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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fence spikes to keep cats out?

78 replies

Shootingstar2289 · 05/06/2016 16:27

So we live in a village with a huge cat population lol. We don't dislike them but my OH is severely allergic.

Anyway, for a while we have had a HUGE problem with cats pooing in our garden. I have a son with Autism and a crawling baby. Both don't watch where they are walking (crawling). So we are on the constant watch out for poo and picking it up. We cannot relax in our own garden. We cannot even less be our back door open as they often walk in the house!

My partner bought some plastic spikes from Amazon and wants to put them along the fence.

Are we in the right to do this? We tried some kind of cat deterant spray with no luck as well as cat scarers. Neither worked.

We are at the end of our tether.

OP posts:
Timeforabiscuit · 05/06/2016 16:31

Absolutely fine as long as it's your fence, might want to check with boundary neighbours out of politeness.

In my experience the cats dainty step round the spikes though! Sad

KateLivesInEngland · 05/06/2016 16:32

Former cat owner here, I see I problem in fence spikes.
You can get ultrasonic repellers too that omit noise to deter them.

KateLivesInEngland · 05/06/2016 16:32

*no problem.

ElegantDream · 05/06/2016 16:37

I only seem to come on these threads to say...

Cat proofing.

I got it to keep mine in, but it has the advantage of keeping everything else out!

It's surprisingly unobtrusive once up (I thought is was going to be ugly, but it's really not).

I got mine from Securacat, but others are available.

aprilanne · 05/06/2016 16:40

unfortunately if any animal or person were to be injured .you will get the bills .its annoying yes but you cannot actually do that whether you own the property or not .a big water gun works wonders they soon get the hint most cats hate water .and they are fast learners

Fluffy40 · 05/06/2016 17:04

Most cats would not be fazed by some spikes I'm afraid.

Fluffy40 · 05/06/2016 17:05

A water gun is a good idea though.

ApostrophesMatter · 05/06/2016 17:06

My friend has spikes and anti-climb paint and they seem to work.

OublietteBravo · 05/06/2016 17:08

The ultrasonic repellents work well - so long as none of you can hear them. They are supposed to be beyond the range of human hearing, but both DS and I can hear them (although DH and DD can't).

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 05/06/2016 17:17

I'm thinking of getting some for mine, there are 4 local cats who seem to exclusively use my garden as a toilet. The ones I've seen are rubber spikes so it stops the cats walking along the fence but won't injure them in any way.

DumbDailyMail · 05/06/2016 17:21

The motion activated water jets work really well.

ElegantDream · 05/06/2016 17:59

The problem with water guns (unless motion activated - and they need to be pointing in all possible directions) is that the cat learns to associate them with you, so it doesn't stop them returning overnight of in the morning and pooing then.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 05/06/2016 18:01

As long as they can't hurt the animal I think they are fine. If they do hurt the animal you will get the vets bill.

DumbDailyMail · 05/06/2016 18:02

The water jets I use have a really wide range. I don't think it's far off 180 degrees. I've used them for years and even though I don't use them in frosty weather and they don't work at night the cats all avoid my garden.

I think the cats associate the garden with getting blasted with water.

Fonzy · 05/06/2016 18:03

Law suit for a cat injuring itself on your property, I'm utterly stunned.... ShockShockShock

Doinmummy · 05/06/2016 18:06

I've for an ultrasonic cat scarer but it doesnt work - I still have cat poo in my garden

Fonzy · 05/06/2016 18:08

We put cayenne pepper all over the grass as had cat poo littered around constantly. Disgusting and dangerous with young DC. It worked btw.

Original poster
Shootingstar2289 · 05/06/2016 18:51

Thank you for the replies and suggestions.

W did think about the motion water sprayers but decided it wasn't the best idea. My ds is obsessed with water and would probably love it haha 😂

Did think about the ultra sonic repellents my ds is so sensitive to noise. Would he possibly be able to hear them? I am unsure.

May try Cayenne pepper.

As for anyone worrying these cats will be hurt. The spikes are plastic and bought off Amazon. I am led to believe they wouldn't cause any real harm. We are animal lovers not cruel lol.

There was a house down the road from my old home and they had put broken glass all around his wall. We would never do that. We are animal lovers! But also like to relax in out garden without checking and picking up poo constantly! 🙈

OP posts:
ALongTimeComing · 05/06/2016 18:57

I can hear those bloody ultrasonic things, they are really piercing Angry even the thought of them gives me the rage

WreckingBallsInsideMyHead · 05/06/2016 19:00

It's plastic spikes not nails (as one neighbour of mine once did)! It's not going to hurt the cats, just put them off coming into your garden.

Can you test the noise thing? Can your son tell you if he can hear it or not?

SouperSal · 05/06/2016 19:18

I sympathise. Our front garden seems to be the favourite for local cats to use as a toilet. It's open plan so no fence to put spikes on.

As of today there are 1000 toothpicks in the flower beds. Shall go and sprinkle cayenne pepper on the lawn too. DH is rigging up a camera - then the owners can have their little darlings' shit back to deal with. It really makes me mad. Angry

Original poster
Shootingstar2289 · 05/06/2016 19:40

Thank you WreckingBallsInsideMyHead. Not sure how I could try? He could tell us yes. What do they sound like to human ears? I have no idea.

Pain isn't it SouperSal. My son likes to spend a lot of time in the garden but we need to do a thorough check before he goes out. You sound like my partner. He said he is going to post it through their letter boxes 😡 haha. Unfortunately there are so many cats here we have no idea who they belong to.

My Mum has 7, yes 7 cats! You often hear the elderly gentleman opposite her cursing in his garden when he's out gardening. 🙀

OP posts:
JayDot500 · 05/06/2016 19:44

My husband has put the plastic spikes up, last weekend. The damn cat that's been using my garden as a loo hasn't been around since Wine.

I love cats but they are a nuisance.

foursillybeans · 05/06/2016 19:51

If you put up cat spikes to hurt a cat when it jumps up on your fence then I would consider that cruel and unnecessary. Should my cat hurt itself on your fence then I would pursue you for vet costs. I would suggest trying better ways of cat proofing your garden like the sound devices or a water pistol. That annoys the cat rather than hurting it. My cat is my 'little darling' or 'my baby' it's just an old moggy that I got from a rescue centre. It's an animal like a fox, bird or badger. Being a pet makes it no different nor can an owner stop or be expected to stop it pooing.

On a slightly seperate note are you sure that it is actually cats that poo on your lawn. I have had cats since childhood but have never seen them use the middle of a garden or lawn. They always use bushes, flower beds (annoying - yes sorry) or large mud patches. They like to cover it after pooing so grass would not be a spot they generally pick. Perhaps other wildlife are doing it?

foursillybeans · 05/06/2016 19:52

Ha. My cat is not my little darling that is meant to read. Defeats the object now. Nevermind.