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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

neighbour scaring cat off from her garden

254 replies

DanHumphreyIsA · 27/08/2017 20:46

Ok not by being physical but just chasing him off with a water pistol or shooing him away.

I am not being arsy about that, by the way but wondering if IBU to offer to buy her some cat repellants or something? OH thinks we should leave it and thinks she's just mean lol.

We have only recently moved to this area, have never spoken to her. We said hello a few times, she's not interested, fair enough. We've also put a note through before when we had work done to the house to apologise for the noise (she's quite old, I would say 70+) so I atleast hope she knows we're not mean people.

We can't keep the cat in as he was a stray so used to outdoors and goes crazy if hes kept in. I have tried shouting him when he goes over the fence, but, well he's a cat Grin

I dont like it as he's my baby of course, but if she doesn't like cats or whatever and aslong as he's not hurt I can't exactly say anything.
I'm not really sure whether to just let it be and let her chase him off? I'm just worried he might piss her off enough to start chucking stones at him or something.

She's obviously not fussed about us being 'neighbourly' so I dont know if it would be overstepping to go and offer her some cat repellents or similar (open to suggestions on something 'similar' btw)

OP posts:
CantThinkOfAUserNameNotTaken · 28/08/2017 08:48

That's a shame MrsTrentReznor. I'd be pissed off. Did you try the water pistol? And ground up coffee? That's great fertiliser for plants too!

MrsTrentReznor · 28/08/2017 08:50

I tried everything. Nothing works. Nothing.

Original poster
DanHumphreyIsA · 28/08/2017 08:52

'water pistol to an automatic sensor motor'

Actually that might not be a bad idea, atleast it stops her from having to come out all of the time. Plus there's lots of cats in the area so maybe she has a problem with more than just ours, it could end up being a good favour to her.

Athomedad its an expression a lot of people say about their pets.

Anyway, small development this morning. Came home from work, opened all windows etc and overheard her in the garden saying 'dont think the neighbours like me, because of their cat but I'm not bothered' or something to that effect. So I thought oh I'll pop round later and offer some of the suggestions above.

Anyway, cat went out, and half an hour later I hear 'THE CATS IN THE GARDEN THE CATS IN THE GARDEN' and stomping - not sure if this was NDN or visitor. So the cat ran back to our garden and we've carried him into the house for now.
Been over and knocked, no answer Confused so I've put a note through the door, apologising if the cat is causing problems, we'd be happy to get some bits to try out for the garden (thinking the ultrasonic thing is the best option for now) and to let us know if she'd be ok with that.

The main issue is she's obviously getting annoyed enough to come out straight away, and I personally think it would be wrong (or unreasonable) to leave her to it without offering some sort of alternative. Hopefully we'll hear something.

@nc4 thats a really good idea, thanks for that. I'm hoping to nip to bnq today, so will see if they have anything like that.

Hopefully I'll hear something back from NDN.

OP posts:
ethelfleda · 28/08/2017 08:55

MrsTrent I read that first 'HAHA' as though it was uttered by a crazy villain in a batman film who has just been let out of an asylum!!
I'm glad I don't live next door to you Confused

MrsTrentReznor · 28/08/2017 08:56

Feeling's mutual.

Original poster
DanHumphreyIsA · 28/08/2017 09:06

Cantthinkof we will definitely be cat proofing the garden, properly when we can, its just that one side has a very low fence so it can't be proofed at the minute as he'll just jump over lol. We have a lot of work to do at the house still, but maybe the garden will have to take priority.

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 28/08/2017 09:06

I don't hate cats. I do think the majority of cat owners are utterly arrogant and actually don't care their pet has such a negative impact on their neighbour's lives.

Next door's keeps getting into my house. When I wanted to discuss with neighbours they gave a tinkly little laugh with "it's in a cat's nature to roam".

Few months afterwards, knock at the door at 11.30 at night with requests to help look for their cat. You can imagine my response

Original poster
DanHumphreyIsA · 28/08/2017 09:15

@jacques I will admit I was ignorant about this, not so much arrogant. If anyone had approached me before I'd definitely offer to do something. I just assumed the cat would only use the litter tray at home.
Maybe tmi but he poos the 'average' amount of times at home, so I've thought he probably just goes somewhere and lazes in the sun.
On the bright side he doesn't really go out in the rain so atleast summers nearly over.

OP posts:
MrsTrentReznor · 28/08/2017 09:15

Jacques thats exactly it!
I don't hate cats, I've met one or two I actually really like.
It's just the way they are shoved outside to become someone else's problem that gets me.
Then on local Facebook sites It's wall to wall posts about missing cats or reporting dead cats by the side of the road. It's insane!
"Much loved pet" "my little boy is devestated" etc. If the cat means that much, keep it where you can see it!

