A couple in Johor has been forced to sell and leave the home they lived in for two decades after enduring years of ongoing distress caused by their neighbour’s cats.
According to a Facebook post, the couple said they had lived in their corner lot home for 20 years and had always planned to grow old there.
Over the years, they spent tens of thousands of Ringgit renovating the house and landscaping the surrounding area, hoping to turn it into their retirement home.
However, what was once their dream home slowly became a source of emotional and physical exhaustion.
5 years of constant cat urine and feces
The couple shared that for the past five years, their house compound had effectively turned into a dumping ground for cat urine and feces.
As their house sits on a corner lot with a larger outdoor area, it became a frequent spot for cats fed by a nearby neighbour to relieve themselves.
They said the problem occurred almost daily and showed no signs of stopping.
Attempts to resolve the issue failed
The couple tried multiple ways to resolve the issue while maintaining good relations with their neighbours.
They attempted to speak directly and politely to the neighbour involved but were met with cold responses. The person feeding the cats reportedly claimed no responsibility, saying they were only feeding the animals and did not own them.
The couple also spent their own money to buy litter boxes and cat litter and placed them outside in hopes the cats would use them. This did not work.
They even tried relocating the cats to another area, but new cats soon appeared after neighbours continued feeding them.
Additional fencing was installed around the house to block entry, but the cats still managed to get in.
The couple said the root problem never changed, which was feeding without taking responsibility for the animals’ waste.
Emotional and financial toll
The post also detailed how the situation took a toll on both the couple’s finances and mental wellbeing.
They shared that they had to hire cleaners almost every month to remove feces and scrub urine smells from their yard.
The exterior walls of their home were frequently marked with cat urine, causing stains and lingering odours that could not be removed through normal cleaning. Repainting became costly, and repeated scrubbing damaged the walls.
They also said they were forced to throw away slippers, shoes, clothes, carpets, flower pots and outdoor furniture because the smell had seeped in and could not be removed.
Impact on daily life and worship
Beyond the physical mess, the couple said the situation affected their peace of mind.
They described repeatedly stepping on cat urine in the yard and only realising it after entering the house, which required them to clean and mop the entire home again.
This led to constant anxiety and doubt, especially when it came to performing acts of worship, as they no longer felt clean or at ease.
Coming home from work no longer felt restful, as they were often greeted by foul smells and had to clean the compound before they could even relax.
Mornings were also affected, with work shoes and slippers frequently found soaked in urine before they left the house.
After enduring the situation for five years, the couple said they could no longer cope and made the painful decision to sell their home.
They shared that they would be moving out by the end of the month, leaving behind a house filled with memories and years of effort.
Warning and legal action
According to the post, the couple plans to lodge an official complaint under the Local Government Act for public nuisance.
They also warned that stricter pet management guidelines are expected to be enforced starting January 2026, urging animal feeders to take responsibility rather than leaving neighbours to deal with the consequences.
The couple said they had collected CCTV footage, photos and other evidence to support their complaint, which could result in fines of up to RM1,000.
They ended the post by thanking their good neighbours over the years and expressing hope that their experience would serve as a lesson so no one else would be forced out of their own home due to irresponsible behaviour.
Read it here:
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
READ ALSO:
