Feral cat pooping in neighbor's yard...

jil05 · May 7, 2006

As some of you may know, I have had trouble in the past with neighbors and my colony. I live in a suburban area and the cats are in my backyard.
When our new neighbor moved in, the first thing that I talked to her about was our feral colony. I told her that we fed and sheltered some feral cats (10)and if she had any problems to please come to me.

Well...She had a problem with them pooping in her garden, so I put two litter boxes out there in addition to three areas in my yard that are filled with dirt and peat moss where they make a habit of going. I clean it 3-4 times a week. Once again, I asked her if there are any problems, to please come to me.

In the meantime, her parents moved in the house next to her and we have had no contact with them at all.

Last week she put up a fence as did her parents and I thought good, that will help. I have tried to get enough money for a fence myself, but finances are very tight right now. Today her two kids knocked on my door, then opened the door to the house! to let me know that their ball fell in my yard, could they look for it? I went into the yard with them and was told very rudely by her little boy how the cats are pooping in his mother and nanny's yard..., what's wrong with me?... I have too many cats... I should keep them in my house...etc. I just stood there! I was in the middle of washing my kitchen floor so I told them that when I finished the floor I would look for their ball. Then I told him what a nice kid he was.... His last statement? Why am I washing the kitchen floor? Did my cats poop on it?

I am so upset. I have really tried to keep them in my yard and they seemed to be going in my yard in the areas provided....What can I do now? This all seems so helpless. I love our feral colony, but is it worth it? I am tired of people giving me mean looks when I walk out of my house. There are many cats around where I live, and they are all not mine....It's just the way that if anything happens, it is my colony that did it. I know that they first thing when there is a problem is communication...Well, I tried that, and it doesn't seem to be working. And she was the nice neighbor out of the two next door to us!

Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice would be appreciated!

hissy · May 7, 2006

Some people just don't understand feral ways. Yesterday, I had a visitor to my cat enclosure. When told how many cats I have, as she approached the door of the enclosure, I noticed her plugging her nose!

I asked her what in the world she was doing, and she took her hand away and said "with all these cats it must really stink!' I was so offended, but I told her to keep breathing and judge for herself. She stepped in and was amazed she could breathe!

I use kiddy pools with Stall Dry. Stall Dry is way cheaper than cat litter, and it works better because when you are stirring the litter to remove the solid waste, the enzymes work to absorb the urine and other odors. I have 3 of these in the enclosure, and I scoop at least 3 times a day. Try using the plastic pools as litter pans in your backyard. You will find your colony will like them because they give them so much freedom of movement. And if there is a feed store near you, look for Stall Dry to use as litter-

tnr1 · May 7, 2006

Originally Posted by JIL05

As some of you may know, I have had trouble in the past with neighbors and my colony. I live in a suburban area and the cats are in my backyard.
When our new neighbor moved in, the first thing that I talked to her about was our feral colony. I told her that we fed and sheltered some feral cats (10)and if she had any problems to please come to me.

Well...She had a problem with them pooping in her garden, so I put two litter boxes out there in addition to three areas in my yard that are filled with dirt and peat moss where they make a habit of going. I clean it 3-4 times a week. Once again, I asked her if there are any problems, to please come to me.

In the meantime, her parents moved in the house next to her and we have had no contact with them at all.

Last week she put up a fence as did her parents and I thought good, that will help. I have tried to get enough money for a fence myself, but finances are very tight right now. Today her two kids knocked on my door, then opened the door to the house! to let me know that their ball fell in my yard, could they look for it? I went into the yard with them and was told very rudely by her little boy how the cats are pooping in his mother and nanny's yard..., what's wrong with me?... I have too many cats... I should keep them in my house...etc. I just stood there! I was in the middle of washing my kitchen floor so I told them that when I finished the floor I would look for their ball. Then I told him what a nice kid he was.... His last statement? Why am I washing the kitchen floor? Did my cats poop on it?

I am so upset. I have really tried to keep them in my yard and they seemed to be going in my yard in the areas provided....What can I do now? This all seems so helpless. I love our feral colony, but is it worth it? I am tired of people giving me mean looks when I walk out of my house. There are many cats around where I live, and they are all not mine....It's just the way that if anything happens, it is my colony that did it. I know that they first thing when there is a problem is communication...Well, I tried that, and it doesn't seem to be working. And she was the nice neighbor out of the two next door to us!

Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice would be appreciated!

It's unfortunate that your neighbors have such a poor attitude of what you are doing....I would like to say THANK YOU. Because of what you are doing..these cats have a better life.

Katie

charmed654321 · May 8, 2006

I don't know if this will make you feel better or not, but as I was reading your post the first thing that came to my mind was what ignorant morons they are if they don't even have the presence of mind to watch what they say in front of children.

There isn't a cat poop in the world that is anywhere near as offensive as mouth poop.

I wouldn't worry too much about how they think of you. I'd actually pity them because look at the kind of child they are raising, and he will end up with the same attitude they have, and it will come back to bite them on the butt.

You're saving lives while they're destroying one because their son is going to grow up as miserable and negative as they are and it's sad they have nothing else to occupy their mind other than worry about what you're doing.

People like that aren't worth worrying about. Sounds to me that you get the respect and gratitude of people who understand true priorities and don't need to entertain themselves at another's expense.

Gotta feel bad for them.

