Not something I would do, but I did laugh. I don't have a massive problem with cats at the moment, just a handful of times a week. One did get a bucket full of water thrown at it yesterday.

And the idea that cats always bury their poo is a myth. An often quoted myth, but a myth nonetheless.

I agree we had a cat when first married that only seemed to poo on our lawn when he went out..but he was an old cat we got from a rescue so he only went out into our garden when forced then soon came back in..he was the dirtiest cat I have ever seen in that even in his litter tray he didnt even bother trying to bury it..dont know if this is a just a habit of some cats or an age thing..

Only other cat we had came to us from a farm behind where we live when he was very young..I fed him a few times and he just kept coming back..obviously...we did take him to be neurtered as the farm behind have cats everywhere so thought it would help a little..he was never really our cat we just fed him and he slept in our boiler house..he was a hissy spitty cat when we first saw him then eventually tolerated being stroked on his own terms..he stayed around for 10 years then unfortunately he was knocked down just down the road from us..

I do think people with cats need to accept others will use humane methods of keeping their cats at bay..loud noises,chasing,water..it may be within the law for cats to wander but it is also not illegal to chase a cat off,bang something at it or squirt it a little..you cannot go around threatening people who do these things to your cat if it wanders onto their property..if it is such an issue then owners really need to keep their cats in full stop or only let them out within their sight..those whose cats are out all day whilst they are at work..I hate to tell you but someone somewhere will be doing one or all of these things to your cat..not scaremongering..just being real..even those with cats themselves may discourage other cats from coming near..just how it is.

Agree with your posts, especially the bit in bold above. I have two indoor cats who go in my garden and nowhere else. I don't want other cats in my garden so I scare them away.

I'm afraid if people with outdoor cats object to their cat coming home wet, it's just tough.

I love cats (and dogs for that matter) but I don't have pets of my own. However, I don't want any of them crapping in my garden. Its just not nice when you want to relax in your own property but have to keep on cleaning up crap from your neighbours pets. I'm looking out for anything that will deter them and if an automatic alarm/sprayer is what I need then I'll use one.

What I wont do, and this shocked me when I found out, is do what one of my neighbours did 30 years ago was to put broken glass in her flower beds.

If my cats come home wet then I tell them it's their own fault

I've had issues with cats coming into my place and eating the noms I've put down because mine are so laid back, a water pistol is the best bet in all cat related instances IMO and I'm a cat owner.

Ouch!

I blame the owners, not the cats.

Always had dogs and cats, but have enough with mine, changing litter trays (yuk) and de-pooing the garden, I don't need more! My front garden is laid down with gravel, work free, but a natural litter tray for the neighbourhood cats unfortunately. I haven't got to the stage of trying an automatic deterrent, but have no qualms at clapping my hands and shouting when I find one "adopting the position". That usually seems to do the trick - and am even hardening my heart to the disgusted glares they give me as they scarper off.

You do know that cats are not like children don't you? You cannot really stop a cat from pooing somewhere else unless you spend your whole day following them around.

Cats can be controlled but its up to the owner. Abigail is correct, its all down to the owner.

I saved the streets stray from getting knocked over. It had been a stray for years and fed by residents, and someone took it in years ago officially and its now their pet, and has been for several years. Its middle aged i think, and it was laid chilled out in the middle of the road in its own world and did not move when a car approached, the cat stopped, and i had to get it to shoo it off the road because it had no idea the car was there, ive seen it do this several times. If it wasnt for me it would have been ran over

Are they really effective? Do you mean the supersoakers?

I agree with this part of your post. I have no problem with people using humane methods to keep unwanted cats away. I do it myself all the time now that my 3 cats have formed a tight knit clan and don't like other cats in their territory, even cats they previously got on with. I shoo cats away and occasionally resort to a water pistol. I've even done the same this evening when I heard 2 of my cats growling at the back door which, on opening, I found sitting there a lovely ginger cat who promptly scarpered.

I am frequently out all day at work, I am away for up to 14 hours sometimes as I am a nurse on long shifts, but most people in my position have what is commonly known as a cat flap My cats can therefore come and go as they please which, when the weather is bad, is mainly staying inside and, when the weather is very warm, they may spend the day snoozing under a tree or bush in my garden. My cat flap is magnetically controlled so only my own cats can get back into my house, their safe refuge, if they feel spooked or threatened by anything outside. Most cats really don't spend very much time in other people's gardens though my niece gets very excited when she finds her neighbour's bengal cat asleep in her garden Two of my cats occasionally spend a few hours asleep on my next door neighbour's trampoline which is probably all it gets used for nowadays.

