My neighbour is a miserable, nasty old bastard. He has a completely irrational hatred of our cats - because they keep shitting in his garden and once smashed a flower pot. Over the past few years he's waged constant war against them. He has tried putting little spikes on the top of his fence, smeared it with a nasty tar-like substance, actually kidnapped one of our cats and locked it in his shed for 3 days, and will now physically attack any cat on sight.

Now he's trying a new tactic. He's stuck a little sign on one of his flowerpots saying "Cats - keep out". Presumably any cat trying to climb into the pot will see and the sign and think, "Ooh, better not."

Mad old bugger.

Anyone else got an insane, cat-hating neighbour?

I live on a terraced street, another 5 houses of which (and 3 from an adjoining street)'s kitchen's all back on to a yard. Now four of us have at least two cats and we keep an eye out for each other (they were godsends when Elph went missing for example), but this one guy... arghh!! He just (as your neighbour), has this irrational and unfounded venom towards cats, so much so I've literally seen him kick any of the cats that go within metres of his front door (not mine or he wouldn't be breathing...), and he's actually spat on my neighbour's sheets when she threw some food (near her own door) and her and my cats were just happily pottering around together enjoying it. He's an absolute a-hole!

The spikes are quite legit and are for sale at many outlets..why would he lock your cat in his shed for 3 days to shit and piss if he does not like cats? of course he will chase cats away if they are smashing his pots and ruining his garden, the sign is probably an attempt at humour.this seems more like bullying of an old man for not sharing your love of cats.

He's miserable and nasty because your cats damage his property and cover his garden in crap.

I know whose side I'm on, you sound like a terrible neighbour.

well said.

To the OP.....how would you like it if your neighbour came and shat in your garden every night.

Cat poo/wee smells horrible, like human poo. No one should put up with cat poo in their garden.

People like gardens and some people like cats that shit in their neighbours garden.

I know which type of neighbour i would prefer.

He's irrational because he objects to your cats messing up his garden and damaging property

Whilst I wouldn't agree with locking cats in sheds, I get equally annoyed at cats that use my garden as a toilet - mind you, I found a well aimed water pistol did the job for me.

I can understand both op and the neighbour. Only 5 of my cats go out so far. I have already said too my neighbours if they make a mess in your gardens tell me and i will clean it up which i would do none have ever been too me too tell me that my cats have done this though. I think the neighbour has gone too far with locking the cat up for 3 days thats cruelty which ever way you put it an animal doesnt deserve that what ever its done. I do have one that tried to hit my and my neighbours cat with a broom one day because they just walked into his garden. This neighbour also tried to deliberatly run my cat down one day. I also think he has run a cat over about 3years ago the cat survived. Another neighbour when out with his wife tried to shoo my cat and the cat i was sitting for out of his garden he was nasty with it. The neighbour didnt last that long he died. I dont think that the op neighbour would like if it i let all my cats out at once though

It cold have been an accident the cat getting locked in the shed though, it happens quite a lot cats go missing and are found in neighbours sheds days later, the op's hatred of this man would automatically think it was a deliberate act.

I can see both sides but how can anyone control where their outdoor cat toilets??

He seems to have good reason to dislike what the cats get up to in his garden, but his behaviour sounds irrational and he evidently hates cats quite apart rom their 'deposits'. Before I had cats I used to be annoyed when cats cr*pped in my garden, but I just shooed them away, and used deterrents like "Get off my garden" - I didn't make my garden into fort knox or shut the cats in a shed.

As a cat owner it's a good idea to try to be a good neighbour so people feel more kindly disposed towards the cats. I've told my neighbours I will clear up any cat mess (including mutiliated prey) if they tell me it's there. I've even cleared up mess in a neighbour's garden deposited by someonelse's cat. Helps to generate goodwill.

The only thing he has done that sounds irrational is locking the cat in the shed but this could have been accidental bettaware sells the anti cat spikes

My neighbour hates cats going in his garden - not for toiletting, he is an elderley gent and he loves attracting and feeding wild birds. I have 2 cats and my other neighbour has 3. He has tried various high fences and chicken wire, and I noticed this weekend he has put thick grease - looks like engine grease - along the top of his fence. As this is my fence too, is he allowed to do this? I am also worried about my cats getting grease on paws/fur and licking it off - surely its poisonous?

Its probably not your fence. Check the deeds to see whose side the tick is on.

Op the thread is not going the way you wished?

I live in a first floor flat the cat poo from the ground floor flower beds can be smelt up here if we have the windows open, I am no cat hater but when I am cooking and all I smell is cat poo I do have irrational ideas of what I could do to stop them.
I always find it odd if I allowed my dogs to behave like cats I would be prosecuted

We used to have a neighbour who hated us so the cat got it as well. We think she got kicked by him or he did something to her because she was quite happy going outside and go off on little treks she would shelter in his front porch if it was raining and she was waiting for us to let her back in (she has a litter tray so she only goes out to stretch her legs and get some fresh air) and then one day after he had his issues with us(he was a complete t*sser) I was out with her when this neighbour got home and she went flying in the house, up the stairs and hid under the bed. I have never seen her move so fast not even for food. However it's taken us a year to get her to go out again but thankfully the neighbour has gone and all the others either have cats themselves or are nice enough to treat the cats kindly.

Regardless of where they are available, I find the use of anti cat spikes and tar-like substances on a fence an irrational response to the presence of cats. But that is just my opinion.

You're lucky he hasn't shot your cats, stop complaining and stop your cats shitting all over other peoples property.

Humans are funny about territory aren't they? I mean it is only a cat and it is only poo. What does a new plant pot cost? I guess the point is it is his garden and they shouldn't be allowed to just roam freely and make a mess in other peoples gardens. I wouldn't let my cat out of my sight if I was living next door to someone I know hates cats.

The cost of a new plant is irrelevant. The neighbour shouldn't have to spend more money because of someone else's pet.

As for, it's "only" poo - that does sound rather selfish.

could you imagine a world where it was illegal to let cats roam free into peoples gardens ... everyone would be in jail! who owned cats.

i do symaphise with peoples gardens getting mucked up, but its just one of those things, you can do whatever you like to scare them away, just dont hurt them.

If you kill the neighbours cat for going in your garden, there will be another cat along to take its place.

I share the point of view that we are entitled to 'protect' our gardens from unwanted visitors, but kicking animals, locking them up and saying that Sir Didymus is lucky the cat hasn't been shot (in effect because it deserves it). You should be ashamed of yourselves.

What's wrong with you people?

THANK YOU!!!

My response to that cretinous comment got deleted!

so true, what kind of person would harm an animal, someone who was cleary dragged up by the scruff of the neck, thats who!

Sorry, but no, you choose to get a pet, you look after it and stop it being a nusience to others. Why should I waste time, money and effort to get YOUR cat to stop coming into my garden. I don't want your cat and I certainly don't want the mess it leaves behind

No, I'd never agree with hurting them, taking them miles away etc, but it's bloody annoying when getting rid of even more cat crap in your garden to read comments like 'it's just one of those things'