Cat/Neighbor etiquette question...

[Kies99]

OP..you should not have to spend money to fix a problem that is not yours. How about just collecting all the poop and hair and dropping it right back on the neighbors porch with a note saying "Here, I think your cats dropped this".

If it's truly an issue, you need to confront the neighbor. No other way around it. It SEEMS that they just don't care what others think if they've been fined/cited and continue to let the cats out. And sorry, I've had cats all my life and it's very easy to keep them in the house. Yeah, like all animals they'll get out once in awhile, but very rarely.

If after confronting them the problem doesn't change, catch the cats and either call animal control or drop them off at a shelter.

Seriously, if all the current relationship with the neighbor is a cordial wave and hello, does it really matter to you that they may not say hello anymore???

 

[luvsJack]

OP..you should not have to spend money to fix a problem that is not yours. How about just collecting all the poop and hair and dropping it right back on the neighbors porch with a note saying "Here, I think your cats dropped this".

If it's truly an issue, you need to confront the neighbor. No other way around it. It SEEMS that they just don't care what others think if they've been fined/cited and continue to let the cats out. And sorry, I've had cats all my life and it's very easy to keep them in the house. Yeah, like all animals they'll get out once in awhile, but very rarely.

If after confronting them the problem doesn't change, catch the cats and either call animal control or drop them off at a shelter.

Seriously, if all the current relationship with the neighbor is a cordial wave and hello, does it really matter to you that they may not say hello anymore???

This post makes a point, but OP I would think about it before I caused a rift that large between me and my neighbor.

You are the one that has to live beside this person. Is it worth having an enemy next door?

One thing though, not all cats are that easy to keep in. Some cats really do prefer to be outside. Other than the one I have now, every cat I have ever had would run to the door to go outside in the mornings.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I know this situation is a pain to deal with and can make a normally rational person lose their sanity. The easiest solution that I found was to buy the biggest super soaker water gun that I could find. Check to see if your kids have one. This bad boy holds about a half gallon of water and when pumped up, can shoot a stream of water about 30 or 40 feet. This protective manuveur can be done from the privacy of your own home and will scare the unwitting cat senseless. No going out and turning on the hose, just spray from inside the slightly ajar front door.

This will not only rid you of unwanted cats, it will provide great stress relief and enormous satisfaction for you and your family.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. It is much cheaper than the sprinklers and very effective. Cats are smart--they do not have to get drenched every time they set paw in your yard to get the message. If they get drenched often over a couple of weeks, that is more than enough for them and they will find a new place to hang out.
This sugestion is comming from someone who, like Scurvy, IS a cat person but still does not like cats (and their fur, pee and poop) in her yard.

 

[wdwfan16]

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.

This is what I would do to. Let the HOA deal with it.

 

[Scurvy]

One thing though, not all cats are that easy to keep in. Some cats really do prefer to be outside. Other than the one I have now, every cat I have ever had would run to the door to go outside in the mornings.

Can't aren't stupid. They can be stubborn, and they aren't the easiest creatures to train, but their behavior can definitely be modified. I see many cat owners complain that they can't keep their cats inside and I always wonder how hard they've really tried. I'm sure that there are occasionally some cats who are so determined to get out that they will find a way to escape every so often, but in general cats are easier to keep inside than that. Of all the cats I've had, only one was completely determined to get out. So I carried him out during a couple of thunderstorms and after that he stopped trying to escape. My sister trained her escape artist to keep away from the door by spraying him with water every time he walked onto a carpet that was by the door. He doesn't try to escape now, either. My parents have a rescued stray who also wanted to go back outside. They aren't confident that he won't bolt when they open the door, so they use the "airlock method". They make sure that the cat is unable to get to the door to outside by going in and out through the garage and keeping only one door open at a time. Or if they have to open the front door, they close the cat into another room. It can be a lot of work to be a responsible pet owner, but it's worth it to keep the animal safe.

I can't help but notice that most of the time, when someone says they can't keep their cat inside, they also seem to think it's better for cats to be outside. Again, I know that you may occasionally find a former outdoor cat who has difficulty adjusting to being an indoor cat, but that isn't the norm. And after seeing the aftermath of the cat vs. engine incident, and seeing neighborhood cats hit by cars and attacked by dogs, and after studying to be a vet, I would never again have an outdoor cat. Maybe that means a little extra work for me, but even aside from the fact that it's more polite to my neighbors, it's worth it just to protect our cats from all the dangers they would encounter outside.

ETA - It's also possible to be a responsible pet owner and also let your cats go outside, if you truly think it's cruel to deny the cat the opportunity to go out sometimes. They make harnesses for cats so that you can walk them, and I know several people who take their cats for walks. That way, there's no danger that the cat will take off after something and run away. I know other people who have actually gone so far as to build outdoor enclosures for their cats - there are apparently lots of suggestions online for how to build those. Most responsible dog owners don't let their dog roam the neighborhood alone, they take responsibility for the animal and get a leash or enclose their yard. If you had a two year old who liked to sneak out of the house you'd take responsibility for the child and you'd get extra locks or do whatever you had to in order to keep the child inside. Cats aren't smarter than people (in general, at least!) and if their safety is a priority to you, you can find a way to outsmart them and keep them inside. The vast majority of the time, those who say otherwise aren't really trying very hard to keep the cat inside.

