why can't folk just ignore a thread / member if they don't like what they read. How odd that their only contribution is " I'm reporting this". Some folk are indeed odd
Create the disruption, report the thread.
Must be dozens and dozens of threads on here that have new posts for weeks or months I do not follow. Nobody is obliged to look at a thread, particularly if the content might not be to their taste.
Simply move on.
It suggests a more deliberate attempt to end the discussion and occurs repeatedly when this particular topic is raised.
Of course there are hundreds of gardening topics that come up again and again on here, but there is no attempt to prevent discussion on the grounds 'it has been discussed before' Or accusation of 'beating the same drum' if the topic continues for an extended period.
Each new poster will have a unique situation and any of us that have experienced it, know there is not a single, easy, inexpensive way to solve the issue of unwanted cats in a garden.
I personally totally understand why people can be upset, angry and frustrated by people's pets fouling their property, killing wildlife and disrupting gardening activities and pleasure.
They can be desperate to find some sort of long-term solution and angry at those owners who take no responsibility. I've lived through it myself.
It is a shame that there is not more compassion from a wider group of forum members, when someone posts with their anger and frustration on this issue. It is because it really is a big problem that they are trying to solve. Often involving their garden becoming completely unusable - is it so hard for other gardeners to imagine how that really feels?
As @wild edges has put, by far the best tactic currently is to widely discuss this topic on the internet and educate more people about the very real issues irresponsible pet ownership can cause.
A quick check on the internet gives varied information on Jeyes fluid but it is generally considered harmful to pets unless completely dry and is particularly toxic for cats. Personally I wouldn’t splash bleach or disinfectant around in a garden either but obviously that’s my own choice.
I think the issue with this thread is the level of hatred aimed at other people. Some posters have offered helpful advice and been told they are being conned. Others have been wished misfortune and it’s not pleasant. Of course nobody has to read the thread or comment but as the OP is boasting about actions that could potentially be harmful it seems irresponsible to just ignore it.
A quick check on the internet gives varied information on Jeyes fluid but it is generally considered harmful to pets unless completely dry and is particularly toxic for cats. Personally I wouldn’t splash bleach or disinfectant around in a garden either but obviously that’s my own choice.
I think the issue with this thread is the level of hatred aimed at other people. Some posters have offered helpful advice and been told they are being conned. Others have been wished misfortune and it’s not pleasant. Of course nobody has to read the thread or comment but as the OP is boasting about actions that could potentially be harmful it seems irresponsible to just ignore it.
I understand your concerns.
Yes there is an undeniable emphasis in some of OP's posts. Born most likely from anger and frustration, remember here it has nothing to do with the cats themselves. It is owners of multiple cats, who very often do not provide their pet with an indoor litter tray and leave them to defecate on other people's properties. To save themselves the task of cleaning a litter tray and dealing with their pets waste.
This is what I experienced in a moderate sized garden. It truly was the most awful experience. Highly frustrating, disrupted my gardening activities and was totally avoidable. If the neighbours had simply listened to us, which they never did, we would not have stopped growing vegetables and our wildlife garden would not have been totally decimated. Check my profile regarding which gardening activities I most enjoy. It was their selfish actions at the heart of it, not the cats themselves.
If you do a search of the forum, you will see Jeyes fluid has often been discussed as a cat deterrent. Many people will find it an effective product to clear up cat mess, then discover that doing so discourages a cat from using the same hard area in future as a toilet.
For the record, I've never personally used it.
If you are really concerned that Jeyes fluid, which is used for many cleaning activities in gardens is a threat to cats, surely then you see the welfare issues for cats themselves of owners allowing the to free roam on other people's properties?
OP doesn't own a cat, so why should they be concerned if other people choose to expose their pets to risks?
In terms of cats coming into contact with chemicals when free roaming, it is the owner that is responsible. There is an endless list of hazardous chemicals used in gardens, on properties, in workshops that a free-roaming cat could encounter.
A product marketed as safe outdoor disinfectant is really pretty low on the list.
