Cat/Neighbor etiquette question...

[kristilew]

Ok, here's the sitch: my neighbors have cats. I don't.

You would think I do have cats, though, because their cats are always in my yard. Sleeping and shedding on my front porch rockers. Pooping in my flower beds. Hunting the birds who nest in my shrubs.

HOA rules say no cats may run loose. I know the neighbors have been cited for this, but they don't keep the cats under control.

My current solution is to open my door and tell the cats to scram whenever I see them. But, as I have a life, I can't spend all day at the front door, waiting for them to appear.

Cat owners, what is the etiquette here? I assume if one lets his cats roam, it is because he think that is a cat's right. I assume if one ignores requests to contain his cats, he thinks the rule is silly.

I haven't said anything about this to the neighbors, mostly because I am hesitant to make what is basically a cordial, wave hello, neighbor relation turn ugly.

So, do I say, please keep your cats off my property, then get steamed when they don't? Do I call animal control and ask for cat traps? If you were these people, what would be the best way to get a positive result?

 

[happygirl]

I wish I was you and my biggest worry was my neighbors cats Wanna switch lives

 

[kristilew]

I AM lucky that this is my biggest worry I don't want a neighbor war to become a worry, which is why I'm asking for help here.....

 

[Jenvenza]

If they let their cats run loose - how do you suppose they can keep them off your lawn? There would be no point in asking.

Cats in my yard don't bother me - so I really cant understand where you are coming from.

If it bothers you that bad, then I would ask them to please keep their cats inside or you would call animal control. Which is really unfortunate for the cats, but maybe they will listen.

 

[AshleyW]

Ok, here's the sitch: my neighbors have cats. I don't.

You would think I do have cats, though, because their cats are always in my yard. Sleeping and shedding on my front porch rockers. Pooping in my flower beds. Hunting the birds who nest in my shrubs.

HOA rules say no cats may run loose. I know the neighbors have been cited for this, but they don't keep the cats under control.

My current solution is to open my door and tell the cats to scram whenever I see them. But, as I have a life, I can't spend all day at the front door, waiting for them to appear.

Cat owners, what is the etiquette here? I assume if one lets his cats roam, it is because he think that is a cat's right. I assume if one ignores requests to contain his cats, he thinks the rule is silly.

I haven't said anything about this to the neighbors, mostly because I am hesitant to make what is basically a cordial, wave hello, neighbor relation turn ugly.

So, do I say, please keep your cats off my property, then get steamed when they don't? Do I call animal control and ask for cat traps? If you were these people, what would be the best way to get a positive result?

If it really bothers you, I'd get in contact with whoever is in charge of the HOA and let them know. They'll probably get cited again. In my condo association, if you get cited 3 times for an animal, it either has to be removed or you have to move. Maybe there's a similar rule where you're at.

 

[java]

Motion sensored Sprinklers.

And I understand as we had a neighbor's car using our playground mulch as a litter box.
The water stopped that problem.

Good luck.
I notified the neighbors I was going to use this and they were fine with it.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I HATE it when my neighbors cats roam into my yard, crawls on my car, poops in my yard ......... I now take a hose to the cat when it comes into my yard. So far this is working and I haven't seen the cat in the yard for a few weeks. If the cat continues to come in my yard I will take it to the pound and they can contact the owner. Make it an inconvenience for the owner of the cat and hopefully they will start to listen.


Before anyone flames me, I have also tried talking to the owner and he doesn't care. "Cats are meant to roam free in the world."

 

[happygirl]

I AM lucky that this is my biggest worry

You are very lucky then.

 

[Scurvy]

Well clearly the etiquette of the situation doesn't matter to the cat owners, because if it did they'd be keeping their cats out of your yard and on their own property where they belong.

I second the recommendation of motion activated sprinklers. There are also sprays you can try, though they would have to be reaplied each time it rains. I'd call animal control as a last resort, since adult cats are not likely to be adopted and would likely be put down. I don't think it matters what the cats' owners think about what you choose to do - if they cared about the cats, they wouldn't let them roam the neighborhood.

 

[kristilew]

Motion sensored Sprinklers.

And I understand as we had a neighbor's car using our playground mulch as a litter box.
The water stopped that problem.

Good luck.
I notified the neighbors I was going to use this and they were fine with it.

This sounds like a good plan. Thanks. Can I get the sprinklers at a Home Depot kind of place?

 

[goofy4tink]

I have cats...three of them. And no, they don't go outdoors, and no, they aren't declawed! I am a huge cat lover, which is why my cats are indoor cats.

I completely understand where the OP is coming from. I have had neighbor cats sitting at my back door, crying to come in, crying for whatever reason..drives my cats nutty. Not to mention the birds at my feeder!! I have planted flowers in my gardens only to stick my hands into cat poop!! It isn't pleasant. And everyone shouldn't be expected to put up with someone else's pets...period.