 

[MichelleVW]

Well, we have always had a cat or two and they usually stay outside (because they want to be outside). Now, I live about 1/10 of a mile off the main road behind trees and such so the cats don't get to the road and you can't see my neighbors so they don't go there; but they do enjoy climbing trees and playing out in the edge of the woods. Opposite of most of you, I can't imagine not allowing the poor things outside.

At the moment I temporarily am keeping a cat that was rescued at work. She is strictly inside and never even looks out the window . So, she is a bit different from our other cat.

I guess the thought of these running through my back yard keeps the poor things inside and alive..

One thing though, not all cats are that easy to keep in. Some cats really do prefer to be outside. Other than the one I have now, every cat I have ever had would run to the door to go outside in the mornings.

I have one cat that would love to go outside and we have to watch him when we open the doors because he likes to bolt outside...but since he is my favorite cat ever and we have coyotes run through the back yard he's staying inside and alive and not outside and coyote food!

Outside cats in my neighborhood don't last long...

 

[taximomfor4]

OP, just wanted to mention that some cats are nearly impossible to contain indoors. I have one of those. We try, really we do. But she is sneaky and FAST. Our cats are all rescues, most were found outdoors. I think, many times, the cat remembers that it is an outdoor animal.

Also, is it possible that your neighbors simply "adopted" cats that already wandered the outdoors? If that is the case, it would be nearly impossible to turn them into indoor cats.

My own sneaky cat who wants to go outside doesn't wander far...and we walk alongside her. She just wants to eat grass, then come home. Our own lawn provides her "salad" just fine.

 

[taximomfor4]

OP, I am a cat person and I still get livid over my neighbors who let their cats freely roam the neighborhood. Partly because I don't want their cats in my yard - I clean up after my own cats inside; I don't want to have to clean up after someone else's cats in the yard. But also because I've seen what happens in the winter when someone starts a car that has a neighbor's cat sleeping under the hood. It's not pretty.

Hey, I had a thread about this a few years ago. The burnt *and LUCKY* cat is the one who wants out all the time, still, though. NOT to wander, just to eat salad.

 

[Scurvy]

Hey, I had a thread about this a few years ago. The burnt *and LUCKY* cat is the one who wants out all the time, still, though. NOT to wander, just to eat salad.

Yikes! The one I saw also survived, but it's really a miracle that she did. She looked like Frankenstein's monster. She had basically been scalped, but the flesh was peeled off of big chunks of her back. Plus her sides were blistered. It was touch and go for a while but she did live (though much of her fur didn't grow back), and fortunately she was an indoor cat after that.

 

[taximomfor4]

Yikes! The one I saw also survived, but it's really a miracle that she did. She looked like Frankenstein's monster. She had basically been scalped, but the flesh was peeled off of big chunks of her back. Plus her sides were blistered. It was touch and go for a while but she did live (though much of her fur didn't grow back), and fortunately she was an indoor cat after that.

I thought for sure mine would give up the outside life. NOPE. Here is a link to a pic of Skeeter several weeks afterward. WARNING, it's not pretty (NOT the worst we took, but still not pretty.) http://s964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/catsx4/?action=view&current=ouchskeeter.jpg .Poor cat had all kinds of procedures, and was very touch and go for a while. Local fire department got her out, in our church parking lot (not sure who called them, but they took our van apart to get her unstuck!) They did comment "This is the first one of these we've ever gotten out alive!" You'd think she wouldn't want out anymore.

 

[HM]

There are things that you can spray to keep dogs away from areas. You should see if there are cat sprays as well. Then you can spray your porch, your flowerpots, etc; maybe even your property line between your homes. You'll have to respray occasionally and after rain, but this is one thing you might try.

 

[MizTink]

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.

that stuff works great upside down. and it's pretty cheap too!!!! this is what my sister did to break her cats from getting on the dining room table and in a crib. also kept the dogs off the couches at night and when home alone. i don't remember exactly how long it took. not too long though or i would remember! now they don't have to put the stuff down anymore and the animals follow the rules!!!!! and these were dogs who LIVED on the couches all there lives. when DSIS got new (fabric) couches the rules changed because she didn't want the new furniture ruined.

 

[kaffinito]

To the OP, we have both indoor and outdoor cats. Four of them were rescues, and do NOT like to be kept indoors. I also garden and hate poop in the flower beds too. I use orange peels and coffee grounds to keep them out. They hate the smell of coffee grounds and orange peels, and stay out of the garden.

We live on an acre, so they have plenty of other areas to poop in besides my flower beds.

