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Original poster

SPike rods on fence to stop cats coming in?

226 replies

Hitmewithit · 22/04/2017 07:46

My garden is lovely, my daughter will love it this summer, but unfortunately the neighbours cat keeps coming and shitting all over my grass. I bought repelant and used it for a week, i thought it worked but then a massive shit in the middle of the lawn followed by a load of sloppy shit by the fence. I only have a small grass area and I'm getting really fucked off with the grass being shat on. It makes me feel like the lawn stinks and full of germs if my daughter wants to crawl around on it or if we sit on it. I feel like I'll need to disinfect it if I want to go out there with her.

I've seen the cat that does it, I've chucked water at it, chased it away etc but it still comes back!!

I'm tempted to go to Homebase today and get some of these spiked rods that I've seen. Is this legal to do?

OP posts:
shockthemonkey · 22/04/2017 08:23

There are alternatives to that. You can install something like this (this one happens to be in Oz but there are equivalents for the UK):

www.oscillot.com.au/

I am sure you don't want to hurt either cats or any wildlife that may be implicated!

RhiWrites · 22/04/2017 08:24

Spikes won't dyer a fox ora determined cat. Get a row of trellising. Too weak to climb for most cats.

Didyoumeantobesorude1 · 22/04/2017 08:24

If it really is the cat and not a fox, try putting down a roll or two of bacofoil next to the fence it comes over. Cats absolutely hate walking on its shiny surface. Might be enough to train it into not wanting to come into your garden.

hellsbellsmelons · 22/04/2017 08:25

Where I used to live, next doors cats shat on my grass in the open.
Fox poo really really stinks.
I was told moth balls are a good deterrent.
I used to have the hose ready to spray the little fuckers.
Really pissed me off.

BarbarianMum · 22/04/2017 08:26

Spiking a fence is not "causing unnecessary suffering to an animal" unless the OP is planning to disguise the spikes to lure cats on. Lining the cat basket with spikes might be but no-ones suggesting that. Hmm It is legal to take open measures to deter animals and other humans from entering your property, you just can't start setting traps.

Kanga59 · 22/04/2017 08:26

Although annoying,cats are also.determined and quiet cunning. so you may find this cat gets in anyway by other means, meaning you're down a.few quid and up the poo.

Caprianna · 22/04/2017 08:28

I would rather have cat poo in my garden than spikes on my fence.

yomellamoHelly · 22/04/2017 08:31

In our garden the cats come under the fences too, so spikes wouldn't work. The cats also all poo in the soil (and cover it up). It's the foxes that poo everywhere and living in it / being noisy / having lights going on and off that drives them off.

TrickyKid · 22/04/2017 08:31

Spikes will look awful. Totally feel your pain though, we had a cat poo in our garden every single day until it died. I got so sick of cleaning it up.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 22/04/2017 08:32

I would rather have cat poo in my garden than spikes on my fence.

I bloody wouldn't. My DCs play in that garden! I'd rather not have to resort to spikes either.

Kobieta · 22/04/2017 08:34

Another vote in favour of the electronic method: an infra-red activated ultra-sound is most effective.
thescaredycat.com/whats-best-cat-scarer-market/

Hulder · 22/04/2017 08:34

Sloppy shit on a fence sounds v odd for cat poo.

Yes, some cats do poo in the open but cats are naturally of a constipated nature so cat poo tends to be v solid and they don't do it perching on a fence.

Wouldn't have an issue with you deterring cats but you may find it isn't solely cats that are your problem.

kittybiscuits · 22/04/2017 08:35

That's the one that I used - no more cat shit ever!

ThatsNotMyMummy · 22/04/2017 08:38

It sounds like fox and cat poo to me
Rollers will work better than spikes, spikes if they work (which my feeling is they won't as cats are sneaky buggers) could be more horrific to clean up.

TinfoilHattie · 22/04/2017 08:39

I have had cats, and they never used to poo in the middle of the lawn.

No, because they fuck off into the neighbours' gardens and shit there. We used to be the only house in the street without a cat and there was cat shit everywhere. They particularly liked the gravel areas. Disgusting, foul creatures. Cat people don't care though, they think that we should all love their pet as much as they do and tolerate it using our property like a toilet.

Use the spikes.

Alwayshungryforcrisps · 22/04/2017 08:41

My cats poo in the middle of the lawn, it's absolutely disgusting and I can't let my toddlers play in the garden because of it.

I would definitely use spikes

Iamastonished · 22/04/2017 08:43

I can assure you that my cats did use our garden as a toilet, and the cat litter tray. They always used to bury it.

SemiNormal · 22/04/2017 08:44

My mum has had, what we assumed, is cat shit in the middle of her lawn for the past few years. She has tried everything and she is furious over it! My 6 yr old wants to play out and every time he does we have to scour the area for shit first, seriously fucking annoying so I do feel your pain OP. I adore cats, I've owned A LOT and used to volunteer for cats protection, but I do not think you're being unreasonable here at all.
Also going to ask my mum tonight if she has actually seen the cats shitting in the middle of the lawn because there IS the chance it's a fox where we live but I do doubt it given the frequency of it happening.

Figglesticks · 22/04/2017 08:44

I have a good friend who tried to put spikes around his garden to stop cats coming in as he had a large dog who would have torn them apart. The council turned up after a complaint and told him he would have to take it down as you're only allowed them for commercial properties. You can buy the rollers which makes it impossible for them to grip. It is part and parcel of having a garden though. Animals and wildlife will get in and out of it. The only way to prevent that is probably to deck your garden out with something that is easy to clean regularly if you are that worried?

lizzyj4 · 22/04/2017 08:45

I suspect there are some cats here getting the blame for fox/hedgehog/other wildlife poo. Are you sure that there are no dogs getting in, as this sound more like a dog/fox thing?

I can completely understand not wanting animal poo on your lawn though. There are much more humane (and less unsightly/ineffective) ways of deterring cats than spikes on top of a fence.

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/environment/gardens

user1492287253 · 22/04/2017 08:45

But plastic deterrent spikes dont cause harm?? I would use them but frankly we have too much fence

NeedABumChange · 22/04/2017 08:46

Could it be a frog? Thy have huge shits, much bigger than my cats and always go on my lawn.

I second tinfoil on fence top. Much cheaper and humane.

Mermaidinthesea123 · 22/04/2017 08:46

Don't do that, my neighbours put spike rods on my fence in my last house without my pernission but they impaled a neighbours cat, my own c never went over there as she was tinid. My neighbour took them to small claims and won £5000 for injury to their cat and vets bills and I got £2000 to replace my fence which they had ruined.
I suggested that in future they come and talk to us before damaging property and cats in future and we'd see what we could come up with in terms of deterrants.
I suggest talking to your neighbours first.

Cambergirl · 22/04/2017 08:48

Good ideas here.The guttering one particularly.
catsaway.org/how-to-keep-cats-out-of-your-yard/

sizeofalentil · 22/04/2017 08:48

Try googling cat proof fencing - there's more chance that would work.

But sloppy smelly poo does sound more like foxes.