When I worked at a major London animal charity, poisoning was a regular thing we saw. The hazards to cats that free roam are endless. It is the owner that chooses to expose them to it, by allowing them to free roam. It is a human action, again not the cat.
OP clearing up cat mess and then being delighted that the product used also deterred cats from messing in the same spot (which we all know they like to do) and wanting to share it, well is it really that offensive that they found a solution to something that was a major problem for them?
I can understand you may not want to use it yourself, fine. Though if you look at this thread there are other posters looking for solutions. Perhaps this is one they can consider. That's what forums are, places to share information and discuss topics.
I do completely sympathise with the issue, when my children were younger I often had to clean dogs faeces off their shoes. Not much fun and apparently still a problem. My concern was the OPs deciding to leave tea bags soaked in Jeyes fluid around the garden and the level of vitriol directed by them at other forum members which was inappropriate for first time posters. I understand that you have had terrible problems in your own garden but your suggestion of cat scarecrows seemed to be ignored or dismissed? It seemed they were not looking for a solution just a way to make trouble and I think that is why the thread was reported.
I do completely sympathise with the issue, when my children were younger I often had to clean dogs faeces off their shoes. Not much fun and apparently still a problem. My concern was the OPs deciding to leave tea bags soaked in Jeyes fluid around the garden and the level of vitriol directed by them at other forum members which was inappropriate for first time posters. I understand that you have had terrible problems in your own garden but your suggestion of cat scarecrows seemed to be ignored or dismissed? It seemed they were not looking for a solution just a way to make trouble and I think that is why the thread was reported.
OP actually explained that the squirters were not suitable to cover hard areas where the problems were and it was not possible to run hose pipes all over their garden.
I did reassure them they are effective, though understand there is no single, simple solution to the problem.
I suppose leaving soaked teabags means there is a residual smell. I can only assume that it is the smell of Jeyes fluid that is acting a deterrent, so it is a way of not having to reapply it constantly. Possible safer for cats that won't then walk over wet areas?
Having lived with it myself, I really understand the vitriol. I also well know that other more long-term posters have very strong feelings about it, having been subjected to anti-social pet ownership themselves. It really doesn't surprise me. There was a time I was ready to explode on a daily basis. It took a long time and a lot of heart ache to finally get some form of solution and return to normal gardening activities.
@GemmaJF I am glad you are happier in your garden now and if you genuinely feel that the OP was asking for help then there is nothing more for me to add.
I was feeling reluctant to try Jeyes Fluid but to be fair if I have to wake up one more day and clear up lots of cat mess before I can actually walk around my garden, then I too am considering it. The constant smell is making me feel sick, I would rather smell the Jeyes.
Thanks Fencepost, it seems the only answer, at least until cat owners start taking responsibility for their cats.
This particular issue will not be resolved on a Gardening Forum like it or not.
It might be though, eventually. Mature conversations on social media are going to play a big part in increasing awareness of the problems and might help some owners become more responsible.
I will admit I think Songbird Survival are a crap charity but I think they've got it right with how they're approaching this. Work with cat owners and stick to research-based solutions. https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/cat-research This is what the RSPB should have doing for years already.
Work like that and turning the tide of public opinion on social media is what will sort this problem out.
Yes I can see your point but you are referring to "mature conversations" which this thread is patently not. If you look back on this Forum, the threads dealing with this problem usually end up much the same. The cat issue has been going on for years and so far, public opinion has not made any difference - either legislation wise or simple "pet responsibility . I suffered the attentions of a neighbour's 6 cats back in the early '90s - the advice I received from both the cat rescue charities and the local council was basically gather up the faeces and hand it back to the owner. I found it easier to move house eventually ! Granted, social media is a relatively new phenomenon but I don't see the issue of pet responsibility being the hot topic - particularly not under the present circs and not in the forseeable future - would be more than happy to be proved wrong tho. Never heard of Songbird Survival so thanks for the link Before anyone shoots me down, I do know at least one nice cat and realise that many people have a cat, love it and look after it
I don't think that is actually true.