The motion activated water sprinklers are an excellent idea and so is the garden hose. Nothing like a little "cat solvent!" I'd also go to your HOA and complain. If you keep complaining your neighbor will have to do something.

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.

Keeping a determined cat in your own yard is about as feasible as putting panty hose on an alligator.

OP here. I had assumed happygirl was teasing me. Can you flame and have "goodvibes" at the same time?

Really, I do know that this is a silly issue. It's just what has me annoyed at the moment. Better than being annoyed with the huge stack of year-end stuff all over my desk that I am avoiding by Dising all day.

I do really appreciate the commiseration. I have been wondering if I'm just being ridiculous. (KandD, you did make me smile!) I'm just not a cat person. I think I am am about to become a motion-activated sprinkler person, though

OP it's not ridiculous at all! We have a problem with our neighbors cats too - we both have indoor/outdoor cats, and their cats look like our cats so they wander around from house to house a lot. When they went on vacation our cat was in their house with their cats for 5 days. Imagine their surprise when they came home to find that they suddenly had three cats? You've gotten some excellent suggestions on here so far.

I absolutely hate this response.

No matter what we have going on in our lives someone always has it worse. What kind of a problem is okay to post? Is a sick parent okay? Someone may have a dying parent. How about a kitchen fire? Someone's house may have burnt down.

How about ignoring posts that you don't deem worthy of worry and work on fixing your own problems.

How about developing a sense of humor and reading what happygirl and the OP had to say about her reply? How about reading through the posts to find out that the issue had already been resolved?

 

[dawson5]

My mother in law has had the cat in the engine happen twice. One dropped in front of the high school when she was picking up my bil from school. He was a teenager, happened with a lot of kids getting picked up. That one wasn't "rescue-able." The other lived with only a small flap of her eyelid being split. It came down and covered her eye. I think she was near the fan belt though. She died of old age 2 years ago.

I love cats, hate when they get on my car. I don't like the prints and one of my cars in the past was scratched a few times by a neighbor's cat. (Have you seen for the Ford Ka commercial. It's gross but funny.)

My neighbor has five cats, two which she is constantly battling to keep inside. One looks just like our old cat, he died probably six years ago in a different state. Shortly after we moved here, I found him laying on our driveway. I freaked out. We all thought our Peanut was back from the grave.

TaxiMom, I'm looking at the pics in your sig, is that for the International festival? I have not been in years if it is.

 

[taximomfor4]

TaxiMom, I'm looking at the pics in your sig, is that for the International festival? I have not been in years if it is.

Nope, just from different Irish Dance competitions.

 

[dawson5]

Nope, just from different Irish Dance competitions.

Have you ever been? If so, I think you could understand why I would think so. Cute though. I miss walking it and seeing all the national dresses and the different foods.

 

[Anjelica]

Does your city/county have a leash law? If so you can report the animal to the police/city and they can cite the owner. Sometimes they will give them a warning or two and then if it continues to let the animal roam off property they can be ticketed.

All dogs AND cats in our city MUST be on a leash when off property.

 

[DisneyKT]

OP..you should not have to spend money to fix a problem that is not yours. How about just collecting all the poop and hair and dropping it right back on the neighbors porch with a note saying "Here, I think your cats dropped this".


This is so true. I have done this in the past. If that doesn't work. Keep calling your HOA till their ears hurt.

 

[NYPDwife]

Outside cats are annoying. I have the same problem that you do and I HATE coming out of my front door to smell cat pee in my front yard. Unfortunately, the cats at my house are homeless so I can't speak to anyone about it. I would have a chat with my neighbors, if they can't keep their cats off your property, you might be legally allowed to trap them and call animal control to have them picked up.

We had a neighbor who had a pit bull chained to a shed outside all day, every day. The dog would get loose every so often and terrorize the neighborhood and the neighbors would just bring the pit back in and chain it up again. Long story short, the dog wound up in my back yard one day, I locked it in and called animal control. Now we no longer have a problem.

 

[Scurvy]

Keeping a determined cat in your own yard is about as feasible as putting panty hose on an alligator.

No, unless you are willing to build one of those cute enclosures for the cat (and inspect it often) or you're willing to walk your cat on a harness when it's outside, you aren't going to be able to keep the cat in your own yard. That's one reason it's so inconsiderate to your neighbors to have an outside cat. They shouldn't have to protect their flower beds from your cat with coffee, citrus, or sprinklers - your cat shouldn't be in their yard. It should be inside your house.

I haven't met a cat yet who was able to escape on a regular basis when the people involved were determined to keep them inside. I've known people whose cats escaped once after a moment of carelessness, but none who were able to outwit or overpower their humans enough to get out when the people were willing to go to the trouble to keep the cats inside. Between all the different training methods and the "airlock" approach, a cat would have to be smarter and stronger than it's people, or able to open doors, to be escaping on a regular basis. But maybe your cats are just exceptional! If you've tried everything under the sun and your cats are able to get out anyway, then you're being as responsible as you can and you shouldn't feel bad if they don't come home one day.