Overview
- UK coverage on Tuesday explains that cats have a legal 'right to roam,' owners are rarely liable for garden fouling, and harming a cat is a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
- Dog fouling faces stricter control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, with councils able to issue around £100 fixed penalties or Community Protection Notices and to act when waste builds up to a health risk.
- Local authorities say only extreme or persistent fouling might qualify as a statutory nuisance, and occasional visits by a single cat almost never meet that threshold.
- Animal charities urge humane deterrents that avoid injury, including citrus peel, lavender or rosemary, motion-activated sprinklers, prickly plants, gravel borders and taller fencing.
- Britain has about 11 million pet cats, which helps explain how common these complaints are, and residents can report severe, ongoing cases to their local council.