More people are being considerate. Certainly our issues were at the hands of older couples who thought it perfectly OK not to provide a litter tray and turf multiple cats outside day and night with no access to the house. Then laugh in the face of neighbours who complained about the havoc they wreaked. As in the case of OP, the cats did behave as semi-feral, persistent, constant killing, messy and aggressive if approached. It reminded me of the 1970s.
New younger neighbour have moved in. They have a cat, they sit with it when it is outside, then put it back indoors. Nobody has any problem with that, why would they?
More people are installing catios, attitudes are and have been changing in the US, NZ, Australia and much of Europe since I first encountered my own issues with anti-social pet keeping, there have been huge changes in awareness.
I really think it does no harm at all for people to see the sheer level of frustration, anger and annoyance this issue can cause previously normal rational people to experience.
It is part of it, particularly when the issue is persistent, at totally unacceptable level and those responsible simply don't care.
It might surprise people that despite all the angst, I took two of the neighbour's cats for veterinary treatment, one an infected bite (inflicted by another cat) another with a jaw abscess, as the neighbours refused to, saying they were 'old' and they could buy another one.
Far too often these threads end up in a state because well meaning people jump in that would never condone such irresponsible pet ownership. They simply don't know how other people treat cats and the problems that then causes for others.
It's also been a while since I have received death threats for openly discussing the subject on the internet. Had plenty of attention like that in the past.
Sorry to bump this old thread but I'm facing similar issue. Something is messing in our front lawn although it does seem to big to be a cat, I can only assume it is. We did have a lovely surprise a few weeks ago to have it on our outside door mat.
Our neighbour has put 2, what I assume, ultrasonic devices in their garden to cross over each other and I'm thinking the same. I've seen the RSPB 'Cat Watch' for £25 but it's different to theirs, as theirs has a blue light on it.
Anyone got any suggestions or experience as most the messages on here seem to be pretty negative.
@stuarta99 . Not to sound facetious. But I think I might begin by starting a new Topic/thread with a photo if possible to try and confirm what the faeces is if you are not sure. It might be fox.
Posts
Must be dozens and dozens of threads on here that have new posts for weeks or months I do not follow. Nobody is obliged to look at a thread, particularly if the content might not be to their taste.
Simply move on.
It suggests a more deliberate attempt to end the discussion and occurs repeatedly when this particular topic is raised.
Of course there are hundreds of gardening topics that come up again and again on here, but there is no attempt to prevent discussion on the grounds 'it has been discussed before' Or accusation of 'beating the same drum' if the topic continues for an extended period.
Each new poster will have a unique situation and any of us that have experienced it, know there is not a single, easy, inexpensive way to solve the issue of unwanted cats in a garden.
I personally totally understand why people can be upset, angry and frustrated by people's pets fouling their property, killing wildlife and disrupting gardening activities and pleasure.
They can be desperate to find some sort of long-term solution and angry at those owners who take no responsibility. I've lived through it myself.
It is a shame that there is not more compassion from a wider group of forum members, when someone posts with their anger and frustration on this issue. It is because it really is a big problem that they are trying to solve. Often involving their garden becoming completely unusable - is it so hard for other gardeners to imagine how that really feels?
As @wild edges has put, by far the best tactic currently is to widely discuss this topic on the internet and educate more people about the very real issues irresponsible pet ownership can cause.
Yes there is an undeniable emphasis in some of OP's posts. Born most likely from anger and frustration, remember here it has nothing to do with the cats themselves. It is owners of multiple cats, who very often do not provide their pet with an indoor litter tray and leave them to defecate on other people's properties. To save themselves the task of cleaning a litter tray and dealing with their pets waste.
This is what I experienced in a moderate sized garden. It truly was the most awful experience. Highly frustrating, disrupted my gardening activities and was totally avoidable. If the neighbours had simply listened to us, which they never did, we would not have stopped growing vegetables and our wildlife garden would not have been totally decimated. Check my profile regarding which gardening activities I most enjoy. It was their selfish actions at the heart of it, not the cats themselves.
