Neighbors Cat Keeps Pooping in My Home: AITA for Refusing to Clean Up?

"AITA for refusing to clean up after my neighbor's cat's messy business? Reddit weighs in on this escalating conflict over feline bathroom habits."

Stephanie

Published in Animals
31 Dec 2025

Neighbors Cat Keeps Pooping in My Home: AITA for Refusing to Clean Up?

In a friendly apartment complex where neighbors generally get along, one resident is facing an unusual dilemma involving a wandering feline and some unwelcome surprises. The original poster (30M) has been tolerant of his neighbor Jane's cat, Whiskers, frequently visiting his space.

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However, things took a turn when Whiskers began leaving behind a rather messy issue in the form of cat waste, creating an increasingly frustrating situation for the OP. Despite multiple conversations with Jane, where she promised to keep a closer eye on her pet, the problem persisted, leaving the OP both surprised and disheartened by the recurring mess in his living room.

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After stepping in cat poop on more than one occasion, he reached a breaking point and informed Jane that he can no longer clean up after her cat. His suggestion for Jane to keep Whiskers indoors more often was met with resistance, as she implied that controlling a cat's behavior is not entirely feasible.

Now, the OP finds himself grappling with frustration and a sense of unfairness, turning to the Reddit community for insight. Is he in the wrong for setting this boundary, or is Jane's expectation for him to accommodate her cat unreasonable?

Join the discussion and share your thoughts on this feline dilemma!

Original Post

I (30M) live in a cozy apartment complex where all the residents get along well. For some background, my neighbor Jane (40F) has a lovely cat named Whiskers who is quite the wanderer.

Whiskers often visits my apartment, and I've never minded - I'm a cat person myself. However, recently Whiskers has taken to doing their business in my living room.

You can imagine my surprise and frustration waking up to find cat poop on my rug multiple times. The first time, I thought it was a one-off accident, but it kept happening.

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I spoke to Jane about it politely, and she apologized and said she'd try to keep an eye on Whiskers. Despite Jane's efforts, the poop incidents continued.

It got to a point where I'd step in it without even realizing. I confronted Jane again, this time expressing my concerns more firmly.

She assured me she would figure out a solution. Cut to today, and I find yet another unwelcome surprise waiting for me in my living room.

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I'm at my wits' end. I've told Jane that I refuse to clean up after her cat's messes anymore, and she needs to take responsibility for her pet.

I even suggested keeping Whiskers indoors more often or finding alternative solutions to prevent these incidents. Jane seemed offended and implied that I was being unreasonable.

She argued that cats are independent creatures and can't always be controlled. In her view, it's on me to either accept these accidents or find a way to deter Whiskers from entering my place.

I understand accidents happen, but this situation is becoming a recurring nuisance. So, Reddit, after multiple talks with Jane, am I the jerk for refusing to clean up after my neighbor's cat's messy business?

I genuinely don't know what else to do at this point.