They buried their cat in our garden!!!

[OpiesOldLady]

We rent our house and we live at one end of a five house terraced row that has a communal garden stretching from one end to the other behind the houses. The gardens havent been seperated just to make it easier to mow. At the back of the garden and going round either side is a fence with shrubbery and bushes/trees in front of it. We haven't lived here long and havent really used our part of the garden much. NDN knocked and introduced herself when we moved in and asked would we mind if her grandchildren played on our bit of garden as well when they come to visit. Of course I don't mind.

Sadly, our ndn's cat was recently run over and killed out on the road. I've just been to peg out our washing and have noticed that they've buried the cat in our garden. Not just a little bit in, but proper under the tree halfway down the edge of our garden. Complete with headstone and flowers.

I can't understand why they would do this. They have trees/bushes in their own garden they could have buried it under, and they didn't even ask!

*WIBU to dig up the deceased moggy and deposit it on her doorstep and tell her to rebury it in her garden?





*Obviously I won't but still..

[Bluntness100]

I think you need to be clearer. You say it's a communal garden. Then say it's not, it's your garden. Which is it?

[HatingTheBigShow]

Do it. Cheeky bitch. Definitely take down the headstone.

[dowehaveastalker]

Who's garden is it? Yours or communal?

[MrsMozartMkII]

Don't dig up the cat!

[OpiesOldLady]

Sorry, it's communal in the fact that theres no seperation between everyones garden, but there are clearly defined gardens, with sheds, seating sets etc.

[ShirleyPhallus]

Still not clear on the difference between it being communal or not

If it’s communal in the true sense that that section of the garden belongs to everyone equally then YABU

It’s it’s not actually communal, that stretch of garden is your own, it just doesn’t have fencing up then YANBU

Maybe the neighbour is confused on the use of communal as this thread seems to be!

[Seeline]

Surely if you rent, it's a matter for your LL? Did they ask his permission?

[TheMustressMhor]

Please do not disinter the unfortunate cat.

The late owners will be very upset if you do. What difference does it make to you where the cat is buried?

[siratcha]

You have to say something, that's so bizarre. I would put a stop to them playing on it if it's blurring the boundaries

[ChardonnaysDistantCousin]

Yeah, do dig out the cat if you want to be known as “that woman” from now on.

They were U, but if you do something now you will be even more.

[IncyWincyGrownUp]

I wouldn’t remove the remains, but I would remove the ridiculous decorations.

[IncyWincyGrownUp]

I would also not allow your garden to be used by anybody else going forward.

[Dutchesss]

It is weird, was it where the cat used to sit or anything like that?

[HairyFloppins]

I would just leave it. It all sounds communal and a strange set up. I would hate to not have a fence.

It's up to your landlord if they want a dead cat in the garden.

[filka]

So the garden is open-plan, but individually owned? If they have their own plot of garden I'd be well p**d off.

Perhaps detach the issue from your own feelings and ask neighbours if they got permission from your landlord/the owner to dig a hole in his garden and install a gravestone.

[SunkissedCherry]

Why on earth has she done that without asking? Honestly, the thought process of some people really bewilders me at times. I’d knock on her door armed with the headstone and flowers and point out that you don’t appreciate her deceased cat buried in your bit of garden and to please relocate it to her side within a certain time frame or you will.

[notacooldad]

I cant see the problem with this tbh.
The cat is under ground so not in anyones way. It's by a tree so it's not like it has a grave in the middle of the lawn and everyone us tripping over it.
You could ask why they picked that tree if you wanted to. I would probably do that in your shoes but apart from that wouldnt give it another thought.

[ILearnedItFromABook]

How could they think it would be ok? Especially to put up a headstone! Even stranger after they asked about letting the kids play in your section. Awkward...

[OpiesOldLady]

Just to clarify, i am not going to dig up the poor cat however much i may want to They'd probably think they had wandered into Pet Sematary if i did!

It's more the fact that they didn't ask or mention it at all. Of course I'd have said yes but would have asked why they couldn't have used their own garden.

And apologies for misusing the word communal - i just couldnt think of another word that would mean everyone could access each others gardens.

[PettyContractor]

If the bit of garden where the cat is buried is not owned by the cat-owners, they were unreasonable. If it's communal rather than OP's land, that just means the crime is against all their co-owners, rather than just OP.

[WonderWomansSpin]

Let your LL know that NDN has buried a cat in the garden. Otherwise he may think you did it and it could impact on future rentals. Not everyone wants a pet grave in their garden.

[EKGEMS]

^ The headstone and flowers aren't underground

[Coffeeandchocolate9]

They were unreasonable but i would leave it be. I presume it was a spot that they felt their cat enjoyed. If the headstone bothers you perhaps plant a new sense shrub very near it.

[Sciurus83]

We need a diagram.

But yes this does seem weird, they obviously see the whole space as shared and "your" bit is theirs to use as they please. It's strange they felt they needed to ask your permission for children to play there, but not to erect a headstone! I would suspect that someone else buried the cat for them, possibly the DS/DD whose kids play in "your" bit and they didn't know? Anyway, I think it's ok to ask them about it and see what they say. Definitely mention to the landlord they will have a better idea of who actually owns what and whether this is something they have an issue with. Otherwise enjoy your pet cemetery

[Coffeeandchocolate9]

*dense