Cats and bad owners

[Matt.]

and here no burying just on the top of soil, grass or woodchippings. I thought it was territory marking by male cats or something like that. No difference to dog mess as far as I'm concerned.

Alison - Seems you have well trained cats!

[Shortie]

The aspect that irritaes me the most is the supposed danger of cat faeces. Dangerous for pregenant women and children. Its absolutly not on that I feel worried about my friends when they visit my house and question if we should use the garden because of my neighbours cats.

Hi Matt

I've survived two pregnancies living with two cats. As long as they don't handle the pooh (the only way would really be if they decided to do some gardening for you ) then everything should be fine. If they do fancy having a fertle in the garden, just make sure they'r wearing gloves. My cat's are always using my garden as a toilet and I gardened while pregnant. I just made sure I always wore gloves

[lainey lou]

I know where Matts coming from, I have to go and check the grass before I can let my children play on it!

[moggssue]

Okay, I wasnt going to join in here, I made my feelings known on another thread on a similar subject - but I just have to say I'm really surprised at posts saying cats are pooing on the grass and not burying it? I've never known this at all - my cat and all those I have ever known are very fastidious about where they go and always bury it in a soily corner of the garden. Creatures of habit, I know exactly where it'll be with my own cat and my friends and family say the same about theirs. I can't see what's happening here, with poo being left on the grass, sounds very strange to me!

[daleclarke]

Very strange , have had several cats and they have all been almost obsessive about burying their waste and asking round here all cat owners say the same. Ours tend to always use the same part of the garden which I can then sort out now and then so it doesn't get too manky.

They must be mutating as our local gang (bit like 'Topcat' cartoon) never bury their presents and I have actually seen them do it on a dustbin next door.

I am getting a bit annoyed now as they are pulling my fleece of the raised beds as it willows in the wind, I think they enjoy playing with it, but they have made big holes in it.

Muck I can handle but when it is going to start making me pay in monetary terms I think a few neighbours will be getting some chats!

I was talking about this to my local council and they said Cat population is reaching epidemic proportions. There is on their last estimates 200 cats per Kilometre and they are causing a lot of neighbourly disputes.

Also it seems that Cats can get 'ASBO's so I am going to check this out...

[TrishY]

The cats round here don't seem to make any attempt the bury their mess!

If a cat feels not threatened by other cats, happy and secure in your garden it won't bury its poo - I remember that from watching a video all about cat behaviour at college

[Derek]

Thanks TrishY...that's most reassuring

Allison and Moggsue

I can assure you that it was cats that messed on my lawn, a white one and a black/white one...they purport to live next door ...I can arrange for them to pay you a visit if you wish....please...permanently!

[rustylady]

I find that the local moggies aren't bothering to bury it any more either. Cats**t on the peashingle front garden, on the surface of the borders, and also on the lawn.

[Paul Wagland]

So how can we stop the little darlings from misbehaving? A couple of people have recommended lion poo - does anyone else have a humane solution?

[kevin jenkins]

you can get stuff called new silent roar cat repellent fertilizer £8.99 from ebay

[petal]

Cats dump on my front lawn all the time and I have to go and clear up after them. Disgusting. GET A LITTER TRAY AND KEEP THEM IN - half of the day at least. in new Zealand they have a curfew and no cat is allowed out at night. Irresponsible pet owners make my blood boil - dog owners who don't clean up their dogs yuck- vile individuals. I hear Jack russels don't like cats and will rid your garden of them, permanently......

[TrishY]

There were some flat panels that go along the top of a fence with long 'spikes' on in the kleeneze catalogue that I got last week. It said they were to keep cats out of the garden. They weren't sharp spikes but long enough so a cat couldn't land and leap off the top of the fence

[kevin jenkins]

hi trishy i have used them in the past plastic spikes years ago. i think they were £10 for 9 foot of them.a much cheaper way is to use carpet grippers

[lainey lou]

So how can we stop the little darlings from misbehaving? A couple of people have recommended lion poo - does anyone else have a humane solution?

a cork?!

[Derek]

I have the plastic spikes all along the fences in the rear garden and they do seem to work...they are blunt enough not to harm animals but prove difficult for them to negotiate....they seem to keep the squirrels out of the garden too

Unfortunately we have no fences around the front garden ...I took note of the comment in another thread about using citrus cat mint...if it works as stated then I will be happier