This is gross and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I have lived in my house for 5+ years and have had a sand box in the back yard that is 14 feet by 14 feet for almost the entire time. It would be nearly impossible to cover. Today I found cat poop in the sand!!!! I have NEVER had this happen until now. A family a few houses over has recently got a cat that they keep outside. I assume it that cat. I have never seen any other cat wondering around. My problem is I'm not sure how to handle talking to them. The mom NEVER comes out though her son, 9, is always wondering around the neighborhood, but that's another store. How do I tell her that it has to stop? My husband is totally ticked off and said he's going to drive it out of town a few miles and drop it off. I don't want to do that, I just want them to keep the cat at home. Any ideas on what to say? If it were any other neighbor I'd just tell them but she has lived there for over a year and never said a word to me or any other neighbor for that matter, not even hi and her kid is in my yard almost all the time. I don't want the first conversation to be hostile. Any ideas would be great! Thanks!
Thank you all for your suggestions! A cover just isn't possible, the box is 14 feet by 14 feet...it's huge and there would be no place to put it when the kids are in it(my yard is about the size of a postage stamp :-0). Also, my swing set is in it so the cover just isn't possible.
My husband talked to them tonight and they are going to keep it in the house(they have had the cat for years I guess but just started letting it outside)....if they don't animal control here we come. I really appreciate all the ideas on how to deal with the cat they are just what I was looking for. I CAN NOT COVER THE SAND IT HAS A LARGE PLAY STURCTURE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT! IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE IT COVER IT COMPLETELY NOT TO MENTION A REAL PAIN TO DEAL WITH DAILY! I THOUGHT IT WAS 14 FEET BY 14 FEET, MY HUSBAND HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT IS LARGER 18 BY 18. I'M NOT SCREAMING I JUST WANT THIS TO BE SEEN!
As of right now the problem has been solved...the family is keeping the cat inside. I am going to put the pepper around the box and check into plants that would keep the cats out. Though this is the ONLY cat I've had a problem with.
I really was just looking for ideas on what to say to the neighbor, the ideas to keep cats out was a bonus I guess. :-)
Thanks again!
Since you can't change other people you can change what you do. I have friends who got a piece of wood fromt he hardware store to pu ton top of their sand box at night and when it isn't being used. This may help.
Good luck.
T.
We had a similar situation a few years ago. I found a plant that cats hate and planted them by the sandbox. No problems since then. Good luck!
Rachelle,
First of all your sand box isn't silly......
I can relate to your problem,we have had neighbors for years that think their cats could have their babbies in and anywhere on our property...MY CATS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KEPT INSIDE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH AND SAFTEY....Sad if a stray dog was in your yard you can have something done about it but cats are a different story....I'm sure if you wanted a cat you would get one...
I'm sorry but it should not be your problem, if the cat is also peeing the smell is one of the worst to get rid of ,ranks right up there with skunk, that is probably why it is allowed to be out in everyone else's yards...I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate it if someone else's animal used their yard as a bathroom...
THE CAT OWNER IS THE ONE THAT IS LAZY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You might try a feed or farm supply store, I've heard there is something you can put around your property to help keep them out that isn't toxic....
I can really feel for you......IT SHOULDN'T BE YOUR PROBLEM !
Please let us know if you find something that works....
Good Luck...B. C.
I had the very same problem. Her cats were also sitting on top or our cars and in the process they scratched the hood of our cars. After I spoke with them they kept their cats in. We keep our sand box covered, but, my neighbor has found cat poop in their sand box. Wouldn't it be absolutely hysterical to very calmly scoop the poop (take it with you) knock on your neighbor door and very politely say, "Your cat just deficated in our sand box,could you kindly keep you cat in your yard."
ALthough I haven't tried it personally (no need to yet), I've been told to sprinkle Cayanne Pepper over flower beds/sand boxes etc. The spice won't hurt the plants, but when the cat goes to clean itself, the pepper will make it's effect known and the cat will stop using that area.
I don't think there is anything you can do about the cat. If it wasn't the suspected cat it would be someone elses cat. They love sandboxes. I wouldn't approach the neighbor because it would cause hard feelings. It is impossible to train a cat. If you see it in your sandbox you could call animal control.
Hello Rachelle, Try a large tarp to cover the sand box. You can hold it down with rocks, cement blocks or what ever. Other animals will be attracted to the sand box also, but cats are the worst. Don't let your husband be so crule as to drop the cat off somewhere. The poor cat didn't do anything, and the neighbor will probably just get another one anyway. Good luck.
