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AIBU?

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Original poster

To tell her to get lost?

459 replies

Sportycustard · 01/04/2024 16:34

Just got home to find a note from my neighbour.

"Hi Sporty, just wanted to let you know that we're rehoming a couple of cats in the next week or two. I can see from our upstairs windows that you have some plants in your garden that are poisonous to cats so I will pop round in the next day or so and point them out so you can remove them in good time for our new arrivals"

I've just done a quick Google and it looks like she is referring to a rhododendron that was a gift from a friend who has now passed away and an azaelia that was a 50th birthday gift. Both are established shrubs and mean a lot to me.

AIBU to tell her my garden will be staying as it is?

OP posts:
KomodoOhno · 01/04/2024 18:50

The absolute nerve of her. I'd plant even more to prove the point. She's bonkers to think anyone is responsible to keep her foster cats safe.

Blogswife · 01/04/2024 18:49

Blogswife · 01/04/2024 18:45

I think this was an April Fools joke!

Edited

Oh blimey , clearly not . She’s completely mad , of course you’re not going to remove them ! Lots of people have these plants in their garden , you don’t see dead cats everywhere!!

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 01/04/2024 18:48

Blimey, she really is serious!!!😮. Has she always been batshit, or is this a new development?

Blogswife · 01/04/2024 18:45

I think this was an April Fools joke!

Original poster
Sportycustard · 01/04/2024 18:43

She's just been round! Seems genuinely shocked that I said I had no intention of letting her in my garden or of changing anything in it. Apparently, she knew I was going to be "that sort of person".

I've reminded her that my garden gate is covered by the neighbour's CCTV in case she thinks about trying to remove anything (other neighbour is a good friend and has an even more cat decimating garden than I do).

Her parting shot was that she'll send me any vets bills! Erm, that's going to be a no as well.

I do have two regular cat visitors - a very sweet three legged tabby and a gorgeous long haired almost black cat who both sun themselves on our patio. Sometimes the long haired one will consent to be stroked by me which I take to be a great honour. Neither has come to grief in our garden. Fortunately both are uninterested in the visitors to our bird feeders.

I will take on board what someone up thread said about lillies though. I have had them in pots in previous years. They do seem to be very bad for cats.

OP posts:
tolerable · 01/04/2024 18:43

reply- hey cheekyfkr. i will not be altering my garden unless i choose to. Id prefer you deter your cats from entering at all to be honest.

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 01/04/2024 18:43

Okaaayletsgooo · 01/04/2024 16:56

Let her point them out to you, then say thanks for letting me know I've always liked them and was thinking about getting more.

😆

Pippa246 · 01/04/2024 18:42

Dear neighbour. Rather than point these plants out to me, best to bring the cats round, show them the dangerous plants and tell the cats not to eat them.

cheeky fuckery of the highest order

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 01/04/2024 18:42

IncompleteSenten · 01/04/2024 16:52

Write a note back saying no need to come round because I will not be removing anything from my garden. I suggest you Google "cat proofing" and you secure your garden so your cats can't wander. Do not ask me again.

Because fuck her. Seriously. Cheeky cow.

This reply is perfect.

godmum56 · 01/04/2024 18:39

this HAS to be a joke

JPGR · 01/04/2024 18:38

Sportycustard · 01/04/2024 16:47

This is a good retort. Thanks

Show quote history

Maybe write it under the note she sent you and post it through her door.

BMW6 · 01/04/2024 17:19

Bluevelvetsofa · 01/04/2024 16:41

Dear neighbour

Thanks for the heads up about the cats. I hope you have time to secure your house and garden, so that your new arrivals are able to stay within your garden and will be at no risk from any plants that are not good for them.

Thanks so much.

Perfect response!

Youdontknowmedoyou · 01/04/2024 17:12

How many cats have died in your garden?

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 01/04/2024 17:10

Are you absolutely certain it's not an April fools joke? Surely no one is that entitled?!

INeedAnotherName · 01/04/2024 17:07

I've had cats. I adore cats. But the only plant I would remove is lilies, including day lilies. Every single part of that plant is toxic , including the pollen, in the same way chocolate is to dogs. No matter how much you hate cats/dogs inflicting a very painful death on a living creature is horrendous.

I cant see a problem with azaleas or rhododendrons, we/our neighbours have those.

Rarewaxwing · 01/04/2024 17:02

Just reply: "Ha ha - you nearly got me, then I spotted the date! April Fool 😄!"

(And, actually, could she be playing an April Fool trick on you?).

lazyarse123 · 01/04/2024 17:01

We have a large rhododendron and about 4 neighborhood cats who wander through daily they never go near it. Ignore her.

GrandHighPoohbah · 01/04/2024 17:01

I would reply "Dear neighbour, if you feel the environment beyond your control is unsafe for cats, yet you are still planning on letting them roam, perhaps you shouldn't be getting them"

GentianCoffee · 01/04/2024 17:00

Is this for real? If so, I love cats and rhododendrons and this is cheeky beyond belief.

SameSameButDeliverance · 01/04/2024 16:59

Hahahahaha. Nope.

Do update when you can OP!

Lorelaigilmore88 · 01/04/2024 16:59

Ha ha i love reading posts like this about absolutely cfs... i just wonder what planet these people live on...
Obviously you just need to tell her the plabts are staying. Shes crackers if she thinks she can dictate what you have in your garden and i say that as an owner of cats

Glittertwins · 01/04/2024 16:59

We have tulips and lavender in the garden and our cats have never had a problem. One used to sit happily next to a vase of lilies and never touched them.

Alwaysalwayscold · 01/04/2024 16:59

Also, my only response would be-

Hi neighbour
It sounds like you're planning for your cats to be able to get into my garden. Please make sure you secure yours before the cats arrive to make sure this doesn't happen.

WeeOrcadian · 01/04/2024 16:59

Deathbyfluffy · 01/04/2024 16:41

This is her problem, not yours. Make sure you have a Ring doorbell or CCTV as I bet she’ll remove them herself when you refuse.

Nailed it

YADNBU

Cheeky fucker

WhateverMate · 01/04/2024 16:58

I can see from our upstairs windows that you have some plants in your garden that are poisonous to cats so I will pop round in the next day or so and point them out so you can remove them in good time for our new arrivals"

The note really said that?