if your cat weren’t there alerting rodents with the scent of it’s poo or pee, smelled from many yards away. They’re attracted to it, they bring the entire rat family in droves, and create havoc all up and around your home. If there’s great hiding places with mounds of things in your yard or garage, house etc… They are going to set up camp right there. Many times people won’t realize it’s a problem until it’s a real problem. They believe stray cats or their own cats are the solution so they keep them around. But they are often the reason for these unwanted rodents, to begin with. Keep your home clean, free of clutter and unpleasant odors (cat urine in particular) and you will have less chance in a rodent infestation. But back to my original purpose on this cat topic. Is it fare for me to constantly clean out cat poo from my yard and garden? Is it right for the neighbors cat to come over to my yard daily, often twice daily to use my flower box as its personal toilet? Is it my responsibility to constantly buy cat deterrent products, new plants and flowers, or more soil because the neighbors cat is allowed outside to do it’s business regularly, because it’s owner rather not deal with its poo or pee? Rather he can’t afford it, or he doesn’t want to smell it in or around their own home, is not anybody’s problem but his. If his cat likes the outdoors then build a outdoor habitat for your cats, and keep them safe and healthy from an open and unmonitored environment. Isnt it out job as pet owners to keep them safe and healthy? How many times have we had to suddenly swerve or stop while driving down the road to avoid hitting an animal, or someone’s pet? Or how many times have we seen road kill in the road? It’s not anybody’s guess how that happened. It’s just common sense that anything could happen if a pet or animal is running around freely. Stray dogs, or wild animals are also a threat. Why does it make sense to anyone to let your cat out unattended? What’s worse, letting your cat roam freely when it hasn’t been fixed! Now your cresting more of a neighborhood problem then before. Just because your cat isn’t a nuisance for you, doesn’t mean the rest of the world shares your same feelings. Furthermore, it’s a wonder why people claim to be cat lovers or get offended when they see animal abuse or mistreatment of cats and dogs, but many of the same feel it’s a good idea to allow their cats, or cats in general to roam freely and unsupervised. Makes little sense, and I call BS, on this form of thinking. If nothing else, animal control will come pick up a cat if I call, and they will put it to sleep for good if it stays in their custody for a week or so. I’m tempted to use this as a resolution, if my neighbor, whom we otherwise get along with in simple terms. But after addressing my constant gardening issues and regular expenses, solar lights they break or knock over, flowers they’re eating, peeing on and killing or turning yellow, and scat mats that I have to use to deter them and constantly move every time I work on my garden. Or the automatic sprinkler I bought but stopped using because the water was leaking too much and caused my water bill to increase in one month, or the fence we recently bought to keep them out, but need to have it installed. None of these expenses are hitting his pocket book and good luck trying to get any compensation or compassion for my dilemma brought on by his cats. I’ve addressed my concerns and my recurring costs that otherwise I would not be dealing with, if not for his cats. Why is this issue left unaddressed by city ordinances across the nation? I know I’m not alone on this issue. Nobody should have to deal with this type of nuisance, or environment unless they choose to. If I wanted a cat, or cat related expenses or destruction in, or around my house I’d own a cat. But I do not want to deal with a cat or it’s urine smell, or it’s destructive behavior, so I instead have a dog. Why am I now left to deal something that I have no interest in dealing with, what so ever? We need legal mandates, in cat ownership and caretaking restrictions, or guidelines. Otherwise more cats, more rodents, more gardening issues, more stray cats, breeding kittens and road kill, or more animal shelter costs for our local government. It makes no sense why this issue hasn’t been addressed legally, long ago. Someone please explain this to me. Sunny California, US