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AIBU?

My neighbour has asked me to pick up my cat's poo from their garden. Literally she wants to be able to call on me to come and pick it up on an as and when basis.

1000 replies

pingu2209 · 02/07/2011 09:38

I have 2 cats. They have only just started going outside, about 1 month so far. I still have a litter tray at home and they do use it but they are also beginning to 'go' outside too.

My view is that cats should not be locked in doors. I had to keep them indoors for the first 6th months because I was told by the shelter that they needed their injections, be neutered and micro chipped before they could venture outside and all that wasn't done till they were 6 months old.

I keep my cats up to date with their injections and worm/flee ointment - well they are only 7 months old at the moment, but I fully intend to keep them up to date.

There are other cats in the area. The house behind mine has 2 big cats and we are in a rural area with foxes. Also, my neighbours have a dog. Nice dog, sometimes it barks but it isn't really a problem if I'm honest. I like dogs as much as cats, I'm not anti dogs or anything.

Am I legally obliged to pick up my cats poo?

I've spoken to my mother and she has told me that I should pick up my cat's poo if the neighbour asks. The thing is, I may have to go round there each day or two to do it.

OP posts:
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Yama · 02/07/2011 09:41

Don't know but I admire her pluck.

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TheOriginalNutcracker · 02/07/2011 09:41

Your neighbour is barking. Unless she sits watching all day, how will she know that it is your cats poo ??

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sparkle12mar08 · 02/07/2011 09:41

Good for her. You own a cat, it's your responsibility not hers! I'd be chucking back over your fence or leaving it on your doorstep, frankly.

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malovitt · 02/07/2011 09:41

You are not legally obliged to do it I'm sure but it would be a nice gesture.

I'm sick of picking up stinking piles of poo from my garden which have been deposited by neighbouring cats, it makes me feel ill.

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Sirzy · 02/07/2011 09:42

I think it would be the polite thing to do. But there again I hate having to pick cat poo up from our garden as I chose not to have pets.

However, if there are other cats in the area it does seem an unfair ask unless she sees your cat do it.

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20wkbaby · 02/07/2011 09:42

I don't know about the legal aspects but if I were your neighbour and had your cats' poo in my garden I would be very annoyed. Probably wouldn't be brave enough to ask you to come and pick it up though. I don't believe cats should be inside all the time but you must see how unpleasant this is. Even it was the poo from my own cats I wouldn't like it in my garden but she has absolutely no choice in the matter. Can you not discuss with her methods of preventing them pooing in her garden in the first place?

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Lulumama · 02/07/2011 09:43

although it sounds unfeasible, I cannot abide cat poo in my garden and I wouldn't let my dog poo on anyone else's garden or leave his poo on the road.

we had a big problem with cat poo in our garden and had to fence off an area of the garden where cats kept pooing as our old dog used to eat it

so i see where she is coming from

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buzzsore · 02/07/2011 09:43

I don't think you're legally obliged, but if you know your cats are using your neighbours veg patch or something then you would do well to clear up after them, just for the sake of friendly relations. And say to your neighbours you don't mind if they use a water-pistol on the cats if they're bothering them. Pissed off neighbours can make for an unhappy life, so it's worth putting yourself out a little.

What you can do is a have a fresh bit of dug garden in a corner of your own garden to attract them to use that instead.

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rulenumber1 · 02/07/2011 09:44

I'm with your mum on this one. You chose to have the cats, why would you think it's alright for them to foul your neighbour's garden and she should have to clear up after them?

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HRHMJOFMAGICJAMALAND · 02/07/2011 09:45

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lemonandhoney · 02/07/2011 09:45

Cats are territorial, aren't they? So if she sees your cats in her garden, chances are it will be their poo next time.

My neighbour's cat (now dead) did this. It was disgusting. It stank in the summer and I couldn't let the children out until I had cleared it each day. It was incredibly antisocial - and then my neighbour objected when I told her I had bought a sonic repeller as it was cruel to the cat...

I think offering to pick it up is the civilised and right thing to do

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Lulumama · 02/07/2011 09:46

I think taking all reasonable steps to encourage your cat to poo in your garden or only in a litter tray would be a good start

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HRHMJOFMAGICJAMALAND · 02/07/2011 09:47

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Riveninside · 02/07/2011 09:49

How can she identify which poo is which cats? Dna sample them?

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JollySergeantJackrum · 02/07/2011 09:50

My neighbours' cat keeps leaving poo in our vegetable patch. The neighbour advised that I turn the hose on her. I'm not that cruel, but I am quite happy to chase her away and we use cat repellent.

I should not have to clean poo out of my vegetable patch. We have very little veg planted this year because I was pregnant and couldn't go near the veg patch because of cat poo. If my neighbours had come and cleaned it up I would have appreciated it and they would probably have received some veg for their trouble.

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JollySergeantJackrum · 02/07/2011 09:51

I know it is my neighbours' cats because I have seen them doing it.

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HRHMJOFMAGICJAMALAND · 02/07/2011 09:52

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BelleDameSansMerci · 02/07/2011 09:52

I'm a real cat lover - I have three.

I don't think she's being unreasonable actually. When my neighbour's dogs poo in my garden (they get out sometimes), she always comes and collects it. If she doesn't (because she hasn't realised or I see it before she does), I sort it because, really, it's not that big a deal!

My cats have a litter tray and come in to use it. If you have a shed, you could put a cat flap on it and put a tray in there if you don't want one in the house.

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CurlyBoy · 02/07/2011 09:52

By letting your cats out you know they will be pooping in other peoples gardens. Personally I think that is very rude. I would be seriously pissed off if I had cats dumping in MY garden. You should either pick it up or keep your cats inside. Our two cats don't go out of our garden at all and they're fine. By letting yours roam free you not only let them deposit their poo everywhere but you also leave them open to environmental toxins (like antifreeze) and traffic. I think it's highly irresponsible.

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noblegiraffe · 02/07/2011 09:53

Good for her. I would also like to ask my neighbours to remove their cats' dead birds from our garden too.

I used to like cats, but god it pisses me off that they shit all over and leave crap in my garden, when I've got a toddler to worry about picking it all up.

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purepurple · 02/07/2011 09:53

Love your neighbour's style.
Your cat, your responsibility.
"The thing is, I may have to go round there each day or two to do it"
How inconvenient for you. But it's ok for you to expect your neighbour to do it? Hmm

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Pumpster · 02/07/2011 09:56

Curly how do you keep them in your garden?

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scottishmummy · 02/07/2011 09:56

neighbour is right,admire her pluckiness

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fivegomadindorset · 02/07/2011 09:57

I am with her I am afraid.

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giraffesCantZumba · 02/07/2011 09:59

Agree with purepurple.

Anyway you are lucky she is not just chucking it back over the fence.

I assume if they have only been out a month then this has only started happening and so she fairly certain it is your cats.

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