Help!cats using my garden as a loo (merged threads)

janey_uk

Energize wrote: »

You can buy electrical fencing that goes on top of walls or electrical tape which can just be stuck to the top of fences, they're designed exactly for this type of problem. Barbed wire along fences is also an excellent solution. You can also buy electrical grids and netting for flowerbeds etc which will shock anything that touches it. Pain/force is the only thing that works and those are the only 2 legal ways of doing it, besides a dog of course. We had the same problem with cats, it's so annoying that people don't control their animals, allowing them to roam the neighbourhood posing a danger to motorists, children and other animals, as well as making a nuisance by destroying gardens and bin bags, people lack responsiblity these days.

http://www.electricfencing.co.uk/tape.asp

Electric fencing as a cat deterrant is largely condemned by animal welfare groups and can be fatal to cats. People who have installed it intending to deter them can and have faced prosecution for cruelty. (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/3049297.stm) Any electric shock can harm a small animal - particularly if it is old or not in good health which you cannot establish unless you are a vet.

The Animal Act 1971 does in fact give cats the right to roam, it isn't an irresponsibility issue. Cat owner are only responsible to take reasonable steps to make sure their pets don't injure people or damage property. For example a cat which is known to be aggressive should be spayed/neutered or kept as a house cat. Restricting where a roaming cat poos is practically impossible, especially if an owner has a garden where there is ample space for a cat to dig, and the animal chooses to go elsewhere.

If you know who the owner is, a safer alternative might be a polite conversation, followed by complaints to environmental health should the cat poo become a health issue for your or your family. It may be that basic facilities are lacking for the pet (such as a cat flap) which is forcing them to stay outside and roam further afield than they might otherwise.

Simply installing a legally purchased electric line might not breach the law, but the second an animal suffers any injury as a result, it will do.

annie-c

I live in a small terrace and am thinking of getting a sonic cat repeller. The issue I have is that the repellent is supposed to work in a 200square metre area - in such a small terrace that might mean the cats would be scared away from their own garden too! I want to be rid of the cat poo but don't want a row with the neighbours. Has anyone tried one of these and had problems with the cats being unhappy in their own gardens?

Energize

janey_uk wrote: »

Electric fencing as a cat deterrant is largely condemned by animal welfare groups and can be fatal to cats. People who have installed it intending to deter them can and have faced prosecution for cruelty. (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/3049297.stm) Any electric shock can harm a small animal - particularly if it is old or not in good health which you cannot establish unless you are a vet.

That incident happened because he created a dangerous homemade fence which delivered a massive 15A of current, commerical fences are certified for electrical safety and can not do that. That's why the judge fined him. If the animal was harmed by a legally installed system he could not have faced prosecution.

The Animal Act 1971 does in fact give cats the right to roam, it isn't an irresponsibility issue.

Regardless of what the law says it is irresponsible (and very selfish) to allow animals to roam the neighbourhood posing the risk of harm to themselves and others. There are many systems like electric collars which make it very easy to contain cats within the perimeter of your land.

oliveoyl

annie-c wrote: »

I live in a small terrace and am thinking of getting a sonic cat repeller. The issue I have is that the repellent is supposed to work in a 200square metre area - in such a small terrace that might mean the cats would be scared away from their own garden too! I want to be rid of the cat poo but don't want a row with the neighbours. Has anyone tried one of these and had problems with the cats being unhappy in their own gardens?

I bought one of these and it just didn't work at all... well, it worked insomuch as it wasn't broken, but it didn't seem to bother the cats in the least, let alone stop them from pooping on my veg patch!

The only thing I've found to stop them digging/pooing is netting, wire and fencing unfortunatley.

Funkyfarmgirl

I do have a gun...........but i think that maybe illegal!

smileyt_2

Hello

I have a small backyard converted into a garden. When I first moved in, I couldn't open the windows in the summer because the smell from the cat poop was so bad. I covered the whole soil area with plastic sheeting and cardboard ( I was trying to get rid of the weeds too) and this stopped the cats from using the yarden as their toilet. It's not a cure if you have acres of land - but given that many gardeners will be wanting to 'warm the soil up' at this time of year in preparation for spring planting, it may be worth giving this a go over a small area. They won't 'go' on plastic sheeting.

My neighbours have just got a cat. He is a kitten really , about 7 months old. He has taken to sitting in my rose tree where my bird feeders are ....grrrrr!.... but he is learning not to as he has been doused with two jugs full of cold water this last week. Next time he does it I am going to let the dogs out. They won't get him (I'll make sure he's far enough up the tree to be safe) but he might get such a shock it will deter him forever ..... I just want him to learn that my yarden is not the place to be!

janey_uk

Energize wrote: »

Regardless of what the law says it is irresponsible (and very selfish) to allow animals to roam the neighbourhood posing the risk of harm to themselves and others. There are many systems like electric collars which make it very easy to contain cats within the perimeter of your land.

Erm, I can only assume you are kidding? Shock collars are again cruel and condemned by animal welfare groups (organisations like RSPCA and Kennel Club have run big campaigns on this) and already illegal in Wales and Scotland.

Your sarcasm aside, I take it you are not a pet lover! :rotfl:

daska

The tenants in the flat above us had FIVE cats and no garden of their own. We were at our wit's end because we have a toddler and we couldn't let him out into the garden. Thankfully they've now moved but before they went we were having some success with sonic repellers and a water pistol.

Colchester council website spell it out pretty clearly:

Question My neighbours cats foul on my property. Can you help. Answer
No - the Council are unable to help you if your neighbours cats foul on your property. Cats are accepted as free roaming creatures. You would have to take your own action against the owners but this is unlikely to be successful. We are aware that problems can arise when cats are attracted to neighbours' gardens. Here are some tips that may help you: Cats don't like wet earth, so try to keep the flower beds well watered. Chicken wire will usually deter cats and is preferable to netting (wild animals may get caught in netting). Prickly plants and ground cover plants can prove to be a deterrent. There are a variety of approved chemical repellent products on the market so it is a question of reading the labels, seeking advice from assistants, and choosing what appears to be the most suitable product. Different products have different active ingredients so if one is unsuccessful it may be worth trying another one. The instructions for the use of any chemical product should be read carefully. Note: It is illegal to use substances like creosote, diesel oil, coal tar soap, peppermint oil, citrus oil or eucalyptus oil etc. You need to be aware that cats are free to roam and are protected by law. Cat owners cannot be sued for damages; it is an offence to steal a cat; it is an offence to harm or terrify a cat; it is also an offence to put down snares or poison or an unlicensed deterrent.

daska

Small, sharp twigs stuck in the ground every few inches might stop them using a particular area as a lavatory

Energize

janey_uk wrote: »

Erm, I can only assume you are kidding? Shock collars are again cruel and condemned by animal welfare groups (organisations like RSPCA and Kennel Club have run big campaigns on this) and already illegal in Wales and Scotland.

No I'm not kidding and I really don't care what animal welfare groups consider cruel, they complain about everything, their hypocrisy in euthanising animals because they can't rehome them and neutering them stops me from being able to take them seriously. Electric fences are standard practice for many animals like horses, do they complain about that too? A small shock is not cruel, I have been shocked by horse fences enough times to know!

Your sarcasm aside, I take it you are not a pet lover! :rotfl:

Actually I am, I'm just an advocate of responsibility. My dogs certainly don't roam the local area.