Ruddy inconsiderate cat owners...

Moley · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:45

VIRII said:
Perhaps airsoft would have the same effect with less chance of injury.

Indeed it does. When i was younger, my bedroom was at the front of the house and one of the neighbours cats used to always crap on the front lawn. Got our backs right up and Dad chasing it away never stopped it - it always came back the next day.

Until I fired my BB gun into the ground next to it just as it opened its bowels.

So funny seeing a moggie leap into the air and running away with poo trailing from its bum. It never **** on our garden again and I didn't have to actually hurt it to get the result.

There's no excuse to actually hurt what is in effect a defenceless animal, but scare the crap out of it? Literally? Hell yeah!

Skully · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:47

VIRII said:
Perhaps airsoft would have the same effect with less chance of injury.

Anyone using an airsoft gun as a cat deterrent has serious issues, as well as a firearms offence.

cheets64 · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:49

We should we have to turn our garden into an area that looks like something from space just to keep cats out of a garden, my dad spends a lot of money on keeping it looking nice with plants every year and watering and mowing, so when you come out of your house to find cat **** everywhere its not nice.

WoZZeR · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:50

VIRII said:
So Yes. Cat owners are pretty inconsiderate on the whole, we could have litter trays in our homes and our cats would happily use them. We could ensure that our cats are all neutered to reduce the territorial marking aspect of their behaviour or we could just not have cats at all.

My cats have a litter tray, it is clean, they still prefer to brave the elements and have an outdoor poop though. Saying that my nearest neighbour is a fair old walk away.

Oh, and they are neutered males, I got them from the cats protection league and they told me I had to have them neutered when they were 6 months old, so I did.

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:53

Skully said:
Anyone using an airsoft gun as a cat deterrent has serious issues, as well as a firearms offence.

I thought it would be safer than these BB guns / airguns that people are suggesting.
Is firing a plastic pellet at a feline that is poohing on your back lawn an offence under the firearms act then?

What serious issues do they have? Cat crap on the shoe issues?

Why should people without cats have to have cat crap in their gardens from people with cats?

I think if a neighbour came to me and complained that my cat was crapping in their garden I'd feel pretty bad. The only options would be to lock the cat in the house and have a litter tray or give it away.
How does my right to own a cat outweigh my neighbours right to a crap free garden?

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:56

WoZZeR said:
My cats have a litter tray, it is clean, they still prefer to brave the elements and have an outdoor poop though. Saying that my nearest neighbour is a fair old walk away.

Oh, and they are neutered males, I got them from the cats protection league and they told me I had to have them neutered when they were 6 months old, so I did.

I did say "on the whole". I have cats myself but have always lived next to fields since I have had cats. I would not have a cat in a busy neighbourhood because of cars etc.

We, as cat owners, could lock them inside until they poop in the litter tray and then let them out. However we do very little if anything to try and reduce the problems our cats cause other people. That makes us inconsiderate.

squiffy · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:59

We, as cat owners, could lock them inside until they poop in the litter tray and then let them out. However we do very little if anything to try and reduce the problems our cats cause other people. That makes us inconsiderate

I really don't think there's a solution. Keeping the cat indoors for the whole of it's life is unfair.
When the cat wants to go he'll meow until you put him out. If you leave him in (exactly how do you know when he wants to go?)

Baz · 28 Jun 2007 at 14:59

To be honest, the owners can't really stop a cat defecating in your garden, cats will do what they like. You don't a cat, it owns you.

So if a Fox came into your garden and made a mess in your lawn, who would you go after....?

Live with it, stick it in your compost heap and use it for what nature intended

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:01

squiffy said:
I really don't think there's a solution. Keeping the cat indoors for the whole of it's life is unfair.
When the cat wants to go he'll meow until you put him out. If you leave him in (exactly how do you know when he wants to go?)

Once the litter tray has been used put the cat out or open the catflap.

As for the "fairness" aspect - is it FAIR on our neighbours?

bloodiedathame · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:01

I have 2 cats. They crap where they want. I cant stop them, no one can.

If my neighbours complain to me that they are finding crap everywhere then we would try to have an area that they used in our garden (fact of the matter there is a place in our garden that they use and we don't mind).

I'd rather they said to me that it was really ******* them off, rather than them taking matters into their own hands and shooting my cats. Ive seen pictures of cats that have been shot with BB guns and air rifles, it's horrible. They are defenseless creatures that like to dump a lot, chase after them all you want but don't bust cap's in their asses. If someone shot my cat, I have always said eye for an eye so they'd get shot back.

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:03

Baz said:
To be honest, the owners can't really stop a cat defecating in your garden, cats will do what they like. You don't a cat, it owns you.

So if a Fox came into your garden and made a mess in your lawn, who would you go after....?

Live with it, stick it in your compost heap and use it for what nature intended

Perhaps the owners should not have cats then?
Why should the neighbours put up with someone elses cat crap?

ci_newman · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:03

VIRII said:
I thought it would be safer than these BB guns / airguns that people are suggesting.
Is firing a plastic pellet at a feline that is poohing on your back lawn an offence under the firearms act then?

What serious issues do they have? Cat crap on the shoe issues?

Why should people without cats have to have cat crap in their gardens from people with cats?

I think if a neighbour came to me and complained that my cat was crapping in their garden I'd feel pretty bad. The only options would be to lock the cat in the house and have a litter tray or give it away.
How does my right to own a cat outweigh my neighbours right to a crap free garden?

