AIBU to be annoyed neighbour put spikes on the fence?

I’m all in favour of people going to measures to keep cats out but falling out with neighbours because their cat roams is ridiculous. What do people honestly expect cat owners to do; it’s a natural cat behaviour to roam

Maybe it's because as she's got older she takes alot of pleasure in feeding birds & watching them in her garden. This time of year there's tiny fledglings making an appearance at the feeder.

I'm guessing she's watched your cat destroy that.

If she's looking very down & avoiding eye contact etc there's probably a lot more going on for her. You've not approached her to ask her & she probably doesn't want to cause conflict or stress by approaching you.

Spikes on the fence sounds sensible.

I understand the frustration but it’s not the fault of the owner. Cats roam by nature & I’m more irritated by barking dogs which can be controlled

I know you have tried to talk to her, but realistically what can be said to resolve the situation (if the cat is indeed shitting in her garden, which is likely)? You aren’t going to get rid of the cat and you can’t control the cat’s behaviour outside. Cats are a source of significant neighbour issues. I have a neighbour whose cat shat in surrounding gardens - one neighbour was so angry that put the shit on the owner’s doorstep every time. Cats are quite an antisocial pet to keep if you are in an area where housing is quite dense/lots of smaller gardens because they simply will shit in people’s gardens and nobody wants to pick cat shit up - particularly if they are growing stuff to eat. You do have to accept the possibility of bad neighbour relations if you get a cat.

The spikes are designed not to injure cats, just to try to stop them coming into her garden. I have cat spikes as I got really pissed off having to cat shit pick (gross) my garden before I could let my kids out. It really used to annoy me and I definitely thought my neighbour was selfish for getting a cat in this type of area (new build estate, houses and small gardens packed in like sardines).

Hey OP, massive cat fan here, mine live their best life with large mouse holes in MY fences to facilitate their travels.

whose fence is it? Are they really shared, maybe a shared boundary but owned by one side or the other?.

if she put them on your fence, tell her to get them off immediately or you will seek legal advice.

If it’s hers, don’t worry, cats will find an alternative route. They are so clever and superior to lots of other animals and your neighbour.

my cats don’t destroy my neighbours gardens, they come inside to shit in the litter tray then go back out, they just prowl around, and sit in bushes.

I’d pop a note though in that case. Just letting her know you’re going to be cat proofing to keep him:her in your garden. It might make ways to smoothing over.

Cats have a right to roam.

Not in my garden they don't.

However, OP, everyone has, quite reasonably, gone down the cat avenue, so I will offer some other thoughts. I notice you have children, who will now be older. Are they causing noise, thumps and bangs through the wall, do they hang about or play in the street in an antisocial manner? Are there parking issues in your street? Do you have a DP who is a bit of a nob? Do you walk across her drive, put your bins out in an unthinking matter, come home late and shout at each other?

I merely ask these things because you do give the impression of being a bit, um, unobservant?

Could it be the case that there is another cause/ a number of causes for your neighbour's dissatisfaction, and the cat is just the final straw?

Time for some quiet and honest reflection maybe, try and put yourself in her shoes. If there is genuinely nothing, then it's probably the cat, but it's well worth thinking about it before speaking to her.

Otherwise, maybe she has other difficult stuff going on in her life.

Just a thought.

We tried dropping hints re. a neighbour's cat, no hint taken and it shit everywhere, which caused an issue for children playing. So spikes, water pistol used and it even killed a nest of chick's, so I think we were gentle in comparison.

Yes - also, maybe the neighbour is immunocompromised and worried about toxoplasmosis

Which is completely fair. I would be incredibly annoyed.

Some people really hate cats! It might be nothing to do with your cats, my next door neighbour is an elderly lady she was talking about putting broken glass on top of her wall because she's frightened of burglars. We helped her put a security light outside and contact alarms on her doors and windows downstairs

Can anyone else imagine why this neighbour doesn't want to talk to the oh so reasonable cat owner who can't be told she's done anything wrong?

I guess you're not a gardener. If you regularly found your hands and tools covered in it and had your plants dug up and/or killed, you might feel differently.

Also I don’t condone it as I’ve said I’m a cat owner but I’d be thankful for the spikes compared to what some people do to keep cats out. We keeps ours in. Much like in many other places where you have to keep them in.

How long are you going to continue using the excuse that she doesn’t want to talk to you to avoid taking responsibility for your pet?

She might not have told you, or given you the opportunity to ask her, but now you know she doesn’t want your cat in her garden. That much is obvious. Helping a neighbour search for a lost kitten who hasn’t yet been to invade the garden does not mean she loved the cat.

Maybe she’s just one of those people that can’t cope with any type of confrontation so she’s coped by avoiding you. Whatever it is, you know your cat is upsetting her, so just do what you have to do to keep it in your own garden.

You don’t need a conversation with her to do the right thing.

if its your fence you can require her to remove the spikes

I’ll never understand this anger & hatred towards cat owners who have outdoor cats (which is completely normal imo). I don’t have cats but there are a few that come into our garden that I occasionally see. I just shoo them away when I see them I don’t think for one minute that I should take umbrage with the owners as they don’t actively encourage them to use our garden. I’m more concerned about them catching the birds than using it as a toilet although I’ve never actually seen any pooing in our garden. I’d much rather they were outside doing what comes naturally to them than cooped up indoors

No. Just ignore. She’s obviously pissed off with your cat but there is nothing you can do so let her carry on with being pissed off.

Why don't you pop a note through her door saying something like ' I see you've put the spikes on the fence. Is there a problem? I'm wondering if it's the cat. We can keep it indoors if it's bothering you. Just let me know.'
She may be relieved and speak to you about it or at least put a note through herself.

This.

And it's not just the shit. It's killing birds and wildlife, probably digging and tearing up plants, and generally invading her space.

You know it bothers her. Stop being disingenuous "oh i would keep it in if I were asked..." all wide-eyed. Keep the cat indoors. You've had three years to figure that out.

Just ignore her OP. You have tried to talk to her and she ignores you. She has a whole war going on in her head that she’s forgotten to tell you about. She sounds mad and you’re better off out of it.

I wonder what measures she is taking against foxes.

Those rubber spike things are pretty useless btw, I have seen cats and foxes totally ignoring them.