Cats and neighbours 😞

[Cameron2012]

Hi,
I have 2 cats that I have always allowed to go outside , they are 18 months.
They both have litter trays which they use.
The neighbours have complained that they have cat poo on their lawns. Although there are many cats in the area apparently it's my cats that are doing it. I know I am being defensive 😳
So a month ago I started to keep them in, the cats are unhappy they want to go and play in the garden,
We have no room for a catio and putting cat proof fence won't work as we have an extension they will just climb over.
Even as I write this the cat that lives on my neighbours other side has just walked through my garden .
I have always got on with my neighbours, I have lived here 30 years and never had a cross word with them , I suppose what I am asking is wwyd in this situation?

You could ask them to spray water at your cats if they see them?

We have no room for a catio and putting cat proof fence won't work as we have an extension they will just climb over.

You can get the extension cat proofed but it will make it look a bit prison like!

Let your cats out. . Give her your number and offer to go around and poop scoop if she actually sees YOUR cats doing it. . Or smile sympathetically at her moaning. . .
No way would I keep my cats in for a neighbour. .

Unless you think she is likely to try to poison them then I would just make apologetic noises and ignore.

You could also get an outside litter tray that they might make use of - basically a very large tray with some sort of cover. You could also make a bit of your garden particularly welcoming for toileting - so nice soft, freshly dug earth with nothing in the way.

And you could mention to your neighbour what you've done so it looks as though you're taking her seriously.

If you really did want to cat-proof then you could also cat proof the extension.

Thankyou for your replies. I have done the sympathy noises thing and have always offered to clear up any mess my cats make. It's always ' oh no it's ok, don't worry' before going off and banging their gums to the other neighbours and then moaning at me again the next time they see me.
They have also been accused of stealing fish from the pond, apparently she watched them take one each and didn't stop them and damaging something ( which I replaced immediately).
Even as I write this I am aware of what a bloody coward I am

Buy her one of these. .

Provide her with a super soaker and tell her to use it , nothing more you can do . Cats are bloody annoying , I'm sure every cat in the neighbourhood shits in my garden , I've never moaned to the owners - I just moan to dh .