Cats...

TizTaly2015

Was going to put this in the pets forum but it is a personal issue for me.....

We have two cats. Our youngest child is two and I honestly have never seen a child like him for getting into dirt...typical boy you might say. As much as we try and cater for the cats in terms of their 'waste', they keep digging up our back garden and pooping all the place. (They are primarily outdoor cats). I've tried everything - litter trays in the shed (with cat flap), a cordoned off section of the garden where they can poop and I clean it up....I can't keep up with them....

but my little fella keeps digging where they poop and this is highly dangerous.

My hubbie wants rid of them. He doesn't really have an attachment to them. Here's the thing, our oldest cat is 12 and I would hate to lose him. If I'm honest, the other cat (whos 3) I think would be ok getting re-homed. Our older cat is such a pet though.

However, the safety and health of my child is the priority so I think we're going to have to get rid :-(

Would anyone know how I would even start? I've looked at the DSPCA website and the would want €160 for us to surrender the two cats.....

Thanks lads and moderator, please move if you think it would be best suited to another forum...

Musketeer4

To be honest if I were in your situation I would PTS.

Realistically rehoming cats is not going to be at all easy.
PTS will also be far cheaper and much less hassle.

baby and crumble

Musketeer4 wrote: »

To be honest if I were in your situation I would PTS.

Realistically rehoming cats is not going to be at all easy.
PTS will also be far cheaper and much less hassle.

You would put healthy animals to sleep? To save hassle and money? :mad:

OP, there are lots of animal rescues that will help you try and find homes for your cats. DSPCA is massive and probably not the best for this. Try looking up local groups in your area- lots will be able to put up FB posts to their followers etc whilst they remain in your care or with a fosterer until a home is found.

TizTaly2015

Won't be PTS.

Couldn't do that to them. I suppose the issue is the 12 year old..not many people want older cats. The 3 year old is a beauty and I think would be snapped up....it makes me so sad but I know I have to.

I'll contact our local vet and see what he says - he would know of local groups I'm sure...

Musketeer4

To be honest, yes I would.

I've put down one of my mother's dogs because she chased cyclists and was too much for my mother to handle.

njs030

Musketeer4 wrote: »

To be honest if I were in your situation I would PTS.

Realistically rehoming cats is not going to be at all easy.
PTS will also be far cheaper and much less hassle.

I would bet this person doesn't have animals if killing them is their suggestion. Also the vet and injections do need to be paid for...surprise!

Try a smaller rescue but I would suggest you give some kind of donation or even offer your time to help out for a while, one Sunday a month perhaps? Vet care and food isn't free for rescue either.

kylith

If it were me I would look at rehoming the younger cat and moving the older cat (and possibly the younger one if you decide to keep him) indoors. If he can't get to the garden he can't poop in it

TizTaly2015

Thanks Kylith but I know my young lad would be in the litter tray eating the poop. And I say that in all seriousness.

kylith

TizTaly2015 wrote: »

Thanks Kylith but I know my young lad would be in the litter tray eating the poop. And I say that in all seriousness.

You can get covered ones, ones with flaps that only open for the cat, or ones that are hidden in some way.

TizTaly2015

Yes, I suppose the covered litter tray could be an option.....I've been doing a bit of googling of groups but I cant bring myself to make the call just yet. I know I'm being a dope over it but I feel awful even considering it.

Flippyfloppy

TizTaly2015 wrote: »

Yes, I suppose the covered litter tray could be an option.....I've been doing a bit of googling of groups but I cant bring myself to make the call just yet. I know I'm being a dope over it but I feel awful even considering it.

Can you even put litter trays high up out of your boys reach? Or in an area cordoned off by safety gates?

Rekop dog

I don't see this as such a big issue that they need rehoming to be honest, I'd imagine a large % of people here grew up with animals in the family home and managed perfectly fine. Perhaps you're using it as an excuse to get rid of them, your current reason isn't really valid imo.