If anyone threatened to actually physically hurt my cats then that would be a different matter which I would obviously report immediately to the police because, fortunately for me and most cat lovers, the law allows cats to free roam and forbids people from deliberately causing malicious harm to a cat. However, this is not a widespread problem because, in my experience, most people are actually decent and law abiding. Luckily, I live in a really nice area (notwithstanding some annoying kids) where the norm is to have roaming cats. Most of my family and friends with cats also seem to live in areas where it's accepted that cats can free roam. I don't know anyone who keeps a cat indoors only. We must all be very lucky that we've never experienced any problems with neighbours but, then, we are all nice people who bring a lot to our local communities so people would not complain, particularly about something so trivial. I think most people have more important things to worry about.

I accept that my cats are exposed to danger outside, from cars, plants. people etc but this is a risk we cat lovers are prepared to take to ensure our cats can indulge in their natural desires to explore, investigate and hunt while getting exercise and fresh air. If my cats are injured in an accident outside, which has happened in the past, then I accept full responsibility for ensuring that cat is vet treated and then, when well enough, slowly allowed back outside again under careful supervision until fully recovered. I have always minimised the outdoor risks to my cats by buying my homes in very quiet locations and ensuring a properly working cat flap.

I know, as a cat lover, that my attitude and approach is the correct one for anyone that truly cares about cat welfare - and these views are supported by the majority of vets and by nearly all cat rescue organisations including Cats Protection and the RSPCA (with the usual exceptions for disabled or nervous cats). Home checks nearly always set conditions for cats to have outdoor access because it is completely unnatural to have a cat cooped up inside for its entire life - though I respect this is a personal choice, the choice to keep a cat confined indoors should not be imposed on others who rightly consider it totally wrong.

Of course not, but you can limit the problem by not having too many cats and accepting neighbours have the right to be annoyed when it is a regular problem.

I have never owned a cat as I am allergic, but imagine if owners provide litter trays it would encourage the cats to go at home and stop them doing it elsewhere.

See I live in a nice area too..an agricultural area with lots of green open spaces..I live in the main area of the village..gardens are large and there isnt much of a problem with children hanging around because we all take responsibility for our children..we have a 40ft x 20ft building at the end of our garden which houses a pool table,dart board,weight bench,punch bag,sofas,kettle,microwave,toaster,TV and X box 360 to keep my teenagers and their friends occupied and give them somewhere to hang out..my eldest son (18) has aviaries and keeps parrots and parakeets..I have a play area with padded matting for my 5 year old..complete with climbing frame,slide,sandpit,trampoline..etc..(ironically that trampoline enclosure has been pulled to shreds by cats climbing it!)...see some of us parents do care what our children are doing and dont have them out wandering to annoy other people..instead we sacrifice a couple of things for ourselves and spend the money on keeping them entertained and out of mischief..we drive miles in a week to their activities..all takes money and time to raise children..nothing illegal against teenagers or children hanging out together on the street..but my children my responsibility..I am a nice polite pleasant person and get on well with people in my community.

When I go out into my garden and see cats digging in my borders,spraying against my little ones sandpit which stinks or worse the lids has been left off and I have to throw away the sand and spend £15 on refilling it with new because its been pooed in..or when its hot and I want to leave the door to my teenagers building open for a few hours to let some fresh air in and I go in and smell the distinct smell of cat pee,or when I look out at my bird table and see a cat stalking it..or which often happenes a cat hanging off one of my sons avaiaries scaring his birds (more than one has died from this experience)..or when I found a tub I have just filled with compost to plant some flowers with my son dug up and shit in or poo left on my grass..my rhubarb patch which we love seems to be a favourite toilet for cats..kind of puts me off eating my efforts..I gave up on my vegetable patch for the same reason..dont fancy eating something grown in cat poo..when I want to leave my back door open in summer and a neighbours cat sees this as an invitation to come in and leave cat hairs all over my sofa (fact my 5 year olds eyes run very badly when he is near cat fur or anything that has touched cat fur doesnt help)..I kept rabbits for a long time and couldnt have a simple opentopped run..cheap and cheerful..I had to pay out to have a fully enclosed run with roof to stop cats getting in not to mention fishing in our pond for the fish we have bought and raised,my 5 year old loves nothing better than playing with his toy truck in our garden filling it with our gravel and tipping it out..that game has stopped due to cat shit in gravel....all this stops me looking at neighbours cats and seeing a cute fluffball..what starts as a minor issue does become damned annoying and they are not welcome in my house,buildings or on my property and are an absolute nuisance...cats wandering may be within the law..doesnt mean they are welcome..