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 28/08/2017 09:28

Please don't get (or suggest your neighbours get) an ultrasonic repeller. Our neighbours had one and children could hear it (I couldn't). My ds was quite sensitive to sound at the time and got upset whenever he went on the driveway (it was at the front of their house to deter cats going into their front garden ). It was motion triggered Our neighbours further down the road had a daughter who rode. Whenever her horse got near to NDN's house it would start to behave skittishly as it could hear the noise and it upset him. Other neighbours also had dogs who were spooked by the noise when they walked past.

Eventually horse-owning neighbour went to talk to them and they removed the devise but it was quite unpleasant and antisocial whilst it was in place.

We have cats and I suggested to NDN that they threw water at our cats if they appeared in their garden. Even offered ds' supersoaker of they wanted (they didn't).

Unwanted cats in your garden, pooing in your flower beds, is horrible. I've got no problem with anyone shooing our cats out, armed with a water pistol of necessary.

Original poster
DanHumphreyIsA · 28/08/2017 09:42

@usedto oh dear maybe not the way to go then, I knew a few people across the road have small children.
I suppose I'll just have to leave her to it, until we can catproof. I just really dont want to piss her off especially as she's been moaning to another person. I know people will moan about anything but we're new to the street and I really dont want to be the nasty/cheeky/whatever else new neighbours!

Plus its the first time Ive ever heard anyone shouting so urgently becuse there's a cat in the garden so it must really wind her up.

We've kept cat in since this morning, to give her a break from chasing and hes going crazy no amount of treats and playing is calming him down. Maybe I'll just move again and look for a cabin in the woods this timeGrin

OP posts:
bengalcat · 28/08/2017 09:46

Spraying water and chasing a cat away is fine - I have two cats and that would be fine by me as long as the exit isn't into a main road with traffic - cat won't mind and it might even learn not to go there although cats of course are darling independent creatures and will do things on their terms - good for them

Glumglowworm · 28/08/2017 10:01

There are some really shit attitudes from a few cat owners on this thread. Not the OP though.

Yanbu to offer cat repellent to your neighbour OP.

PPs who seem to think everyone should love having strange cats shit in their garden and harass or kill wildlife are BVU.

As for the PP who said they'd use a nerf gun on someone who used a water pistol on their cat. You're a fucking psycho.

HollyBuckets · 28/08/2017 10:30

Sorry, OP, I understand your worry about your cat, but I hate strange cats peeing and chasing birds in my garden. I'm a dog-owner and I have to keep my dog from straying and clean up after her. And keep her noise down when she dashes into the garden to chase cats straying into her territory!

So your NDN is NBU.

But thanks for the information about cat repellent- I didn't realise such a product existed.

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 10:46

We are the only ones on the street with two female cats.
I have had several neighbors say to me they see the cats catching and chasing mice.
Cats keep the rat and mouse population down it's good to keep them around.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 28/08/2017 10:57

Honestly he's a pig! But I can't stop him from going in other people's gardens. If they want to try then go for it!

Yes, actually, you can stop him going in other people's gardens by cat proofing your own garden so he can't get out.

Don't try and shirk your responsibility by gleefully claiming ignorance.

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 11:01

How on earth do you cat proof a garden lol!!
I'm visualising this huge net surrounding the perimeter lol

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 28/08/2017 11:08

How on earth do you cat proof a garden lol!!

Google it.

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 11:13

Omg like a lion enclosure! Lol
Not for me I'm afraid especially the cost !

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 28/08/2017 11:15

Omg like a lion enclosure! Lol
Not for me I'm afraid especially the cost !

You don't have to go with the first thing you see, you know. Cat proofing your garden doesn't mean a "lion enclosure".

If you actually gave a shit about the nuisance your cats cause to other people, you'd look into it properly and not sack it off after a two second google.

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 11:17

Oh Christ my post was lighthearted not sure what you mean
But my cats cause no distress Confused never one complaint in 9 years. Not sure what your mad about lol

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 11:17

I'm not the op Confused

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 28/08/2017 11:22

Oh Christ my post was lighthearted not sure what you mean
But my cats cause no distress confused never one complaint in 9 years. Not sure what your mad about lol

You're not sure what I mean? Well, I told you to google it. You came back after a two second google and said you weren't doing it after seeing the first thing you could find.

What I mean is, if you actually cared about your neighbours and the impact your decision to have pets has on other people, you'd research it properly to see what you could do.

Not having a complaint does not mean your cats aren't a nuisance.

And yes, I'm aware you're not the OP.

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 11:28

But why would I do cat proofing if there is no problem?
My neighbors love our two cats they bloody feed the greedy girls ! Lol
Chill out love. Not end of the world but I can see why people could get mad. I got beautiful flowers in my garden If a cat came in and ruined them il be upset. Fortunately never had a problem

Forheavenssake · 28/08/2017 11:30

We have more problems with the resident magpie family across the road. You'll be surprised what damage they do, but I don't think il ever bird proof my garden Grin