All children have to learn about cleanliness as they're growing up, it's a parents job to keep and eye on them when they're outside and gradually teach them what to avoid.

Flippyfloppy

Rekop dog wrote: »

All children have to learn about cleanliness as they're growing up, it's a parents job to keep and eye on them when they're outside and gradually teach them what to avoid.

I agree, and would like to add that this is likely a short phase for your son. In a couple of months he probably won't be digging up all around him anymore, and you'll regret rehoming your cats. Until then you might find something that works for all parties.

LegacyUser

As the previous owner of two cats and the current owner of 2 small kids, here's what I would try before rehoming (and I wouldn't PTS, but then I'm a cat lover)

If you can't beat em, join 'em. Create a corner of the garden (preferably inaccessible to the little guy), and fill it with nice soft compost or earth. Preferably a shaded spot with a bit of cover and the type of stuff that just calls to cats to go and investigate!!! Cover every other spare inch of the garden in bark mulch or gravel or something that cats will not like to go poking at!! The same could be done in reverse too, create another spot for the little guy to dig in and that's his special spot. Put extra earth in it,a fence/gate on it, put chicken wire or something over it, whatever, but train him to dig there. Make it fun for him, maybe put a little bench there or a few shells or stones or twigs, or whatever.
OR
Get a litter tray that has a cover and is only really easily accessible to cats. And carry out garden proofing suggestions as above.

The key in this is to make the garden generally inhospitable for pooping activities. A heavy cover of bark on beds, or decent sized gravel (not the type of size you can buy for litter) will help this. I would definitely be reinforcing with the little guy though about a spot he can dig in and possibly the easiest way to do this would be to give him a big pile of earth in a corner somewhere and letting him lose. He'll catch on quickly.

LegacyUser

Rekop dog wrote: »

All children have to learn about cleanliness as they're growing up, it's a parents job to keep and eye on them when they're outside and gradually teach them what to avoid.

+ 1 What's stopping stray cats or foxes pooping in your back garden? Seems like overkill to me to get rid of family pets rather then teach a child that something is yucky and shouldn't be touched. Covered litter trays either indoor or outdoor in no go for child areas, you can put down plants that cats don't like to stop them pooping around the garden and encourage them to go in the littler trays. Make sure you have at least two, one for each cat, and they are cleaned regularly or the cats will stop using them and keep an eye on the child and what they are sticking their hands in...unless you plan to concrete your back garden there's lots of things beside cat poop you need to keep an eye out for.

TizTaly2015

Thanks for your input. Rekop Dog - I don't take the possibility of having to re-home a cat that I've had for 12 years very lightly. Our son has learning/language difficulties that are being dealt with at the minute so his understanding or right/wrong etc is a bit behind other children..

I've been sitting here thinking about it and I'm thinking off all the possibilities of how to keep them both. Was thinking if we cleared a larger area for them in the back and put a higher fence around it with a small cut out for access, I could try and 'train' them to poop here.....it might take me putting pepper in the other places to stop them using places in the general play area of the garden....I could then try and then keep the pooping to this area......

I just am very worried about the consequences of our wee fella picking anything up......as is my husband.

Shint0

How have you taught your child not to stick his hand in the toilet bowl or refrain from drinking the water from it? Serious question, by the way.

TizTaly2015

Slightly off topic Shinto but I'll answer. As I mentioned earlier, he has some learning difficulties that we are dealing with at the minute and in terms of your question, the bathroom that he can access downstairs is kept closed and he cannot open it just yet.

Of course there are dangers everywhere for children and I have two older children so I know how to parent and take care of a child. Its just the pooping with the cats has gotten out of control, and that's what has us worried. they used to localise their pooping, now its everywhere.

But as I said, I'll re-think and plan the garden using some of the above mentioned ideas and give it a go.

SarahMollie

Yeah OP, your son will grow out of this behaviour relatively quickly, can you not be inventive and think of something to manage the situation in the meantime?