If it helps, I think you're great for doing what your doing and putting all that time and money to help the babies.

jil05 · May 12, 2006

Sorry I didn't reply sooner...I just want to thank you for your responses.I love the mouth poop comment!
You made me feel much better! It's just so difficult when you really are tying to do all of the right things. I will definitely be looking into Dry Stall.

Thanks!
JIL05

beckiboo · May 12, 2006

Maybe the adults are hopeless, but you can slowly bring the child over to your side. When you see him again, just try your best to be nice. This is probably a kid who never had and never will have a pet. Let him know that these kitties aren't your pets, but you do what you can to help them out. If he seems open to learning, maybe he would like to help you pour food into their bowls.

He has only heard the vile comments of his parents, so believes cats to be nasty dirty creatures. You are his best hope to learn how wonderful they are. He is a lonely kid if he has no pet, and here he has a pile of "tiny tigers" in his own backyard! You are his best chance of learning about animals. And if he starts loving one or two of the kitties, he will go a long way towards making his Mom and Grandparents less vile towards you!

shadow_kitty · May 12, 2006

I like waht Beckiboo said about the kid. See if the kids are welling to help you look after the cats. let them know they are not your cats but everyones cats. they live in the area and you just want to make sure they have some one to love and feed them. have them help you with the food and if the cats are nice have the kids play with them. once you win the kids over they will go home and tell the parents about it and the parents will either just deal with it and keep their mouths closed or they will stop caring or (hopfully) like what you are doing and would be welling to help you out too.

keep us update on whats going on. and if they dont come around its their loss. you are doing a great thing, and helping keep these cats healthy and full and off the streets.

dhenders · May 14, 2006

Keep up the good work and try not to let them get you down.

And Beckiboo has a good idea. See if you can bring this kid over to your side. It wouldn't hurt to try. You might find a very good ally.

jil05 · Jun 16, 2006

Well....My neighbor knocked on the door today to complain that the cats are still pooping in her front garden, under her tree and that it smells horrible. She wanted me to put out more litter boxes. I told her that we had the two litter boxes and two spots that they go in,but I would add another one towards the side of my yard that she's on.
Then I offered to go over there and clean it up as some of you suggested in threads on how to deal with complaints from neighbors. Well...I got over there and there were maybe 5 very small spots of cat poop and there was hardly any smell at all. I really feel that she is making a mountain out of a mole hill. I was so nervous ( I don't deal very well with people- I was always extremely shy) that I offered to go over there 1-2 times a week to check on it and clean up anything I find. She said yes, that would be fine. Helping with my nervousness was the fact that her parents who live next door to her came out and they all stared at me while I cleaned her garden!
Now I know that is everyone's suggestion on how to deal with neighbor's complaints....But the thing of it is...I DON'T want to go over there and clean up her garden. I don't like this woman at all...Her kid's have been rude to me, I have heard her talking about me and my family and saying that I am weird due to the cats etc. She is just a woman without manners.
I know that I am being petty, but there are so many other variables...like will all the neighbors in a 3 house radius expect me to clean any poop found on their property? And how about the fact that there are many cats in the neighborhood that do not belong to my colony?
I guess I am just writing so that some of you can respond and make me feel better as usual. I just feel like a big freak!
Thanks for letting me vent!
JIL05

Oh, by the way...I haven't seen the kids recently so I haven't been able to try to be friendly. The whole family (parents included) just seem to be cat haters.

tnr1 · Jun 16, 2006

Originally Posted by JIL05

Well....My neighbor knocked on the door today to complain that the cats are still pooping in her front garden, under her tree and that it smells horrible. She wanted me to put out more litter boxes. I told her that we had the two litter boxes and two spots that they go in,but I would add another one towards the side of my yard that she's on.
Then I offered to go over there and clean it up as some of you suggested in threads on how to deal with complaints from neighbors. Well...I got over there and there were maybe 5 very small spots of cat poop and there was hardly any smell at all. I really feel that she is making a mountain out of a mole hill. I was so nervous ( I don't deal very well with people- I was always extremely shy) that I offered to go over there 1-2 times a week to check on it and clean up anything I find. She said yes, that would be fine. Helping with my nervousness was the fact that her parents who live next door to her came out and they all stared at me while I cleaned her garden!
Now I know that is everyone's suggestion on how to deal with neighbor's complaints....But the thing of it is...I DON'T want to go over there and clean up her garden. I don't like this woman at all...Her kid's have been rude to me, I have heard her talking about me and my family and saying that I am weird due to the cats etc. She is just a woman without manners.
I know that I am being petty, but there are so many other variables...like will all the neighbors in a 3 house radius expect me to clean any poop found on their property? And how about the fact that there are many cats in the neighborhood that do not belong to my colony?
I guess I am just writing so that some of you can respond and make me feel better as usual. I just feel like a big freak!
Thanks for letting me vent!
JIL05

Oh, by the way...I haven't seen the kids recently so I haven't been able to try to be friendly. The whole family (parents included) just seem to be cat haters.

Unless there is a way that you can verify that it isn't your ferals that are going in the yard....you are going to be under the gun with your neighbors. I know it ticks you off...but in the end...it's better to have neighbors who tolerate the ferals than ones that want them "GONE".

Katie

Feral cat pooping in neighbor's yard...

jil05

TCS Member

Thread starter

hissy

TCS Member

tnr1

TCS Member

charmed654321

TCS Member

jil05

TCS Member

Thread starter

beckiboo

TCS Member

shadow_kitty

TCS Member

dhenders

TCS Member

jil05

TCS Member

Thread starter

tnr1

TCS Member

Latest Posts

Connect with us