Here are my suggestions.....mothballs in your gardens. Cats hate mothballs. Sprinkle them around the bushes the birds use as well. Then, for the porch area....get some of that heavy plastic carpet runner. The kind that you would put down on top of carpet to keep it clean in the winter. It has gripper hooks/points on the bottom to keep it from slipping on the carpet. Cut it to fit the steps, and the top of the stairway on the porch..as well as on top of those rockers. Then, place each section, pointy side up (which is upside down) on the stairs, top of the stairs and the rockers. The cats will step on them once or twice and then leave them alone...it hurts their paws. I have used it on my counter tops and other areas I don't want the dog or cats..works like a charm.

You can also wait for them, with a hose. Cats do learn, and pretty quickly. If that doesn't help, go to the housing people. Cats truly are better off inside...they shouldn't be free to roam around and get eaten by predators, or hit by cars, or eat rotten food, or get picked up by those looking for animals for nefarious purposes.

But your neighbors probably hate dealing with a cat box...guess it's okay for the cats to use your yard as one.

 

[SaraJayne]

I HATE it when my neighbors cats roam into my yard, crawls on my car, poops in my yard ......... I now take a hose to the cat when it comes into my yard. So far this is working and I haven't seen the cat in the yard for a few weeks. If the cat continues to come in my yard I will take it to the pound and they can contact the owner. Make it an inconvenience for the owner of the cat and hopefully they will start to listen.


Before anyone flames me, I have also tried talking to the owner and he doesn't care. "Cats are meant to roam free in the world."

A few years ago when I used to catch the neighbors cat in our yard, I'd take the hose to it, also. Worked like a charm. And I of course never got close enough to the cat to actually get it wet, but it got the message.

And I have three cats of my own ~ they are indoor cats for a reason.

 

[disykat]

I AM lucky that this is my biggest worry I don't want a neighbor war to become a worry, which is why I'm asking for help here.....

Wow - I want to complement you on how polite you are when someone flames you. I'm impressed!

We also have a problem with a neighbor cat. I'm glad I didn't post a thread here - because I wouldn't have been so nice if someone thought it was my biggest worry!

 

[java]

This sounds like a good plan. Thanks. Can I get the sprinklers at a Home Depot kind of place?

That's where we found them. Good luck!

 

[KandD]

I feel you OP. We have lived in our house for about a year and a half. Our neighbor's cat kept getting into our garbage, it would take scraps out and make a mess and then our dogs would get into whatever mess it made on the ground.
We had only been in the house a few months when this really started to be a problem and my boyfriend was determined to go over and tell the neighbors a thing or two but I begged him to just buy those garbage cans that are big ad have a top. So he goes out and spends like $75 at Home Depot. Problem solved so we think. We put the garbage out on the curb the next week and get a little note saying that we can't use those cans in our town!
There really is no point to my story other than to maybe make you smile and to tell you that I understand!
The sprinkler idea sounds really good, I will have to keep that in mind!

 

[happygirl]

Wow - I want to complement you on how polite you are when someone flames you. I'm impressed!

We also have a problem with a neighbor cat. I'm glad I didn't post a thread here - because I wouldn't have been so nice if someone thought it was my biggest worry!

LOL that was far from a flame.

 

[disykat]

LOL that was far from a flame.

Oh good then, I'll remember that next time I want to poke fun at someone's problems.

 

[Mermaid02]

I feel for the OP- the neighborhood cats like to pee under our porch (nice and stinky on a hot summer day) and poop in our flower beds.... lots of fun when you're trying to plant your flowers!

I know many cat people think that cats deserve to roam and don't cause problems.... but it's just not true.

Good luck Op!

 

[Scurvy]

Wow - I want to complement you on how polite you are when someone flames you. I'm impressed!

We also have a problem with a neighbor cat. I'm glad I didn't post a thread here - because I wouldn't have been so nice if someone thought it was my biggest worry!

I agree - the OP was very gracious in her reply.

I'm always amused when people online assume that any annoyance you post about must be the biggest problem you have in life. Maybe those who post such silly assumptions only have one problem at a time? And even if it was the OP's only problem, that doesn't make it any less annoying.

OP, good luck if you try the sprinklers. I hope you're able to solve your cat problem. It's a shame that your inconsiderate neighbors are putting you in the position to have to come up with a solution, though.

 

[happygirl]

I agree - the OP was very gracious in her reply.

I'm always amused when people online assume that any annoyance you post about must be the biggest problem you have in life. Maybe those who post such silly assumptions only have one problem at a time? And even if it was the OP's only problem, that doesn't make it any less annoying.

OP, good luck if you try the sprinklers. I hope you're able to solve your cat problem. It's a shame that your inconsiderate neighbors are putting you in the position to have to come up with a solution, though.

I';m sorry I don't see it as a big deal, It not something worth worring about. I wasn't being rude or silly. I wish that was my biggest worry.