I don't think anyone's listening to your argument VIRII. I agree whole-heartedly with you and to add to my list of cat 'complaints'- my once shiny car is now covered in scratch marks from cats climbing up the wings or sitting on the engine-lid. I know it's cats because a) I've seen them do it b) There are tiny little footprints left next to the scratches.

That annoys me even more than the **** left on my driveway and lawn.

Plus I'm allergic to them

If I ever leave my front door open for 2 mins (i.e. taking something to the bin) I can guarantee that one of the little ****ers has run inside

Skully · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:04

VIRII said:
I thought it would be safer than these BB guns / airguns that people are suggesting.
Is firing a plastic pellet at a feline that is poohing on your back lawn an offence under the firearms act then?

Aye because they're replica weapons and as such are covered in the VCR bill - but with an exemption for legitimate users.

iCraig · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:06

Indeed, cat owners are inconsiderate. However the inconsideration is minimal whichever way you try and spin it. Cats are docile creatures, they don't attack children and are pretty shy towards people they don't know. They keep themselves to themselves, however like all animals, they have to crap, so they do. Is having faecal matter on your lawn really a large enough problem for something needing to be done? I doubt it.

Cat poop is just one of those things that happens in your garden, the same as squirrels eating your bird food and pigeons crapping on your new patio deck.

They're all annoying but, there's no realistic solution for cat owners. They can lock their cat indoors 24/7, but that's cruel. Especially if you have a small house or bungalow. They're entitled to have their freedom. If you're out at work all day, is it fair to make the cat all cooped up in the house, interacting with absolutely nothing other than it's reflection.

Owners can't follow their cat around with a scooper. I'm sure the neighbours won't be happy with various humans hopping over their fence every few hours tailing a cat.

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:06

a.hay said:
I'd rather they said to me that it was really ******* them off, rather than them taking matters into their own hands and shooting my cats. Ive seen pictures of cats that have been shot with BB guns and air rifles, it's horrible. They are defenseless creatures that like to dump a lot, chase after them all you want but don't bust cap's in their asses. If someone shot my cat, I have always said eye for an eye so they'd get shot back.

I don't disagree, I'd be furious of someone shot my cat. However the fact of the matter is that the OP is correct. Cat owners show zero consideration to their neighbours and simply roll out tired excuses about how the cat is a semi wild animal.
Like I said if someone made a complaint about my cat pooping in their garden I am not sure what I would do. I guess I'd have to keep it in and only let it out after it had used the litter tray. Failing that get rid of it.

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:07

Skully said:
Aye because they're replica weapons and as such are covered in the VCR bill - but with an exemption for legitimate users.

I've no idea I know diddly about airsoft guns, assumed they were less dangerous.

Kristoph · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:07

iCraig said:
snip

Exactly what you said, you saved me the effort of typing.

VIRII · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:09

iCraig said:
Indeed, cat owners are inconsiderate. However the inconsideration is minimal whichever way you try and spin it. Cats are docile creatures, they don't attack children and are pretty shy towards people they don't know. They keep themselves to themselves, however like all animals, they have to crap, so they do. Is having faecal matter on your lawn really a large enough problem for something needing to be done? I doubt it.

Cat poop is just one of those things that happens in your garden, the same as squirrels eating your bird food and pigeons crapping on your new patio deck.

They're all annoying but, there's no realistic solution for cat owners. They can lock their cat indoors 24/7, but that's cruel. Especially if you have a small house or bungalow. They're entitled to have their freedom. If you're out at work all day, is it fair to make the cat all cooped up in the house, interacting with absolutely nothing other than it's reflection.

Owners can't follow their cat around with a scooper. I'm sure the neighbours won't be happy with various humans hopping over their fence every few hours tailing a cat.

So then the only option is don't have a cat.
How does your right to have a cat outweighyour neighbours right to a cat poop free garden? You can have a cat but it is your responsibility to ensure that it doesn't upset your neighbours. If you can't do that then why should you have a cat?

Is having fecal matter on your lawn really a problem..... it all depends on who you are and what contact you have with it. I'd like my young baby daughter to be able to crawl around on my lawn safe in the knowledge that nothing can harm her.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1359&articleid=770

ci_newman · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:09

Skully said:
Aye because they're replica weapons and as such are covered in the VCR bill - but with an exemption for legitimate users.

What is classed as a legitate user? If I was shooting cans in my back garden and a cat walked along the fence I was shooting them on?

Does that count as legitimate?

(Note, I don't nor ever would knowingly inflict pain on an animal

)

Baz · 28 Jun 2007 at 15:09

VIRII said:
I don't disagree, I'd be furious of someone shot my cat. However the fact of the matter is that the OP is correct. Cat owners show zero consideration to their neighbours and simply roll out tired excuses about how the cat is a semi wild animal.
Like I said if someone made a complaint about my cat pooping in their garden I am not sure what I would do. I guess I'd have to keep it in and only let it out after it had used the litter tray. Failing that get rid of it.

So how are you supposed to control where your cat poops if it stays out of the house for several days, which all cats that my parents or we have had do. You can't follow a cat for 2 days incase it poops on someones immaculate lawn!

I understand that it is a pet owners responsibility, especially with dogs, I never leave the house with our dog unless I have several poo-bags in my pocket, but cats are natural roaming creatures and can roam for quite some distances... Keeping an eye on their pooping is nigh on impossible imho!