Neighbour showering me in poo?

[oxcat1]

Just before lockdown I moved into a new rented flat with a garden. I have two very timid cats who were kept in for the first few weeks but are now starting to explore. They never go far - they are home every 30 mins or so and can always be called back by Dreamies.

This afternoon I was reading on the garden when suddenly what seemed like mud and moss showered down on me. I realised iy was my neighbour who was digging up mud - and poo - and chucking it over the wall at me. "If your fcking cats keep fcking sitting in my garden...." "the council will fine you over £500"* etc
I tried to talk but a) I couldn't get a word in edgeways, and b) I can't even see the person as I am disabled and I can't stand to look over the wall. He just kept shouting and throwing stuff and threatening.

I don't know what to do? I don't doubt that it is annoying, but given I clear up at least one poo from the litter tray indoors every day, I don't know how to stop them occasionally pooing elsewhere? I feel afraid, and very afraid for my cats as I haven't had anybody so angry with me before. I'm shielding ( and a wheelchair user) so I can't go round and pick up any poo for him, but I would gladly take it if he leaves it by my door?

I was enjoying my beautiful new garden - the only outside world I have seen since late February - and I am now really shaken. Can he throw poo at me? Can he report me? Help!

Call the police next time. What he’s doing is abusive and threatening and you don’t have to put up with that.

If you have a litter tray that’s being used, chances are the poo in his garden is from other cats.

I’d be calling 101 in the first instance to get a pcso to go have a word with him. That’s disgusting behaviour throwing poo at you.

I would call your local police non emergency number and talk to them about your experience. I would tell them about your particular circumstances too. You can tell whoever you talk to that you would like to offer to buy cat repellent pellets for him but you couldn't get a word in edgeways when the incident occurred because he was shouting continuously as he flung the poo, and you are very nervous about approaching such an angry individual.

Do you know what this man looks like? Do you know from which direction the poo was thrown?

Regardless of your cats' toileting habits, he is not allowed to throw anything at you. And cats are allowed to roam despite his feelings about them.

Don't spend your money on making a playground for your cats (they will escape, cats are like that) unless you are the only person for miles it probably isn't just your cats.
Suggest your neighbour gets a supersoaker and squirts them if he sees them.

If someone throws poo at you on purpose call the police.

For the love of god call the police. He has assaulted you.
Cat proofing can’t be a real thing. Cats are too clever and fluid to be outwitted that way. They’ll be shitting in his garden to show their contempt as they’ve got him sussed as a prize wanker.

OP call the police asap - it is assault.

The fact you have people coming to your house who probably come in uniform means he should have guessed you are disabled.

Once you get a crime reference number if you have a freeholder or are a council/housing association tenant then inform them in writing of his behaviour
He will then leave you, your cats and anyone else who lives with you alone.

In regards to cat proofing your garden - in the UK you are under no obligation to do this. He however can put up cat spikes as long as they don't maim any animals. Also if he has no cats or dogs any local cat will visit his garden so he needs to learn to deal with it.

He knew you were in the garden the minute you spoke, so even if he couldn't see you, he knew there was a likelihood of hitting another human being with poo. And he wouldn't stop throwing it or shouting despite the fact that you were clearly trying to communicate with him.

I honestly urge you to call the police. They should go around and have a word with him. Someone this angry needs to be cut down to size.

I have an indoor cat, have done for 15 years.
I also know people with cat proofed gardens.
But in your situation I would call the police ASAP and get them to explain that throwing cat poo on a person in a wheelchair is beyond unacceptable.
I would stop this behavior now before it gets worse.

Report to police on 101, it is likely to be considered assault and safeguarding abuse of disabled person /Adult at Risk under Care Act 2014 You can get cctv quite cheaply on amazon £30 for one camera pointed at garden to capture poo throwing at you. Then police will have evidence of the crime too. I'd do that quickly

Police would take this seriously its not only antisocial behaviour but is assault to throw anything at anyone including cat poo, no matter how provoked he feels! Who does that?!!!

Police will find out who it is. And if he keeps
Doing it he will get caught as they can interview other neighbours on doorstep enquiries

I feel like I'm living in a twilight world. How can anyone defend someone throwing cat shit at a disabled woman. Even if it was her cats shit.

Pa. it isn't a crime for your cat to poo in his garden, if it is your cat. It's an annoyance but not a crime. He has however committed a crime

Those spikes are a vets bill waiting to happen. Please don’t use them.

www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cheap-diy-ways-to-cat-proof-garden.502581/

No one care what happens on the side of a boundary wall, I don’t think you’ll encounter a problem from a normal person if you attach something that can be easily taken down in the future and made good again. There is bound to be a cat loving handy man around who will help you, your Facebook spotted page is a good place to start. It’s worth getting quotes when your feeling up to it.

I would go to the police, he might already be known to them. What he did was horrible and there’s no need.

Thank you to all.

I will contact the non-emergency number tomorrow and speak to them as I am very upset about it all and if nothing else, the way he approached it was very wrong. He didn't try to talk, he threw the poo and then started swearing f*cking expletives at me whilst still shovelling stuff over. I don't think that is fair.

Maybe 101 can give some good advice, and at least I can assure him I am taking it seriously.

He sounds completely unreasonable. Of course cat poo is nasty and can damage plants but his reaction is completely OTT. There are many things he can do - given that other cats may also use his garden, not just yours. Orange and lemon peel and those gorgeous smelling cocoa shells can work (and deter slugs). He could use a water sprayer. (I would find this a bit mean myself but it won't harm them). I have heard that the electronic deterrents are not good for cats or other animals. You should consider reporting him. I bet if you were a large man, he would not have behaved the same way.

Cat proof your garden so they stay in yours only. Its not acceptable for your cats to pooing in someone else’s garden and I say that as a cat owner.

Yes well one thing at a time for her eh? Wheelchair user having daily carer visits, how much disposable income do you think people have in that situation?.

Try and have some empathy.

It doesn’t sound like he was attacking you, more like he was just throwing the shit back where it came from. I don’t see what’s wrong with that really. He shouldn’t have to deal with other people’s pets shit at all.

Don’t apologise.
Report him to the Police and council for harrasment.
You are a vulnerable person And no one deserves to have shit thrown at them , it’s assault.
He is completely out of order.
He can buy his own repellent!
Animal crap of all kinds is just part of having a garden imo birds, foxes, Squirrels, cats etc.
There are legitimate ways of dealing with it and it’s not throwing it around or abusing your neighbours.

He has no proof it’s your cats, im sure there are other cats in your area.

Today 20:30 memberof5

I feel like I'm living in a twilight world. How can anyone defend someone throwing cat shit at a disabled woman. Even if it was her cats shit.

I agree completely.
She is entitled to enjoy her property in peace without abuse from neighbours.
Unbelievable anyone would condone it.
Savages is all I can say.

He didn't try to talk, he threw the poo and then started swearing f'fcking expletives at me whilst still shovelling stuff over.

When you ring 101, make it clear you are disabled and vulnerable (called an adult at risk) & agree to safeguarding referral to adults health and care. They'll be required to
do something, don't say you can deal with it yourself as you can't.

It's neighbour crime of assault which would be considered aggravated as you're vulnerable - and no he doesn't get to do this. No one does. It's abusive, even if you weren't disabled, a wheelchair user, on oxygen , with carers... that makes it so much worse. . But you can bet that Adult social workers and police will take this seriously - if he does this, will he do it again, to whom and what else might he do? He has issues.

No one gets to assault and verbally abuse people for minor annoyances!! Shame on the PPs saying they'd do the same, or condoning it. OP doesn't deserve this assault, please stop victim blaming.

Another one here saying to call 101 in the morning. They can send someone over to him for a chat. It helps to have it logged, incase it escalates e.g. hurting your cats.

OP reading your update, that's aggravated & will be seen as intentional if he kept throwing the poo over at you even though he knew you were there and some had hit you- I'm guessing you squealed in shock as anyone would. Try to recall the words he said to tell police. Write it down whilst you remember. Tell your carers too as they will report it to Adult services as well. The police referral takes a few days sometimes to go through but safeguarding via carers happens quickly,

I cannot believe how many people are saying it’s unacceptable for pet cars to leave their own garden. I have never lived anywhere that cars didn’t roam the neighbourhood freely. Along with foxes and hedgehogs who also poo. Fox poo is particularly unpleasant. I’ve never owned a cat but they come and go across our garden freely and I have no objection nor do I know anyone in real life who believes they shouldn’t be allowed out.

OP,
Your neighbour sounds like he could be dangerous to your cats. Can you keep them away from his garden?

I can’t believe some people are trying to justify the neighbour’s actions! He sounds like a total loon and aggressive to boot.
OP do call the police to report the occurrence. It is important to keep a trail of occurrences, in case it happens again.
In the meantime do look into options for cat proofing the garden. Mine is catproofed for the sake of my own cats, I don’t want them roaming too far. It’s not just a Mumsnet thing lol
You can also try and encourage them further to poo in your own garden, there are websites which explain how to setup an outdoor litter area which is attractive to them. You can also buy an extra litter box, a covered one, for them to have in the garden.