Have a water gun at the ready and squirt them anytime they go to the toilet outside the designated area or could you put a motion sensing sprinkler that would go off if they enter the area which you want kept clean (of course will have to be turned off when your son goes out to play). Can't believe people actually suggested bringing them in the house, cats shouldn't be allowed inside any house never mind one with a young child who is not yet hygiene aware.

LegacyUser

Hi OP, just a suggestion, but why don't you bring the cats inside and give them a room where you keep the litter boxes which is blocked off from your boy by a baby gate? When we got a puppy we already had 2 cats at home and we a.) didn't want the puppy bothering the cats all of the time so they needed a "safe" space to themselves and b.) didn't want said puppy eating from the litter trays. For us, the baby gate meant that the cats could get into the room, but the puppy couldn't which was perfect. It might work for you as your little boy wouldn't be able to get into the room but the cats would still be able to hop in/out. Hope you figure it out soon and don't have to rehome your cats.

baby and crumble

Penny Sparse Cursor wrote: »

Can't believe people actually suggested bringing them in the house, cats shouldn't be allowed inside any house never mind one with a young child who is not yet hygiene aware.

:eek:

Jaysis, never come to my house so!

dudara

TizTaly2015 wrote: »

Its just the pooping with the cats has gotten out of control, and that's what has us worried. they used to localise their pooping, now its everywhere.

Has anything changed for the cats to cause this? Are they perhaps perturbed by your son's digging and this is their reaction to it?

Fakediamond

Autumn/winter is coming and the little man won't really be in the garden much. Maybe you could postpone any decision until spring and who knows what might have changed by then. I would try and implement the blocked off toilet area for the cats during that time so that the garden will be cleaner for all children by next summer.

gctest50

Penny Sparse Cursor wrote: »

........... Can't believe people actually suggested bringing them in the house, cats shouldn't be allowed inside any house never mind one with a young child who is not yet hygiene aware.

Good for yer immune system - give it a bit of a workout and get it in shape so you won't be getting unwell easily

iguana

OP, what I'd do in your situation is fence off part of your garden into a cat run and keep the cat run and the area your child can play in mutually exclusive. I've done that with my dogs and it works very well. I had to create a dog run because my neighbour has chickens and my dogs are natural fowl hunters, so I had to keep them in an area where there is no way they can get nextdoor. But I have to admit that it's quite nice to know I can let my son out into the main part of the garden secure in the knowledge that it's dog poo free.

Penny Sparse Cursor wrote: »

Can't believe people actually suggested bringing them in the house, cats shouldn't be allowed inside any house never mind one with a young child who is not yet hygiene aware.

Kids who live with cats from birth have 4-5 times lower instances of common childhood illnesses. And very reduced levels of allergies. Living with cats is very beneficial to the health of a child. (Nearly as beneficial as living with dogs.)

LegacyUser

OP if your cats pooping habits have changed so drastically then something has happened to upset them, either internally in the house or another cat arriving in the area. Creating a space for them as you suggested should calm them down and stop the mass poopings.

Penny Sparse Cursor wrote: »

Can't believe people actually suggested bringing them in the house, cats shouldn't be allowed inside any house never mind one with a young child who is not yet hygiene aware.

My cat is 100% indoor cat and there are no issues in my house. Lived in NYC for years and loads of friends there have cats that would be 100% in door cats, plenty of them have kids also.

can't log in

can't log in wrote: »

My cat is 100% indoor cat and there are no issues in my house. Lived in NYC for years and loads of friends there have cats that would be 100% in door cats, plenty of them have kids also.

Any dog or cat we had was never even allowed to look in the door never mind inside. I completely disagree with animals in the house, they aren't people and should live outside (with a shed or kennel for shelter and to sleep in of course). This new thing about having cats and dogs inside is mad really, being from a rural area everyone had dogs and cats when I was growing up and none were ever allowed inside, nowadays people are treating them like children (city people in particular).

inocybe

If you keep up to date with worming your cats there is little danger. Pick up after the cats same as you would with a dog. Hysterical reaction IMO

intheclouds

I dont understand the reasoning here, unless it is just an excuse to get rid of the animals.

