To not want him in my garden

[BillyNotQuiteNoMates]

I have a neighbour, (not next door, but opposite and down the road) who I know has some special needs. He lives alone, so obviously reasonably capable, and a job. I don't know what "label" his special needs would have. Just to put you in the picture.
He has a cat. His cat likes wandering. He likes to knwk where his cat is. This involves crawling around under the garden bushes (in my garden), under the trampoline, trying to get under my sons car (which if he scratches it, my son will kill him, as it's his pride and joy), walking down the side of my house as if it's a public right of way and looking in through my windows. (We have a gate, which is kept shut, at front and back, which he just opens and walks in) I frequently have friends children here to play. AIBU to not want him to just wander in my garden, and if so, how do I go about stopping him. I've asked nicely, and pointed out that it's my garden and that it isn't public property.

I would be popping my head out of the window to ask him to stop! 06:30 is no time to be woken up like that!
I wonder if a cat is really the right pet for someone who cannot help but worry constantly about where it is. That's what cats do unless you have a house cat.

(((((((((((((soft Hugs))))))))))) OP.
Im not actually picking fights with you. I used to work to the local school for people like your Neighbour.
Since he lives on his own, I don't buy that he doesn't know he's doing anything wrong. I think he does know what he is doing is annoying. To some Extent

Be Firm, be very Blunt, say exactly what you mean, this is no time for beating around the bush.

Is he doing anything actually wrong though, he's not on my property? Can I stop him calling his cat from the footpath at that time of the morning?

I don't actually know, here where I am in Australia, it would be public nuisance and noise. He wouldn't be arrested or anything but they would have a quick 'Chat' to him
Not sure about where you are.

I also left you a message :)

No you can't but I'd be asking to police to have a gentle word with him.

The same way if a neighbour was having a lovely early morning sing song completely drunk and loud and Shouty . outside your place on the foot path. They [Police] would have a chat and move along Mate

Wouldnt it count as antisocial behaviour? I'm sure his parents/ carers don't want him to continually annoy the neighbours, and unless you take steps, they won't know he's doing it.

I spoke to my next door neighbour yesterday, and he's been in their garden as well. Might need to do some digging about whether he has a carer or not.

Tbh my dh would have been extremely blunt with him by now.

The man sounds vulnerable. I agree it creates difficulties and inconvenience for you. But it illustrates how 'solving' a problem can actually creates new ones.

You wanted to ensure nobody came into your property. So that's been got across and your neighbour is now trying to solve his problem - a missing cat - by standing immediately outside your house and garden.

I think it's important to keep in mind that he's not a criminal. Even if he looks round or underneath a car, that's not going to damage it. He's not a child molester. He is someone who has very little social support, and who is quite likely to be teased and marginalised at work, but his cat is his companion and friend.

I really think the best thing would be to try and 'befriend him' - in the sense that you try and explain gently but clearly that people need to sleep.

Personally I think I'd try and accept the fact he wanted/needed to access my garden, but aim to discourage him from looking at windows. ('Your cat does not come in my house. If your cat ever did come in my house, I would put the cat outside straightway. So don't look there. It make me scared.')

If he does it again i would tell him to stop shouting early in the morning. If he wants to know where his cat is at all times he has to keep it in the house, otherwise he has to let the cat come and go and not shout loudly for it for prolonged periods

As other posters have said it would be more appropriate to speak to a community officer and let them 'dig' for information about him. They will easily be able to find out if he has support and will be able to alert who ever might need to know if he hasn't. No one's going to race round there and clap him handcuffs FGS. I don't think it's up to the OP to start looking into this man's business.

Surprised at so many people who still think ''ringing the police'' can only mean 999, flashing lights and sirens Very out of date.

I think it is more usual now to talk about learning difficulties than 'handicaps'.

And yes. while all of us - no matter what our mental/physical functioning is - have got some kind emotional need for intimacy, all the evidence would seem to suggest that while he does have some difficulty around boundaries, the sole object of this guy's affections is a domestic cat.

(Incidentally the stats show that children tend to be most at risk from family members, relations, family friends and 'trusted' members of the community.)

I think telling him not to shout would be helpful. It takes repeated telling for the kids I work with who are very severely autistic. They also need explanations and to be told if what they are doing is wrong.

I'm so sorry, this is a really awkward and difficult situation for you
I hope it works out because i feel for both you and the man. who i really feel ought get a house-cat

Get a dog. Scare the cat away to stop it going in your garden

Try "You are NOT to walk through my garden. It is against the rules"

If you say you don't like it rather than making it clear that he CAN'T then he may not fully grasp. He might be on the spectrum.

Tell him there is a law against it.

Amarmi it's people like you that make out people with disabilities are to be feared and hated.

I think you need to educate yourself better before coming out which such offensive comments.

OP just ask him not to shout - tell him it's too early, just speak to him clearly and in simple language

Armamai I have reported your disgusting post. You should be ashamed of yourself.

amarmai Where are you from exactly, The Victorian era?

I would call the police. Because that way, if he is looked after by SS then they can inform them and they will help him. Otherwise, i daresay the police won't go in all guns blazing, they will have a word and if this guy is quite literal i think he will take notice. So i don't be it is mean to call the police at all.

Shizzlestix..repeated telling of not to shout work for the children you work with who are severely autistic. Really? Very surprised at that to say the least. Lying on floor tbh