Is it OK to throw shoes at cats?

[Chree]

OK, don't get me wrong - I like cats. The problem is we live in a fairly built up area and next door have two cats. Next door only have a small garden which they do not maintain at all and is very overgrown - hence their cats can't "chill" in their garden. As a result, these two cats have taken a keen interest in our garden which is nicely maintained and has lovely plants etc.

When I say keen interest I mean they crap all over the place, dig up any newly planted shrubs/seeds and replace them with a soggy stinky turd, knock over the bird table and kill birds and leave them. I understand that this is completely natural for a cat but clearly I don't want it to happen; they are costing us money by ruining plants and costing us time when we have to clear up their turds.

I have tried plently of tactics which have incurred expense and affected how we use our garden, namely:

1) Installed 3 sonic deterrents in tactical positions (said cats most prolific dumping ground) at a cost of �35 each - these are harmless and emit a high pitched tone when a beam is crossed. These rather expensive items seem to have been rather ineffective; rather than scaring them, they seem to have some laxative power and induce the cats into curling one out right by the deterrents.

2) Applied a cat repellent in soiled areas. At �4 a bottle this stuff should work and to be fair was slightly more successful than above mentioned deterrents. However after following the instructions on the reverse, a few days after the course has been completed the cats strike back. To use the repllent continuously would cost �8 a week so isn't an option.

3) Applied a pint of water to cats when opportuniy arises. This is certainly the most effective treatment to date it would appear; upon application, the cats do a Usain Bolt back to their gaff, and economically it is the best option so far. The problem is, I can't spend my entire life waiting

[daffy654]

I am a cat lover,I have been owned by many over the years and I wouldn't object if my neighbours had used carpet grippers on their fences and flower beds..........the police however might have something to say about it if the grippers are where a member of the public could get hurt by them.How about some shrubs with really prickly branches or leaves?

[Prangy]

Your a human being u flid. A cat is a feline animal!

Comprende????


Touche.

I hope you hurt a cat and the owner comes around and throws you a left hook... how gratifying that would be.

[mrs_overall]

Chree, not only am I singing from the same hymn sheet but I'm doing harmonies with ya!

Plan B.

Gather up all the poo and put it in a paper bag. Put the paper bag on the cat owners doorstep, set fire to the bag, ring his doorbell and then run for it.
Hide behind a suitable corner & watch him stamp all over the bag.

[Nosha123]

Cat owners are not liable for their cats behaviour - unlike Dogs.... However,... Mrs Overall .. if a toddler did pee or cr*p in your garden.. would you throw something at it??? No I doubt it.. as for burying carpet gripper in your garden how cruel.. I hope you dont get badgers, foxes and hedgehogs where you are.. since you seem to hate animals and wildlife!!!
I have a mole desecrating my brand new lawn.. but I'm not out to kill it! Cats pooing.. is what cats do! maybe ask the owner if they can create an area in their own garden tha cat might like.. bark chippings seem to be our favourite... despite the fact I bought them to cover up weeds!! Harvey Pickle Pants likes to poo in them! Bless

[Nosha123]

Why are people complaining about treading cat poo over carpets.. dont you take your shoes off when you have been outside Urgh.. You must have really dirty houses!!! Dont you know what you might have on the bottom of those shoe soles!!!

[mrs_overall]

Nosha, you cannot compare a cat with a wild animal. if people want to keep cats as pets they should keep them indoors and train them to use a litter tray.
Cat owners seem to have no idea of responsibility.

[daffy654]

Nosha....I don't take my shoes off when I have been outside,I don't know anyone that does.If I were to visit a house where I was expected to do that I would leave without entering.

[Nosha123]

I fail to see Mrs Overall how a cat pooing is somehow the responsibility of the owner - WHERE EXACTLY IS IT MEANT TO POO? You DumbKopf

As for carpet gripper... yeah.. go ahead.. but only if we can lay a whole load around your bed one night to see how you like stepping on it by accident!

Some people really need something more serious to worry about in life than poo for gawds sake!

[daffy654]

Keeping a cat indoors would be incredibly cruel mrs.o,it is a cat's nature to roam.

[Chree]

Prangy.

You seem to be advocating violence. Do you not think my neighbour should try and scare me away from his cats in a peaceful manner - like I have doen to his cats for the last 2 years - how about installing a sonic deterrent on his cats heads that only humans can hear?

Touche

[Bbbananas]

I don't bury the carpet gripper in my garden - that would be silly, a person might tread on it. I have nothing against people - only those that drop their trousers and cr*p on my lawn without asking permission.

The gripper is on the top of the fences & gate. Anyone up there should not be there. Simple as....

[dianew]

here here nosha surely you can see a pile of cat poo on your step and even if is dark you know by the feel on your shoe you've stood in something

[Chree]

Mrs Overall,

I do like that suggestion but as this issue has come to a (turtles?) head, do you not think my neighbours will know it was me?

[Chree]

thanks to everyone who said mothballs - i'll give them a try. what do i do? buy a huge bag of them and chuck it at the cats?

[know-noknow]

Chree

did you not realise what would happen when you posted this???????
you would have got alot less abuse if you had posted

Is it OK to throw shoes at babies?

[Nosha123]

Some cats prefer to go outside to go to the loo.. like mine.. they wont use a litter tray ever.... unless I have to lock them in for any reason then they use it only when they are bursting!

As for not entering someones house just because they ask you to remove your shoes.. I'm guessing you dont have any muslim friends.. does this cause offence???? REALLY??? I dont want someone treading dirty shoes all over my clean carpets... It's my house.. and yes I would expect you to remove your shoes.. you may have trodden in cat poo outside!!! MY POINT EXACTLY DOOFUS!!!

[Chree]

Nosha, nice suggestion but as I mentioned my neighbours don't maintain their garden.

And can I clarify something? You do your business in bark chippings. That's disgusting. You're a human not a cat. I hope someone throws a shoe at you.

[mrs_overall]

Nosha - you don't know me or anything about me therefore you cannot assume I hate animals or wildlife.
I am entitled to my opinion, as are you. I respect your right to express your thoughts on the subject and I would expect a similar courtesy.
I find it offensive that you have to resort to calling me names.
How sad.

[daffy654]

I would rather have someone dreading dirt into my carpets than spreading veruccas and fungal nail infections around my house DOOFUS!!!