Surely as your child grows he is going to encounter many things that he shouldnt be putting his hand into, toilets, the hob, shores outside etc.... The answer is not to remove these things from the world, it is to teach your child not to put his hands in them.

At this young age all you have to do is keep him away from the cats litter trays.

The garden could contain poop from any cat or any bird.

LegacyUser

I am disgusted that someone would even suggest that those cats needed to be PUT TO SLEEP. I will not abbreviate it like most have.

Do these animals deserve to die because your child is doing things he shouldn't? How could anyone in their right mind think such a thing.

As for rehoming, I am sorry to say that it is very unlikely your 12 y/o will be rehomed. I've seen this time and time again, and the poor pet will be stuck in and out of kennels vomiting due to stress. Cats are a creature of habit, putting them into a new home after 12 years will be extremely stressful also, and your cats appreciates you a lot more than it might seem. They will miss your presence.

I apologise as I do not want to come across as overly harsh, I understand you care for your child, but I am see so many owners putting everything before their pets, and it saddens me. Your child will not be digging up dirt for the rest of his life, there must be some way you can stop him from doing this right now. The cats are not the problem here, and eliminating them is the easy way out. Please think carefully, cats are living, breathing, sentient beings who deserve respect which I am sure you have been giving them up to this point, and they deserve to live out their lives in their home.

DoozerT6

OP I would echo other posters who have said that your son won't be digging up cat poop like this forever. He's a toddler and going through an exploratory phase. He simply doesn't yet understand that its not hygienic, etc. But one day, and it could only be in a few weeks or months time, he will understand that picking up cat poop and other things like that isn't ok. I would urge you to just watch him closely, get other family members to do the same, and keep your cats. If I were in your position, I would hate to re-home my cats, (one elderly and unlikely to be a first choice for many people) for a reason that could be solved in a short space of time with some vigilance. While I can understand your husbands frustration, especially if he is not bonded to your pets, I think if you stand back and look at the situation objectively, re-homing your cats is a short-sighted reaction.

There are many other reasons not to do this, and other things you can try as stated by others above, but at the end of the day, this is a PHASE your son is going through. Imagine getting rid of your cats only for your son to have (possibly within weeks) completely lost interest in 'digging up' after them...

baby and crumble

Penny Sparse Cursor wrote: »

This new thing about having cats and dogs inside is mad really, being from a rural area everyone had dogs and cats when I was growing up and none were ever allowed inside, nowadays people are treating them like children (city people in particular).

By "new thing" do you mean before the last 34 years? Because that's how old I am and our pets always lived in the house from when I was little, and we were the only house for miles. What's the point in having pets if you don't interact with them? Obviously a healthy understanding that they are animals and not people is needed but Jesus, allowing them inside for companionship (which is why a lot of people get pets) isn't a big deal.

LegacyUser

Penny Sparse Cursor wrote: »

Any dog or cat we had was never even allowed to look in the door never mind inside. I completely disagree with animals in the house, they aren't people and should live outside (with a shed or kennel for shelter and to sleep in of course). This new thing about having cats and dogs inside is mad really, being from a rural area everyone had dogs and cats when I was growing up and none were ever allowed inside, nowadays people are treating them like children (city people in particular).

You realise there are plenty of breeds that will literally die if they are outside 24/7? Some dog breeds(and cat breeds too probably) were bred to be lap dogs and live inside with their owners. Since hundreds of years ago. My own dogs are toy breeds with a single coat of hair(not fur!) and would never survive outside.

What is the point of having pets if they're just alone in the garden all the time? Just get a lawn ornament so.

nikkibikki

mollymalone007 wrote:

I apologise as I do not want to come across as overly harsh, I understand you care for your child, but I am see so many owners putting everything before their pets, and it saddens me. Your child will not be digging up dirt for the rest of his life, there must be some way you can stop him from doing this right now. The cats are not the problem here, and eliminating them is the easy way out. Please think carefully, cats are living, breathing, sentient beings who deserve respect which I am sure you have been giving them up to this point, and they deserve to live out their lives in their home.

