Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Neighbour says I have to keep my cat in

62 replies

keepmehappy · 20/03/2019 08:08

... and I'm starting to think he's right. DCat will not stop pooing on his lawn (middle of grass, won't bury it). Have tried two types of sensor, one worked well for a while but then got less effective.

Have also tried digging loose earth in my garden, introducing him to it, scattering his litter (clean and soiled) on it.

I have tried so hard not to let him out until he poos in the litter tray, then let him out immediately so he associates the two things in his mind (tho is he even capable of that?!). But often he just does it anyway.

At the end of my tether, and neighbour getting annoyed, saying he'll just have to be an indoor cat. What other option do I have? Please help!

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 20/03/2019 08:09

Your neighbour needs to deter the cat (humanely) so the Cat avoids the garden.

CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:11

No. Your neighbour shouldn’t have to do anything. It’s not his cat and shouldn’t be his problem. You need to cat proof your garden to stop him getting out.

NashvilleQueen · 20/03/2019 08:13

What are the humane options pls? I have a similar situation in my own garden with neihhbourhood cats and so far have just grumbled about it.

Original poster
keepmehappy · 20/03/2019 08:16

Agree it's not my neighbour's responsibility at all - why should he have to do anything?

It would be completely impossible to cat proof the garden - he can scale the 6 foot fences that are already there, he can get under gates, jump across roofs etc. Just impossible. I don't know how you can do that with a cat!

I'm going to have to keep him in most of the time, I think 😔

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 20/03/2019 08:16

There are various sprays and ultrasonic devices you can use.

Finfintytint · 20/03/2019 08:18

Presumably your neighbour deals with other unwanted visitors (as most Gardners do) like pigeons, foxes etc. I take steps to protect my own garden - why wouldn’t he?

Original poster
keepmehappy · 20/03/2019 08:19

As I mentioned, I've bought two different types of ultrasonic device. Have also used lemon spray, lemon peel, garlic and silver scarecrow- type things - nothing deters him 😰

OP posts:
CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:19

Humane options are ultrasonic motion detector alarms, motion detector jet sprays, rubber spike mats. The sprays, gels, granules, roar manure have very limited, if any, success in my experience. Whatever you do though, it’s all very costly. If cat owners cat proofed their own gardens, it would save the rest of us a lot of hassle and cost.

CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:20

OP why don’t you cat proof your own garden to stop him getting out? Only way to ensure your cat isn’t crapping on other people’s gardens.

CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:21

Sorry OP for some reason your update didn’t appear.

Margot33 · 20/03/2019 08:21

Perhaps get a litter tray for indoors? Perhaps he'll use it?

rookiemere · 20/03/2019 08:22

Woukd your neighbour consider giving you access to his garden so you can collect the poo? Seems like the obvious and free solution and if you had a quick scan on a daily basis you could remove the offending article.

CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:23

There are spikes and rollers you can get to put on top of fences. Block any other gaps. There are also massive pens that you can get for cats to have outdoor space in.

There are ways to do it if you really want to.

Margot33 · 20/03/2019 08:23

Sorry just reread your post and he has one already! I'm a sleepy head this morning!

Pinkbells · 20/03/2019 08:24

Your neighbour will probably only have to point a high pressure hose near (not on) the cat when they next do it once or twice, and I bet your cat will never venture into the garden again. Or you could do it. It won't hurt, just give it a bit of a fright and associate that lovely green lawn with the devil :-)

jeanniebrownhair · 20/03/2019 08:25

Great to read of a thoughtful cat owner. Pity there weren't more of your ilk and of course I agree with you, it is your problem. Your neighbour is being very patient.

Solasum · 20/03/2019 08:26

Could your neighbour not spray the cat with a hosepipe? Would probably only take once to deter him. Less cruel than keeping him in all the time

Pinkbells · 20/03/2019 08:27

Or you can get some special fencing that sort of tilts inwards - impossible for your cat to get over it, and much more humane than spikes that could cause damage and pain to the paw pads.

thefirst48 · 20/03/2019 08:27

You can't keep on your cat in, offer to clean any mess up your cat does. Go over in a morning and an evening.

CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:28

I agree. I wish the cat owners in my area cared about the way their cats shit all over everyone else’s gardens but theirs. Good to see that you’re giving it some consideration OP.

CarrieBlu · 20/03/2019 08:33

I don’t think offering to go and pick it up is a good enough solution. Cats fouling on a lawn can ruin it. If you’re garden proud and work hard to make it nice, it’s very annoying.

Neptunesgiraffe · 20/03/2019 08:38

Have you tried lion poo? Apparently it deters cats as they think there is a bigger, alpha cat about. You can Google where to buy it, I've found it easily before, but I've never used it. You could try putting in your neighbours borders.

And I agree with you, you can't cat proof a garden. My cat has climbed scaffolding that didn't have any ladders attached. He has also appeared on the next door neighbour's upstairs, outside window sill. No idea how he got there!

Original poster
keepmehappy · 20/03/2019 08:47

I clean up the poo every time he does it, of course. But it's disgusting to have a lawn like that - impossible to get every last drop off, especially in wet weather. It smears...

I had no idea, when we got our cat, that this would be so difficult to train into him. I just thought that if we had a litter tray, he'd use it! How naive was I...

I do like the high-pressure jet idea, though, thanks - will look into that one. Especially if I can attach it to my side of the fence somehow. Really don't want to cause my neighbour any more inconvenience.

OP posts:
Ilovelala · 20/03/2019 08:48

I gave my cat a splash to her tail with the hose over the fence everytime she went in my neighbours garden and made a loud noise as the water got her to make her jump and she stopped within a couple of days. I came to an agreement with neighbour about me doing that into his garden because his alternative was a jet wash to her face

Flobochin · 20/03/2019 08:55

You need something along the top of your fencing angled into your garden. The cat won't get over then.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.