Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
A dispute involving cat excrement has escalated to the high court following a homeowner’s complaint about a neighbour’s cats allegedly defecating in his garden. Richard Williamson, who lives in Bedwas, raised concerns with Caerphilly council, emphasizing that while cats have the freedom to roam, this right does not extend to creating what he described as a statutory nuisance or posing an environmental health risk.
According to court documents, Williamson expressed particular worry about the health hazards this posed to his family’s newborn child, who is expected to start playing in the garden soon. Upon receiving the complaint, the council conducted an investigation. They determined that cats are not subject to the same roaming regulations as dogs or livestock. Additionally, officials visited the cat owner’s property and confirmed that appropriate amenities, such as litter trays, were available for the pets.
Despite these findings, a judge instructed the council to revisit the matter, stating that they had overlooked the core issue—whether the cat fouling actually constituted a “statutory nuisance.” In Judge Jarman KC’s written ruling from Cardiff High Court, it was made clear that the judgment did not indicate what the final outcome of the case should be, merely that a re-examination was required.
Court papers reveal that Williamson had reached out to the council with his grievance in October 2024, mentioning his unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue directly with the neighbour. He described waking each day anxious about having to clean more “cat mess.” The council acknowledged the cat owner’s responsibility to ensure the animals’ welfare and recognized that preventing cats accustomed to roaming from going outside could negatively impact their well-being. The judge further noted that the council had concentrated on how the cats were cared for and their right to roam, rather than directly assessing if the fouling posed a health risk under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Both Richard Williamson and Caerphilly council were contacted for comment
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.