A dispute over cat faeces has escalated to the High Court after a father complained about his neighbour's pets repeatedly using his garden as a toilet. Richard Williamson, 31, is asking a judge to legally ban two cats from his property in Bedwas, Caerphilly, to protect his family's health.
Health Fears for Newborn Spark Legal Action
Richard Williamson told the court he is deeply concerned about the risks posed by 'recurring fouling' to his newborn child, who will soon be playing in the garden. He stated the mess from his neighbour Suzanne Parsons' 54, two cats 'had been going on for some months' and that various humane deterrents he tried had failed.
In an email to the court, Mr Williamson explained his position: 'I understand cats have a right to roam, but they do not have the right to cause a statutory nuisance or pose an environmental health risk.' He emphasised the impact on his mental health and his enjoyment of his own property, describing waking daily with dread at the prospect of cleaning up more mess.
CCTV Evidence and Council Complaint
The legal case was launched after Judge Milwyn Jarman KC heard details of the ongoing issue. Court documents reveal that Mr Williamson first emailed his complaint to the local council in October 2024, after attempting to resolve the matter directly with his neighbour.
'I have collected CCTV footage that clearly shows the two cats fouling in my garden on multiple occasions,' Mr Williamson said. 'Being able to prove the two cats from the same household are to blame adds significant weight to my complaint. The cats are fouling on a weekly basis, and I'm exhausted from repeatedly clearing up after someone else's pets.'
Legal Focus on 'Statutory Nuisance'
Judge Jarman noted the core legal argument. He said the 'essence of the challenge' was that the council had focused on how the cats were kept and their common-law right to roam, rather than assessing whether the fouling itself 'amounted to deposits prejudicial to health' under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The case will therefore determine whether the persistent cat faeces in Mr Williamson's garden constitutes a statutory nuisance, a specific legal definition that could compel action. The father's primary goal remains securing a legal injunction to prevent the cats from entering his garden, aiming to create a safe outdoor space for his young family.