The OP is merely putting her child before her pets which is 100% the right thing to do! I would be extremely worried too. And we are pet owners too but the humans in the house will always be more important. We have a beautiful nearly 5yr old boxer, brilliant with the kids. But if that changed, we couldn't keep her, as upsetting as that would be for us all but the kids will always come first. The OP is considering the suggestions made here so give her a break.

LegacyUser

@nikkibikki

I think I have given her a break and I have put into consideration how she has to put her family first. I will never tell anybody however that it is okay to euthanise healthy, non-aggressive animals. That is my point, I know OP is obviously a caring mother and pet owner. I'm just emphasizing how wrong it would be to put those animals to sleep. I am a bit offended that your comment suggests that I am being unfair.

ShaShaBear

As others have pointed out, getting rid of your cats is probably utterly pointless. When they go, you could find a number of stray cats could make your garden their toilet and how exactly will your husband propose to remedy that? Also, you don't know what other animals/vermin their presence is currently protecting your garden from and you could have a whole host of other problems. Your son touching and ingesting wild rat poo would probably be more concerning than your pet cat poo (assuming they receive regular veterinary treatment).

Either cordon off an area in your garden and make it extremely appealing for your cats to use, or move them indoors and get them contained litter trays. Also take them both for a check-up to ensure there isn't a medical reason for a sudden onset of uncontrollable pooing!

Rubberchikken

hi op
i was just thinking of this post yesterday and watching our cats (4 and all outdoors but with their own great warm little house), and i got to thinking why should they be doing so much poo that you cant keep on top of it. maybe a chat with the vet might be needed.
our cats are fed twice a day, morning and evening, and poo in much the same places every day. nothing excessive. as there are no small kids here, i dont need to clear it up, bug garden and plenty of hedges, but if i had to ti wouldn't be a big job to do.

your son will get bigger and tbh, needs to learn to leave certain things alone. think about all the 'stuff' that can be found on the ground in a play area for starters.
the joys of it:) good luck

teggers5

how about getting your son a covered sand pit and teaching him he can only dig there?
there's no way I would considering killing 2 healthy animals for pooping in the garden!
and whatever about the younger cat, rehoming the 12 year old would be just down right cruel.

TizTaly2015

Hi all, OP here. Thanks to all for the feedback.

Just want to clarify something...I never ever said I was going to euthanize either of my cats. It was suggested by someone else. I would never do that.

Since I last posted, I bought some fencing and cordoned off an area down the very back. I have surrounded it with plants in pots so the wee fella doesn't decide to try and hop over. I have filled it with fresh muck and clear it out ever 2-3 days. Seems to be working.

However, the younger cat is still pooping in other places so a trip to the vets is on the cards for him.

I just want to say, however, that my son will always be my priority. I love my cats, I think they're great but if my son was to pick up any disease or illness from having them, I would have to get rid. Those who want to judge that decision, go ahead, but my son will always be number one.

Thanks again to all the suggestions, have taken them on board!

theoldbreed

Musketeer4 wrote:

To be honest, yes I would.

Musketeer4 wrote:

I've put down one of my mother's dogs because she chased cyclists and was too much for my mother to handle.

You put a healthy dog to sleep because you and your mother were too irresponsible to ensure the dog was properly secured. Disgusting.

theoldbreed

TizTaly2015 wrote:

I just want to say, however, that my son will always be my priority. I love my cats, I think they're great but if my son was to pick up any disease or illness from having them, I would have to get rid. Those who want to judge that decision, go ahead, but my son will always be number one.

Maybe don't get anymore pets if you can't make them a priority.

dudara

@theoldbreed Welcome to PI. Please take the time to read the forum charter before posting again. Posts should be constructive and directed towards the OP's issue.

dudara