I know I am not alone..have had discussions with others who feel the same many times..do we say anything to the cat owners..probably not because we know nothing will change so we keep harmony and drench the said cats instead..spray them.shout at them,chase them,bang at them,bucket of water,water gun,hose pipe..you name it I have used to soak..
Some still come,some have learned their lesson..just because someone doesnt say something to you..I wouldnt be so assured that your cat isnt causing them problems..they may well just be like me and be polite! because they know nothing will change..I wont go to extreme measures to deter them..i will stay within the law..but believe me if I see the same cat over and over it will be soaked and scared till it gets the message..I work from home usually in the conservatory with a view of the garden and aviaries..

We are obviously very different..you sound like you have zero tolerance for children (getting the police onto annoying "kids")..and yet have all the patience in the world for cats..I on the other hand have understanding of children and welcome children and zero tolerance for roaming cats...thats just how it is..

You have stated many times what a wonderful neighbour you are..how they all like you and you have even lent money to neighbours etc..This does however lead me to the question..who is the most thoughtful?...I have done everything I can physically and financially to keep my children entertained at home and not be a problem to others..can you say the same about your cats?

^^^ really dont see why you would be concerned about a bit of poo when you've got all that, probably shouldn't of posted that but still, I shall return to my completely *ucked up existance with just fussing about my cats to take my mind of it

If you read all of shirlt9`s post, then it is very insulting to say its just a bit of poo.

it was not posted the way you have taken it..please have a look at the post I was referring to and it was actually aimed at previous posts by the same poster who doesnt see cat poo as a problem but reports kids to the police for kicking a football around!..calling kids nuisance kids..and yet not seeing cats as a nuisance..my point is we dont all see children as a nuisance nor are we all happy about cats..was trying to point out the lengths my husband and I have gone to to keep our children occupied..wish people would do the same with their cats..thats all..

as for the building for my children..it was an old temporary classroom in the middle of a sheep field in Skipton with sheep running through it..it cost £400 and we decked it out for them on a budget..freecycle for sofas,car boots for furniture..my lads x box in it that they got for Chrsitmas..we arent minted!..far from it both my husband and i work our backsides off..but our priority is keeping our head above water and keeping our children on the right side of the track..is there really anything wrong with that?

Most people don't say anything to those owners who allow their pets to poo in their gardens. They just sigh and get on with clearing it up. Most people just want to get on with their neighbours and keep the peace.

I know that I am doing the best thing for my cats by keeping them safe and happy and entertained.

I know that I am doing the best thing for my neighbours by not allowing my cats to poo in their gardens and dig up their plants.

I know I am doing the best thing for wildlife by restricting my cats and not allowing them to kill and maim indiscriminately.

Some people think my concerns are trivial but that's fine. I can accept that other people have different ideas. It's a shame that those people can't also accept the same in reverse without suggesting I am cruel or don't have my cats welfare at heart or insinuate I am not a nice person who doesn't bring a lot to my community.

Fantastic post. I think most people have had similar problems with cats at some point.

I get just as annoyed with dog owners who leave dog mess all over the pavements but that's a different thread.

I only spoke to one owner who laughed and said, well, that's what cats, just buy a sonic alarm or something. No offer to clear it up. No offer to pay towards a deterrent. Just a laugh, because it wasn't in his back garden so it wasn't his problem. It's that kind of attitude that annoys people. Too many people don't care about things if it doesn't directly affect them.

Spot on with your post and exactly how most of us feel..the bit in bold made me giggle.

This is why they should be concerned

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19474612

It does work! I've got a kids waterpistol I picked up at a pound shop and works for me but I do it close range

If you have a distance to spray water then a a cheap supersoaker would work. means u could lean out the window and aim at the squatting kitties.

I do think, particularly bearing that in mind, people should be restricted from keeping too many cats in residential areas.

Maybe they should also be advised to take all reasonable measures to increase chances of cats doing it in litter boxes and should be prepared to clean it up if asked by immediate neighbours to do so.

That made me laugh - I can just picture the cat's reaction.

Exactly..someone elses problem..so doesnt matter..but it does..

As for dog poo..yes that is another topic that bugs the hell out of me..and that one is absolutely avoidable.