If you do a search of the forum, you will see Jeyes fluid has often been discussed as a cat deterrent. Many people will find it an effective product to clear up cat mess, then discover that doing so discourages a cat from using the same hard area in future as a toilet.
For the record, I've never personally used it.
If you are really concerned that Jeyes fluid, which is used for many cleaning activities in gardens is a threat to cats, surely then you see the welfare issues for cats themselves of owners allowing the to free roam on other people's properties?
OP doesn't own a cat, so why should they be concerned if other people choose to expose their pets to risks?
In terms of cats coming into contact with chemicals when free roaming, it is the owner that is responsible. There is an endless list of hazardous chemicals used in gardens, on properties, in workshops that a free-roaming cat could encounter.
A product marketed as safe outdoor disinfectant is really pretty low on the list.
When I worked at a major London animal charity, poisoning was a regular thing we saw. The hazards to cats that free roam are endless. It is the owner that chooses to expose them to it, by allowing them to free roam. It is a human action, again not the cat.
OP clearing up cat mess and then being delighted that the product used also deterred cats from messing in the same spot (which we all know they like to do) and wanting to share it, well is it really that offensive that they found a solution to something that was a major problem for them?
I can understand you may not want to use it yourself, fine. Though if you look at this thread there are other posters looking for solutions. Perhaps this is one they can consider. That's what forums are, places to share information and discuss topics.
I did reassure them they are effective, though understand there is no single, simple solution to the problem.
I suppose leaving soaked teabags means there is a residual smell. I can only assume that it is the smell of Jeyes fluid that is acting a deterrent, so it is a way of not having to reapply it constantly. Possible safer for cats that won't then walk over wet areas?
Having lived with it myself, I really understand the vitriol. I also well know that other more long-term posters have very strong feelings about it, having been subjected to anti-social pet ownership themselves. It really doesn't surprise me. There was a time I was ready to explode on a daily basis. It took a long time and a lot of heart ache to finally get some form of solution and return to normal gardening activities.
I don't think that is actually true.
More people are being considerate. Certainly our issues were at the hands of older couples who thought it perfectly OK not to provide a litter tray and turf multiple cats outside day and night with no access to the house. Then laugh in the face of neighbours who complained about the havoc they wreaked. As in the case of OP, the cats did behave as semi-feral, persistent, constant killing, messy and aggressive if approached. It reminded me of the 1970s.
New younger neighbour have moved in. They have a cat, they sit with it when it is outside, then put it back indoors. Nobody has any problem with that, why would they?
More people are installing catios, attitudes are and have been changing in the US, NZ, Australia and much of Europe since I first encountered my own issues with anti-social pet keeping, there have been huge changes in awareness.
I really think it does no harm at all for people to see the sheer level of frustration, anger and annoyance this issue can cause previously normal rational people to experience.
It is part of it, particularly when the issue is persistent, at totally unacceptable level and those responsible simply don't care.
It might surprise people that despite all the angst, I took two of the neighbour's cats for veterinary treatment, one an infected bite (inflicted by another cat) another with a jaw abscess, as the neighbours refused to, saying they were 'old' and they could buy another one.
Far too often these threads end up in a state because well meaning people jump in that would never condone such irresponsible pet ownership. They simply don't know how other people treat cats and the problems that then causes for others.
It's also been a while since I have received death threats for openly discussing the subject on the internet. Had plenty of attention like that in the past.
Sorry to bump this old thread but I'm facing similar issue. Something is messing in our front lawn although it does seem to big to be a cat, I can only assume it is. We did have a lovely surprise a few weeks ago to have it on our outside door mat.
Our neighbour has put 2, what I assume, ultrasonic devices in their garden to cross over each other and I'm thinking the same. I've seen the RSPB 'Cat Watch' for £25 but it's different to theirs, as theirs has a blue light on it.
Anyone got any suggestions or experience as most the messages on here seem to be pretty negative.
But I think I might begin by starting a new Topic/thread with a photo if possible to try and confirm what the faeces is if you are not sure.
It might be fox.