You might want to think about making a cover like the other moms are suggesting. You could talk to the neighbor politely or get "into it" with her/him, but there really is no way to stop an outdoor cat from roaming. They do not listen like dogs do. Good luck!!!!
My hubby made a sandbox cover out of a tarp and some boards. The boards are wrapped in two of the ends of the tarp and the tarp nailed to the boards. Then the 2 ends that don't have boards we bungee the corners together.
So lets say this O is the sand box.
The board sides would be on the Right and left sides of the box and the bungeed sides on the top and bottom.
Our sand box is only 6 by 6 ...
good luck...
its not just cats that go in sand boxes... Racoons and other animals like that could be marking in them...
Have the neighbor over for coffee. With any luck the cat will show up while your chatting. At that point you can remark that the kitty has been making a lot of appearances in your children's sand box. Maybe even relay what you have found. Maybe the neighbor will own up to the fact that it is her cat and do something about it.
I am not an animal lover. I am allergic to many animals. We do have four dogs and now puppies. But they are all outside. But this is my opinion on cats. They do help keep the mouse population down. (I live in the country)
Or you could find out where the cat is getting in your yard at and put up something to block it.
Good Luck!
If you can't talk to the owner, call animal control. I am an animal lover (esp cats although Im deathly allergic) but there is a clear line when it comes to my kids! Poop in the playsand is WAYYYYY over that line. I don't think I'd worry about being rude, just be polite, matter-of-fact and smile. If she takes offense, just remember she's the one who is letting her cat roam!
As a side thought, you could pretend you are going door to door and play 'dumb'...tell her you're sorry to bother her but somebody's cat has been pooping in your sandbox and does she know who's cat it might be? That's GOT to get the hint across!
~L.
I am a cat owner, my cats are indoor cats because of the evil dog across the street that gets loose a lot. She's already attacked one of my cats once, my cat probably would have died if I didn't scare that b*tch away. Anyway, probably not the cheapest solution, but you could get a dog, and train it to go after the fuzzy wuzzy's and cats. The other easy and cheaper option is to get a roll of screen from the hardware store and use that to cover the sandbox. It won't keep it dry, but it will keep the poop and other debris out.
Rachelle, My parents have a sandbox for my kids at their house and they had a similiar problem because their next door neighbors have 14 cats! uggg!
The sandbox they have is about 8 ft x 15 ft feet and what my dad did was made a lid out of chicken wire. He made it in sections about 3 ft x 8 ft and made 5 sections. He made a wooden frame and nailed chicken wire over it. He also built up the sides about a foot so the lids fit right over all the sandbox toys. The kids just lift off the sections when they want to dig. It keeps the cats out but lets the sand stay dry.
They tried talking to the neighbors but she is obsessed with "rescuing" cats but never bothers to have them "fixed". This seemed to be the best solution. If you are interested indoing this I can send you pics, and more detailed plans.
There are cats in every neighborhood, I think, and they will eventually find a sandbox Covering it is the only solution I've found, as unfair as it is. Even if you try to keep a cat inside, they will sneak out. In years past, everyone put their cats out at night and no one thought anything of it.
I am a cat owner and a kid and sand box owner. I don't let my cats outside because of a busy road, but I know that when people do, it is impossible to keep them in your own yard. I made sure to have a sand box with a cover for this very reason. My opinion is that you need to cover your sandbox. Other animals can/will poop in it too and it is unpreventable. It's the same reason I cover my patio furniture if I don't want birds to poop on it. Animals are going to be out there and you have to be proactive to protect your things. I think its unreasonable to have them get rid of their cat or make them keep it inside all the time. It sounds like you have other problems with her which combined may be blowing this issue out of proportion. Have you ever said hi to her?
Hi Rachelle,
Make a cover. Figure out a cheap way to do it if that is the problem. It might not even be the cat you think it is. There may be other animals that are around at night. We have a sandbox and specifically bought one with a top for that reason. Just my opinion.
Chris
I know you have a HUGE sandbox, but any cat could get in it... in addition to your neighbor's. We have some neighbors who don't maintain their share of things either (incuding their cat). I would invest in a cover of some sort. Your husband's probably handy enough to make one (four square sections maybe). You guys could do it as a family project, let each of your four children "design" their portion of the cover, and call it good. Then, you can keep the peace with your neighbors. Less stress that way, too.
