Cat pooing in neighbours garden.

[Doubledouble]

Hi. This is my first op (although long time lurker). I have two cats who go out but don't roam too far. They have a litter tray in the house which they use when they are in. The cats are never out if we are not at home.

The problem I have is that we moved home a few months ago and now I am getting regular complaints from neighbours about the cats pooing in their gardens. They have done it before but I've never had so many complaints.

I really don't know what to do because to refuse to let them out would be unfair on them but if they continue to do this I am worried we will make enemies of our neighbours. I really don't want to re home them ( been with us for 10
years) but I'm not sure I see any other alternative. I have told neighbours to put pepper down and to throw water on them if they catch them at it but I'm at a loss as to what to do if it continues.

Please help. These are much loved pets. TIA.

My next doors neighbours cat poos in our garden and it causes bad feeling because I can't let the children in the garden without inspecting the garden first.

I told my neighbour that I want her to regularly inspect our garden and remove any mess from the cat. She refuses to do this. Can you offer to do the same?

I forgot to say that because our neighbour refuses to remove the mess I shovel it back over the fence and it lands wherever it lands. Once she was entertaining in her garden and it landed amongst her guests!

If I wanted to handle cat poo I would have got a cat and I imagine that's how your neighbour feels.

You could try making your own garden more attractive for pooing (eg fork over the earth regularly and make it easy for them to dig in.) Also make sure that inside is easy for them to use - eg easy access (do they have a cat flap?) and two or three trays so that if possible they don't have to use a dirty one while you're out.

The forthcoming winter weather may help if they have a pleasanter toileting situation inside than outside, cats not being daft, but other than that I think you're stumped. Other posters may have some better thoughts.

PS - also, try not to let them out until, say, half an hour after they've eaten. I suspect that you're getting home, feeding them and then letting them go out in response to a request? Many cats pee or poo pretty quickly after eating or drinking so yours are probably in the habit of eating and then diving out to poo.

If you can put down an extra tray or two and force them to stay inside until they've used them, it could change that habit.

That's all guesswork though - you'll know your own cats' habits best.

Buy them a sonic cat repeller (look on Amazon - there are loads). My friend swears by hers.

I have a cat and regularly get fox poo in the garden. Who can I throw that at?

We had this problem but then the cats adopted our garden as their territory and so pooed elsewhere. They tend to like to go on the boarder of their area. We encouraged the cats with lots of shade and stroking.

Thanks everyone. Some good advice there.

Lol at sparkling. It's kind of how I feel. Cats have the right to roam and there's not much we can do about cats, foxes or other mammals doing their business outside.

I'm really not up for confrontation with neighbours so think I will keep them in for a bit.

Thanks all.

I trod in the fox poo yesterday in my own garden Double.

Cats are allowed to roam, Sparkling Cat doesn't go next door (very garden proud couple) as he sprayed near her with a water pistol the first few times she ventured in which was fine by me. They often give her a fuss if she is sat out the front-they don't hate cats.

Lol at neighbours telling each other what to do.

My last two outside-going cats both used indoor trays to pee and poo - The Lodger actually started using them for poo (as well as overnight peeing) off his own bat because he clearly decided he preferred it. And then went back outside to hang out.

It seems to be a question of making inside just a lot more attractive to use than out. Lots of trays, kept scrupulously cleared, in a nice safe and warm place.

I've told the neighbours to throw or spray water on them each time they catch them in the garden. Hopefully it'll work. I might add that I'm not the only cat owner in the area so theoretically it might not actually be doublecat 1 or 2 but I can only take their word for it. Pffft what a nightmare

It is - because you haven't a leg to stand on, really. The great thing about having cats who use inside trays is that you can tell neighbours that and take the heat off. (It's also useful to keep an eye on their health when they get older but that would be a secondary consideration for you right now.)

cozitoesie please tell me that the lodger is a cat and not actually your lodger.

Yes - a cat.

He's an ex street cat who had to fend for himself since kittenhood and decided to move in with us. It was interesting watching him change his ways to take advantage ( where he wanted to ) of a home situation with domestic comforts.

my neighbours have a young toddler and we have come to an arrangment that if one of mine has gone in their garden they just let me know and i go round with a plastic bag scoop up the poo and dispose of it myself could you not do this is easy two minute job and cuts down on resentment from the neighbour, like you ours is a close with lots of cats and it may not always be one of mine but for the sake of peace makes life a lot more pleasant

I'd hazard a guess, issey, that you having made this gesture to good neighbourly relations, they probably feel goodwill and actually clear up some of it themselves?

cozie no they dont they dont have any pets themselves but they are good neighbours so its no skin off my nose to just go and pick it up dosent bother me i have to pick up after my dog in my own back garden and with the fosters have litter tray to sort so im not squeamish about a bit of poo,

Me neither. I'd rather do it from a tray when I'm prepared, though, than suddenly coming across it when I'm gardening - so I see their point.

It certainly would pacify me if my neighbour offered to come pick up after her animal. Maybe you could make that offer.

How can they prove whose cat the poo belongs to?

In the ordinary way of things, they can't. But when people get agitated like that, they tend to fix on a cat they've maybe seen once having a squat or whose owners they know. It's not entirely fair but you do sometimes have to carry the can for every cat in the neighbourhood who uses outside.

Think I will pop round and offer to pick it up. I suppose it's better than making enemies... It can be DHs new job from now on...

I haven't read the full thread, but think it great that you care. We have cats pooing on our front doorstep but have no idea who's they are. Also wouldn't complain to them as what are they supposed to do? short of not owning the cat in the first place

Cats poo in our garden. I really think it is something people need to suck up. Cats should be allowed to go outside, and you can't stop them pooing.