[ruralliving]

Our neighbours have recently acquired two cats and they have taken to fouling in our hay.

We have several problems with this, firstly I'm pregnant and my husband works long hours so I have to hay the animals myself and despite wearing gloves I constantly feel at risk.  I worry that everything I touch is contaminated.

Secondly it's costing us a fortune in hay, it's £4 a bale around here and we've had to throw lord knows how many out as a result of the fouling.

Thirdly we have to get by now on what hay we have till the next crop, it was going to be tight with this recent spell of wet weather as it is, without the loss of multiple bales.

And lastly, frankly, it's disgusting.  Clearing up after your own animals is one thing, having to clean up after someone elses isn't high on my agenda right now!

It's going to cost an arm and a leg to seal the barn, and I'm worried about the effect it will have on the hay, especially when we get newly cut hay to store later in the year.  Does anyone have any suggestions or any advice on what we can do?  We have asked them to provide an outside litter tray, but they have the 'it's not our problem' attitude to the whole thing.

[FiB]

Sorry you are having this trouble - not sure what you can do about the neighbours...but it's something Ive been worrying about for next year, having just got a cat and going into lambing for the first time next year.  I had planned to put a tarp (you know the cheap lightweight ones) or two over the top and weigh down with tyres.  Hopefully it will still be able to 'breath', but horizontal surfaces covered.  I'm sure there will still be a vulnerable shelf, but the majority will be rendered unatractive to cats hopefully?   I'm sure someone with more cat experience will be able to tell us a smell or plant that cats hate?   Good luck, Fi

Neighbours sound grumpy, but also I think it might  quite hard to change a cats pooing habits re 'wild pooing' to litter tray?  Our rescue cat came with a litter tray habit which I am keen to change to an area in our garden but been told that is not likely.

[feldar]

Can you put something that really smells cytrus in the barn or around the hay. If ever my cat hated anything it was the smell of lemons or oranges or strong lemon cleaners when i washed the floor

[Fleecewife]

You are right to worry.  If they were your cats you could keep them well wormed, but it sounds as if your neighbours are not the sort to make sure their cats are not a danger to others, including your unborn child, from toxoplasmosis.  Of course the contaminated hay is also a danger to your animals, but the main concern here is you and your baby.
Is it possible that your husband could catch the cats and worm them?  That would be the first step.  He, or someone else, needs to help with decontaminating the barn so you are not exposed to cat faeces.
Once you are down to uncontaminated hay you can cover the stack with a tarpaulin - if it was going to sweat it would have done it by now.
Next you need to deter the cats from thinking your barn is an ideal place to hang out and to use as a toilet.  I am a great believer in the water pistol - it doesn't hurt the cat but they hate being splashed, but it does mean you need to lurk around the barn for a few days armed with the water pistol.
Legally, I think cats are exempt from a duty of control so your neighbours' attitude, whilst unpleasant and irresponsible, is within the law. However, I'm not a lawyer, so it could be worth seeing if you could at least compel them to keep the cats regularly wormed.

For your peace of mind, it might be worth taking a sample of the cat faeces to a vet to see if they are carriers of toxoplasmosis, and if they do have worms - this would be fuel to use in your discussions with your neighbours.

[tizaala]

Cats also hate pepper , cats can be made to dissappear,  let the neighbours know that you have rat poison down that is harmful to cats and you will not be held responsible for their deaths, learn to use a catapult,

[Dougal]

As i understand the legal side of things cats are not the respossability of the owner once they leave the house so you will struggle to have recompence with them. This also works in your favour as well though. You are entitled to trap and dispose of the cats as you see fit! I am not suggesting whole sale slaughter but the cats protection charities will come and collect them. You are also allowed to shoot them on your land, I'm sure you don't want to do this  do your neigh bours know that? These are very drastic measures and would not endear you to your neighbours one little bit but you don't have to read much about toxoplasmosis and you'll see that is a small price to pay. Perhaps they should read up on it as well.

As I recall toxo can be inhaled as well as ingested so wear a mask and at your next midwife visit explain the situation to them because they will certainally test you for problems if you want. as for feeding the hay to stock. No problems what all so long as the stock is not pregnant at the time of feeding,

[Small Farmer]

Toxo is so unfunny that I think you should tell the neighbours that the health of your unborn child has to come in before the interests of their rambling cats.  I would tell them, though.

Then I'd take pretty drastic steps.  This is a serious win-lose situation which you cannot lose.

[lachlanandmarcus]

The tarpaulin is a good idea as is the one about worming them, and the one about actually testing the cat faeces for toxo is even better. After all, if they are carriers then you then have a reasonable argument to tell your neighbours that it would be neighbourly of them to keep the cats in until at least after the baby is born.

 If the cats arent carrying it, then that will lift a weight off your shoulders in respect of disease at least.

You clearly should not take some of the more extreme advice on here shooting or poisoniing the cats. One it would be cruel, and two, cats are covered by the law and their owners might sue you.

On the upside, if you have the cats you are less likely to have rats and mice spreading their own diseases or worse, chewing through electrical cables etc....but once you have the evidence re the specific toxo risk, the neighbours will really have to act if the test is positive.

[dixie]

A cheap deterrent is garlic, fresh cloves, break them into separate cloves and scatter over the hay, add fresh every few days, that should put them off, and won't harm the hay or you, hope this helps.

[dixie]

Cats faeces is also dangerous to pregnant ewes if they are carrying toxo, I did research it once and am pretty sure it's young cats that are a problem not old,?

[Sylvia]

Borrow a couple of Terriers or Whippets, they'll frighten the cats away Tell your neighbours that you have them and can't be held responsible for damage caused etc.
Truly, the well being of your baby is paramount and you must not be nervous about keeping the cats away by any means.
We have a large ammount of feral cats around our holding and the presence of dogs seems to keep them away. So, don't be diffident about this, tell the neighbours to keep their cats within bounds, explain why and let them know that you will do whatever is neccesary to protect your child!! (If I were nearer I'd come with you )

[lachlanandmarcus]

Cats faeces is also dangerous to pregnant ewes if they are carrying toxo, I did research it once and am pretty sure it's young cats that are a problem not old,?

Thats right, if the cats are young they are much higher risk of being carriers. If these cats are older they are unlikely tho not impossible to have it as they build up immunity. And yes the toxo can cause abortion in sheep if they are fed contaminated forage.

[bigchicken]

 I would trap them and send them on a long long journey no messing with irresponsible owners.

[Mammyshaz]

Try not to worry too much and speak to your midwife/health visitor if you are worried as a test can detect if you are already immune to toxo.
The cat protection have a good leaflet as does the nhs about cats and pregnancy after a surge apps z20 yr ago when pregnant owners of cats where wrongly advised to have them euthanised.
A cat with toxo will only pass the carrier oocysts in faeces for a short while. The faeces needs to be between 24hrs and a few days old to be contagious so cleaning a litter tray daily should not hold any risk.

The highest risk of toxo is from raw meat so wear gloves for handling it and cook thoroughly. Wash veg with soil on thoroughly as there is a risk with this. Also unpasturised milks and cheese which is why it is advised not to eat it during pregnancy.

In my job we handle ill cats daily and treat I'll cats so pregnancy assessments are carried out thoroughly ad our company are very strict on following h&s rules. While pregnant I was advised gloves as a precaution for litter trays but the risks were still seen as very low.

[Small Farmer]

We lost two lambs and nearly the ewe last year to toxo.  Not nice