I'm At The End of My Rope Due to My Neighbors Cats

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   RJ Schwartzposted 5 years ago

   I have a very inconsiderate neighbor who owns at least 5 cats, which run roughshod over my property.  They use my gardens and beds as a litter box and I wake up every day with at least one of two sleeping on my driveway or worse, on the hood of my truck.  I'm looking for ideas on how to "correct" this situation.  I do have a sprinkler system so anything that's powdered would likely wash away quickly.

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      Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Borrow a cat hating dog for a few days. Or get a pig and allow it on their property for awhile. A few days of cleaning up pig sh*t should send a message complaining cannot.

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         RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         That was the same thing my wife said Randy....the dog at least.  I think I'd find it difficult to have a hog in the area without a neighborhood panic occurring..ha ha ha

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         Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         A pig? that's got to be coming from someone who has never owned a pig. The damage a pig does with its nose is ten times worse than cleaning up a little poop. One of ours got out and it looked as if someone had disced the yard. Thank god it didn't go off the property. That would have been thousands of dollars in landscaping costs to correct the problems created on other people's property.
         
         A dog is a great idea. Or, if you don't mind spending a little money there are products that send out ultrasonic waves to repel cats.

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            Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Just as wrong as usual! I'm a retired farmer, L2L. I know pigs cause lots of damage, but then, cats are a pain in the ass in other ways. Ever had a male cat intentionally seek out an open vehicle to spray the floor with his urine? Yes, a pig will get their attention quickly, and they'll surely make some sort of deal rather than having "your pet" on their premises. Sometimes people aren't considerate until they encounter those of a like mind.

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               Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               LOL. Have you ever been to court to see who is responsible for damage done to a lawn by loose livestock? Even if the pig is a pet I'd like to see how you think such a court case would go. On the one hand, a cat is pooping in the flower bed. On the other, the pig has rooted it up, entirely. Killing all the plants involved and then going on to ruining an entire lawn. Both owners seeking compensation.
               
               Yes, I agree some people are inconsiderate. If I had a neighbor with an attitude that a cat pooping and a pig rooting were comparable I'd hope I was the pig owner and he was the cat owner. The other way around would be a disaster waiting to happen.

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                  wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Not for me.  I like bacon.

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                     RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     I agree - bacon beats just about anything

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                  Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  I did not suggest letting the pig completely ruin the landscape, simply allowing the pig to send a message to a reluctant neighbor. A small pig does minor damage especially if its not there long.  Anyway, I'm sure you've owned lots of pigs in your lifetime so I'll bow to your obviously superior swine knowledge. 

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                     RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     What did you farm Randy?  I'm in the potato business myself - don't know much about livestock

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                        Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        We grew tobacco and peanuts for our main crops, Ralph. We also had around 60 head of cattle and 30 or 40 pigs we grew for the market and for eating. Both were free range in their own wooded and pasture areas. We still rent our farm out to my cousins and the pasture land as well.
                        
                        Just can't beat homegrown meats and vegetables. Thinking about getting a few chickens for eggs and meat, and perhaps a few goats to clean up the underbrush as well. And barbecued goat is so fine...
                        
                        Do you only grow potatoes?

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                           RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                           We do onions as well as spuds.  I do small plots of herbs - mainly lavender, comfrey, and melissa which we sell locally.to folks who make natural bath products and skin care concoctions.  And of course I have several vegetable gardens for canning and pickling.  Me & my boy are planning on starting some bee colonies this summer if we get the time - we know  local honey producer who said he'd help, but it seems like there are never enough hours in the day.

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                     Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     Actually, a small pig can do a lot. Whether you consider it damage or not, is a personal choice. We had a litter get out and attack my beds one day. what I ended up with was actually nice. They loosened the soil and did a lot of weeding in the process and separated a few plants. After putting everything back in the ground I had about 10 sedum plants where initially I had had three. I made the most of it and thanked the little buggers for their effort (just prior to warning my husband to ensure it never happened again. He didn't).

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                        Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        After hunting wild hogs one night, we killed a sow with a litter of six or eight small pigs. My friend raised one little female he named "Little Pig" who was really smart. While the dogs were lying around in the backyard, Little Pig would be in an old recliner under the carport. She'd also chase cars along with the other dogs. He eventually gave her away to a petting zoo she was so tame. They are smarter than a dog in many cases.

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                           wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                           There used to be a pig in our subdivision.  Saw it one day, chasing a dog down the street and though "What an ugly dog!" until it got closer.  Next thing the dog was chasing the pig.  They would go back and for for hours some days.
                           
                           Pigs are noted for being one of the smarter animals.  Don't know they are up with dolphins or chimps, but they are high on the list.  (Higher, I think, than liberals are )

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                              Aime Fposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                              RJ, please forward me your address. I’d like to come collect the cats and send them to poop all over wilderness’ yard instead.

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                                 wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                                 
                                 
                                 There are already two of the neighbors cats that spend as much time here as home.  But that's OK - we're cat people from way back.

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                              Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                              And way higher than cons! 

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      Carolyn M Fieldsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Enough with the pigs . . . here is what I found online . . .
      
      If the homeowner allows the cat into your yard and the cat relieves himself on your plants, either killing the plants or causing such a stink that in interferes with your enjoyment of your property, you have a civil lawsuit. In theory, even if the cat causes no damage, you have a suit for trespass that would allow you to go to court seeking a restraining order (not against the cat since most of them can’t read), but against the owner.

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         Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         It will honestly depend on where you live and local ordinances, to determine whether you have a valid complaint or not.  I know the small town I am from would not give you the time of day, in court.

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         DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

         You can sue anyone for anything. What matters though is if you are able to win. To do this the OP would have to find a lawyer that is willing to take on this case. How easy do you think that is going to be?

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      Carolyn M Fieldsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Have you considered wolf pee?
      
      You can get hanging vials if you are worried about your sprinklers.
      https://www.predatorpeestore.com/cat-repellent.html
      
      A ten-pack of easy-fill hanging vials to WEATHER PROOF the "pee." Attach dispensing vial to ground stake with included twist ties, place stake into the ground every 10-12 ft and fill the dispensers about half way with PredatorPee to create a "pee-rimeter." Each 10pk will create about a 120' perimeter.

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         RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I'm going to look into that - thanks Carolyn

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         MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Carolyn, would wolf pee repel or scare chickens? We've been trying to raise a flock of chickens and keep them in our greenhouse when they are small, but a possum and maybe rats have gotten most of them. We have one left from our first flock and she's now laying eggs. We bought six more, and despite plugging all holes, something got in and killed one small hen and took our little rooster. We now put them all in a dog kennel at night and will do so until we can get a fence and coop built.

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      Melissa A Smithposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      It should be illegal to let cats out. People who do this are despicable.

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         MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         My two cats are house cats. I don't let them out because most cats don't live very long outdoors. Where I live in a housing division in the county, we have speeding traffic and coyotes. Most of my neighbors who have cats let them roam, and I notice that the cat population changes out every four or five years here. They've never caused us any problems, and they keep the rat population down.

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      MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Ralph, look on the bright side. Animal poop is great fertilizer. We are collecting the chicken litter and putting it on the rose bushes. Believe it or not, I learned that from a gardener at the State Capitol when I worked there. Every year they haul in chicken litter and put it on the rose beds. And yes, it stinks for about two weeks then the odor goes away. The roses are gorgeous.

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         Melissa A Smithposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Carnivore poop is NOT healthy for gardens and it contains dangerous bacteria. Cat poop in particular can have T.gondii.

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            DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            "Dangerous bacteria?"
            It does have to be composted, and is not as nearly as easy to use, or as useful, as chicken manure. It is not good fertilizer.
            
            I agree with your comment on this despicable behavior. If his neighbors cared about their cats they would keep them confined.

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               Melissa A Smithposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Huh, what do we disagree on?

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                  DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Not much. You are one of the few levelheaded people around. So many that write on the internet rant about "wild animals".
                  I just was not sure about your comment about "dangerous bacteria".

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                     Melissa A Smithposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     It was my understanding that the bacteria from carnivores can cause illness easier than herbivore poop, which is why it needs to be composted (and this wouldn't be the case with someone's  cat pooping in your yard) and why composting it is more involved. I use my mara's poop without composting.

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                        DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        The main concern that most people have with it is parasite eggs. If your dog or cat does not have parasites, there is nothing wrong with using it fresh.
                        I compost my dogs fecal material even though I am reasonably sure they do not have parasites. I mix it with wood shavings, grass trimmings, and old compost to provide a bacterial culture. I flip it to keep the whole pile hot, but it is really good only after about 6 months.

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         Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I've smelled chicken poop. Horrendous stuff. I always said if I were evil and hated a neighbor, I'd spread it on the property and immediately take a 2 week vacation.
         
         I'd rather have a neighbor with a few wandering cats than one who used chicken poop in excess.

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            MizBejabbersposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Well, if you'd worked my position as a legal editor at the State Capitol, you'd have smelled it every spring or found another job. Apparently they have no pity on tourists and visitors. They plant the experimental roses from the state university experiment station. Each year they choose the best ones and market them. The Capitol keeps the best ones planted from year to year. I don't know if the litter is composted or not, but it smells bad for a couple of weeks.

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               Randy Godwinposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               The farmers around here use chicken manure to fertilize field crops such as cotton. Among the chicken manure are dead chickens who didn't make the cut. They spread this on the land before the crops are planted with the first heavy dew activating the aroma.  Needless to say, the buzzards have a field buffet day until the fert is harrowed in.  I suppose it's the smell of money to some....

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               Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               They use it where I live also. Could be worse. When I was at the Air Force academy they used (what we were told to be) composted human waste as fertilizer. It smelled horrendous and definitely kept me off the grass.

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                  RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  sometimes we'll get a potato storage which has gone south to the point we can't even sell it to a processor - the mess is scooped out and then dumped on the far edge of the desert - a few days of sun makes it unapproachable for miles

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                     Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     One of the many joys of desert life I may never get to experience. Darn.

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