Becca, what they do in other people's gardens is enough reason.

Actually, I like all animals, including cats. But I hate and despise anyone who owns a cat without either (a) having an acre or so of their own land for it to roam in, (b) keeping it exclusively indoors or in their own garden (requiring their constant presence to ensure it doesn't get out), or (c) taking it for a walk on a lead and scooping the poop.

So far, I know of precisely one cat owner in our neighbourhood who meets option (b) - and upwards of a dozen local cats, who come round and shit in everyone else's gardens. Surprise surprise, most of those people live in flats, so they don't have to worry about it.

Graham.