Cats!

J_i_m

Chyna81 wrote: »

Since you don't see what the big fuss is about your more than welcome to have the fabulous 4 sitting on my decking area.

Well, it wouldn't bother me.

Partly because I happen to like cats.

But mainly because I'm realistic enough to accept that (pets or not) animals do not behave in the same way as people.

Animals have no concept of human ownership, they find home where there's food and shelter. The answer is to make your property un-inviting to animals. They will eventually go elsewhere when their instincts tell them that food and shelter are elsewhere.

ACG

penguingirl wrote: »

We used to get neighbours cats using our lawn as a toilet. We ended up getting our own cat (rescue from a friend due to her baby's allergies) and it turns out that having your own cat really is the best deterrant! Never had a problem since as cats very rarely use their 'own' garden as a toilet,

Excellent!

So where does your cat go?
Is your cat one of those that every cat owner has that ONLY goes inside? Or is your cat causing a nuisance on someone elses garden now?

gardengull

If you shake ground black pepper on the ground by your door, they won't sit there, as they hate strong smells (e.g. garlic, pepper, orange peel) and won't want it on their paws or fur. If there are no grass/plants around, you could try Jeyes fluid (disinfectant smell though).

ACG

^ I tried that, and those cat repellent pellets - they never worked. I also tried vinegar and then just gave up. The cats near me must all have colds.

penguingirl

ACG wrote: »

Excellent!

So where does your cat go?
Is your cat one of those that every cat owner has that ONLY goes inside? Or is your cat causing a nuisance on someone elses garden now?

My cat goes in someone else's garden or some of the communal area on our estate. Tbh I don't actually know. Your assumption is that all cats cause a nuisance, but actually most are pretty fussy about their toileting (e.g. do it in flower beds and cover it up). I clearly didn't get a cat just to deter others, but it happened to be a consequence. And as both my next door neighbours have cats, I don't think my cat changed things dramatically in our neighbourhood! I actually do consider myself to be a responsible cat owner- for example, my cat doesn't go out after 8pm as I think he is more likely to fight/ hunt/ wail all night when it's dark

You are obviously not a cat-lover, so I'm not going to get into an argument, but AFAIK the legal standing is that owner's are not responsible for cat's actions (including toileting), but are responsible for dogs. Not clearing up dog mess is illegal, but there is no responsibility to clear up after cats. Cats are the most popular pet in this country, so unless you live somewhere very secluded you are likely to have cats come into your garden.

penguingirl

gardengull wrote: »

If you shake ground black pepper on the ground by your door, they won't sit there, as they hate strong smells (e.g. garlic, pepper, orange peel) and won't want it on their paws or fur. If there are no grass/plants around, you could try Jeyes fluid (disinfectant smell though).

My cat is pretty tolerant to most smells (and ignores catnip completely), but he really can't stand lime so it is worth trying that

ACG

penguingirl wrote: »

My cat goes in someone else's garden or some of the communal area on our estate. Tbh I don't actually know. or care?


I don't think my cat changed things dramatically in our neighbourhood! Possibly not, but it may have added to some other poor neighbours grief?

AFAIK the legal standing is that owner's are not responsible for cat's actions (including toileting), but are responsible for dogs. Not clearing up dog mess is illegal, but there is no responsibility to clear up after cats. Exactly and thats the problem. You should be liable for it in the same way as a dogs. How is it any different? Legal and moral obligations are completely different, but equally important.

Cats are the most popular pet in this country, so unless you live somewhere very secluded you are likely to have cats come into your garden.

Is that because people can let them out all day and not really have to bother looking after them? Leave it for someone else to clear up after?

Your right, im not a cat lover - thats one way of putting it. But im more annoyed at cat owners who just let their cats do what they want, sod their neighbours... very selfish people.

bouicca21

Personally I object to all sorts of wildlife. Wasps, house mice, rats, foxes, squirrels, none of these are welcome in or near my home. But I'd be thrilled to have a visiting hedgehog.

suziqqq

Check with the neighbours somebody may own them. My cat went to live over the road we thought she had run off but she came down the woman's stairs and with a new name lol she kept her in the end. Somebody must own them

penguingirl

ACG wrote: »

Is that because people can let them out all day and not really have to bother looking after them? Leave it for someone else to clear up after?

Your right, im not a cat lover - thats one way of putting it. But im more annoyed at cat owners who just let their cats do what they want, sod their neighbours... very selfish people.

No offence but you have made a lot of assumptions about my relationships with my neighbours and their attitudes towards cats! I do bother to look after my cat and think I'm a pretty good cat owner. My neighbours have never once commented on him using their gardens as litter trays, and in fact I have had to ask them not to feed him (he is very affectionate and some of the local children give him treats). Most of my neighbours have cats anyway so maybe we're just tolerant of each other. In a cul-de-sac you pretty much have to be.

My cat is pretty much family to me. And I can promise you he is a lot less annoying than some of the children in my cul-de-sac. And the dogs that people leave in their gardens to bark all day/night.

But despite the fact I do have a cat, I'm still sympathetic to the OP and honestly wouldn't be upset if someone tried to deter my cat using non-harmful methods (chasing him, water guns, smells, sonar)

I go out running a lot on local footpaths and I sure as hell see a lot more dog mess (and even horse mess) than cat mess!