Neighbour says I have to keep my cat in

[keepmehappy]

... 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!

Water spray / hose would be my next step, if your neighbour is willing to give you the time to try it.

If they've completely reached the end of their tether then I'd look at cat runs. If they are very very angry I'd be concerned about them hurting the cat if it got in the garden again.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=cat+proof+fence&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=O0a3kfKur0HQOM:

I think you may struggle keeping him in and expecting him to go against his natural instinct. I do not know what to suggest as my cat poos on my lawn and in her tray!

Hose it every time it goes in the neighbours garden. They are not stupid and will learn fast.

I used to house-share with a cat-mad couple with several very posh and beloved silver tabbies. They were permanently paranoid about cat-nappers, so most of their back garden was given over to a massive cat pen, maybe 20x30 feet, with a 10-foot tree stump in it (and a patio, table and chairs, flower bed etc!).

Your cat might hate it, but he'd hate it less than being inside permanently.

You could build him a catio
m.youtube.com/watch?v=aEM1Zelai1k
They are available commercially or you can DIY - there's a YouTube video on how to make one from an IKEA bookshelf.

There's an FB group, Tinykittens Unite which is a closed group but easy to join. It's a support group for Tinykittens.com kitten cam, but it has a lot of members from the US and Canada who are more used to keeping indoor cats than we are in the UK and can give advice - some of them have ex-feral cats who are now indoor cats. It's not always easy transitioning a cat that's used to going outdoors into an indoor cat. Some will never be happy, and cats have some ingenious and often unpleasant ways of showing their annoyance, but it helps to make sure that have plenty to keep them occupied- toys, cat trees, playtime - even, perhaps another cat, if yours is one who is happy with other cats.

You can't cat proof a garden. Cats are free to roam where they like.
Do what you can to stop him poohing there but don't keep him confined. That's just cruel. The neighbour may just have to put up with it as one of those things or do stuff to put him off coming in his garden. He is an animal. Animals pooh. Is he going to stop birds and other wild animals poohing in his garden too? The law is on the cats side here. He can roam and Pooh where he likes.

I'm responsible for his poo, though, same as if he was a dog. And I don't want to be doing the walk of shame with my scoop and plastic bag for much longer!

Thanks for the helpful responses, all.

I would try scaring the cat off. It won't do him any harm. Perhaps give your neighbour license to spray the hose at him if he sees him, or get a powerful water pistol.

I used to get fed up with neighbour cats soiling in my garden but knew I couldn't really stop them, so I got a cat myself, that way I figured at least I benefited from the company of the cat.

Offer to install water sensors on his lawn.

Bodicea of course you can cat proof a garden! It's not cruel. We did ours a few years ago and I'm much happier knowing he can go out but not roam.

Presume he's been neutered? Also as this just started and have you had him long? Sorry not rtft as very tired. My suggestion would be to continue trying to get him to toilet in your own garden. Try different places and some sort of fine top soil might help. Do sympathise as I had this problem and neighbour threatened to kill my cat! As a result, much as I would like another cat, these days there just seems too many problems with people and cats.

You're not responsible for his poo. Cats have a mind of their own. You don't own a cat. The cat owns you. And it would be cruel to keep him indoors. Your neighbour could get a cat of his own; get a dog; sprinkle Citronella on his lawn, or pepper, or a sprinkler, or do some research on Google about the best way to discourage him.

I really like your attitude, unlike my near neighbour who has at least 3 cats that make my front garden stink. Luckily they prefer next doors back garden so the birds I feed are safe.

I'm really baffled by that point of view, singlenotsingle. The cat lives in my house, I care for him and feed him, the poo is just part and parcel of all that. I'm totally mortified at the frequent poos left in full view on my neighbour's lawn. Do you really think I should just leave him to deal with them?!

And my neighbour shouldn't have the slightest obligation to lift a finger, or do any of that stuff. "Get a dog?!?" 😂😂

Well, if it's that much of a problem to your neighbour, the remedy is in his hands. Why is he not interested in trying to sort it? (Legally, you aren't responsible anyway). I'm not saying you shouldn't be sympathetic. Maybe you could buy some of that stuff to put on his lawn?

Well, he wants to sort it very much - he just believes it's 100% up to me to find a solution, and I agree with him.

I have tried a few things on the lawn but am going to try the jet spray thing next.

My next door neighbour has four cats. I'm not a cat lover. They come into my garden and poo and dig where they like but their preference is around April when I've just planted things out for the summer. Tbh it's frustrating and revolting and my poor neighbour is so apologetic ( I've never complained but she knows they do it) but I realise that there's very little anyone can do. Cats are not supposed to be kept indoors and I just accept it isn't something I can change easily as our gardens are big and couldn't be cat proofed. I sympathise with your neighbour but he may need to just accept this is going to happen when people choose cats as pets

My cat-hating SIL just used a water pistol on roaming cats and that seemed to discourage them. Alternatively, your neighbour needs a cat of his own or a dog lol. Sounds like you are trying hard to be a responsible owner, is it definitely your cat leaving all the gifts? I think keeping your cat indoors when he has been used to going out would be quite cruel and cat-proofing your garden perimeter quite difficult. Hope you get this sorted.

Did you look at the cat fencing I showed you? Seems the most sensible and easy solution to me.

My neighbours both sides have dogs so the cat doesn't go there.
You could get an outside run for you cat. A lot of people who live near busy roads have one so the cat can go out but is limited where it can go.

I'm with single on this one. It's not 100% up to you, it can't be can it, unless he gives you permission to go into his garden any time you like to pick it up.

Your neighbour needs to be more realistic about wild animal behaviour. Cats are only semi-domesticated and can't be trained. They use a litter tray and/or cover their poo if they perceive themselves as on another cat's territory. Your cat is pooing in the middle of the neighbour's lawn and not covering it because your cat is the toughest in the neighbourhood and your neighbour's garden is perceived in local cat society as a critical spot to claim.

If you keep your cat in, a different cat will become top cat in the area and will start pooing there. Keeping your cat in is not a solution. There is equally no point in cat proofing your garden for your neighbour's sake. Your neighbour either needs to put up with it or needs to cat-proof his garden to prevent any cat getting in, at his own expense. You simply cannot be involved because it isn't fundamentally your problem - yes it is your cat doing this but if it wasn't your cat it would be a different cat, or a fox, or whatever. So you can't take responsibility.

Friend had a cat run built so cat could be indoors or outdoors but contained to house or run.
Run had different levels and lounging areas.
Local wildlife was safe.😎