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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To remove these cat spikes on a fence?

194 replies

Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:16

Woken up this morning by my DC screaming saying our young cat is bleeding everywhere. Both his paws are very bloody and we've washed him and dried him (he's suuuuper fluffy so it's hard to see the damage and his fur was matted with blood).

He obviously tried to jump onto our porch roof from a non spiked fence which he does a lot as he likes it up there, miscalculated and landed heavily on the spiked fence which is right by our porch door. The spikes are plastic but very pointed. Originally there was a path that led down that side of our house but the lady who lived in our house before put a fence up and the lady with the garden next to us moved her garden (I. E. Grass, gravel...) to reach the fence.

So technically it's no one's legal property and it was an agreement between that neighbour and the previous tenant. She's only put those cat spikes on this one fence as the other two are official shared boundaries. I get some people hate cats, fine, but buy anoyher kind of detterant. Now I've got to take my cat to the vets and he's in a lot of pain. (I'd talk to my neighbour first but she's proven to be awkard before which is long winded and boring but jist for context as to why I can't just ask her). Would we be unreasonable to remove the spikes later, as it'll likely happen again and it's not legally anyone's? Thinking of calling rspca for advice once we're back from the vets. I always thought the spikes weren't meant to hurt/impale cats, just deter them.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:18

Our cat also has a litter box so I don't think he's capping in her garden or anything. She's probably had issue with other neighbourhood cats doing so, which is understandably annoying but still, there's other methods Hmm

OP posts:
Rhodadendra · 28/01/2020 08:18

YANBU.

Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:19

*crapping... Blush

OP posts:
DisplayPurposesOnly · 28/01/2020 08:22

Poor cat!

Originally there was a path that led down that side of our house but the lady who lived in our house before put a fence up and the lady with the garden next to us moved her garden (I. E. Grass, gravel...) to reach the fence.

If you own your house, I'd look into this. Someone owns that land - it could be you. If your neighbour uses /has used it for a long time, it could become hers (I don't know the rules but look up adverse possession).

Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:24

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll ask the council for advice. My other neighbour is the one who told me it was originally a path and she's lived here 50 years so I can ask her too but obviously I'll double check.

OP posts:
Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:25

The bleeding has nearly stopped at least. There's blood everywhere l, all down the stairs where he's walked, all over the kitchen floor. And I've got 2 freaked out DCs.

OP posts:
TabbyMumz · 28/01/2020 08:25

Just because she has a litter box doesnt mean she doesnt do it elsewhere aswell. If your neighbour took over the pathway, she presumably did this legally. However does that make the fence yours or hers?
I dont think the cat spikes have done this, probably something else.

Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:26

I checked the spikes. They're bloody and it's fresh Hmm

OP posts:
user163578742 · 28/01/2020 08:27

I'm unconvinced that it's "not legally anyone's" ... It must have a legal owner.

Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:28

I think if it's anyone's it's likely ours as it covers a side of our house. Not hers. But I'll be checking today with the council if I can or at least asking for it to be checked.

OP posts:
user163578742 · 28/01/2020 08:29

Land Registry

Original poster
Alexandra80 · 28/01/2020 08:29

If we can't legally do anything I'll certainly be billing her for his treatment. It's not a superficial wound. He's got a gaping hole on one paw/leg and a nasty gash in the other.

OP posts:
Mammatino · 28/01/2020 08:30

Oh my god!! I hope your cat is OK. I think you should take some photographs of him and show neighbour what has happened. Most people are really not that anti cat that they want them maimed. If she won't cooperate (talk to her about other detterents), show the pictures of your cat to other neighbours and cat owners and get some support and advice from them. I'm sure the damage wasn't intentional though and really hope your little cat and DC's are OK. Many years ago I lived in London and a neighbour was putting poison out for people's cats. Mine ate some and nearly died, it cost my honeymoon food to keep him alive. Cats can be bloody pests and it's up to us (and you sound like a really responsible pet owner), to find a solution.

Sicario · 28/01/2020 08:30

Remove it. Poor pussycat.

Mintjulia · 28/01/2020 08:37

Agree with pp that land belongs to someone. Check your deeds or the land registry web site.

If you remove the spikes from a fence that proves to be hers, that’s either criminal damage or theft. And she can just put them back anyway.

Just because you find her boring is not a reason to not speak to her. You don’t know that the injuries were incurred on the fence - it’s unlikely if the spikes are plastic, and you don’t know your cat hasn’t been messing her garden.
You are seeing this completely from your point of view.
Consider if she is allergic to cats or a proud gardener or has young grandchildren playing in the garden and doesn’t want cat poo there. All are completely reasonable. Don’t start a feud, it could make your life & gets worse.

Mammatino · 28/01/2020 08:41

Actually I just want to say when I said about showing pictures of your poor cat to neighbours, I didn't mean as some kind of incitement. The cat may have just jumped over the spikes to get home and left blood there. See if you can find a trail anywhere. Definately find out if that fence is yours and talk to your neighbour I'm sure she will be reasonable.

notanotherjigsawpiece · 28/01/2020 08:44

Aw poor kitty, I hope he’s ok Sad

If you want to avoid a potential fall out by removing the spikes, could you pop some packing peanuts on the spikes in the meantime instead?

GraceQuirrell · 28/01/2020 08:45

If the lady who lived in your house previously put up the fence that suggests that its your fence now and the neighbour doesn't have any right to put anything on it. However, you'd have to take the spikes down carefully without damaging them and give them back to her as they presumably are her property.

Branleuse · 28/01/2020 08:45

My cat has a huge deep gash on his stomach the last few days. I bet someone around here has got one of these. Been racking my brain as to how it happened

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 28/01/2020 08:47

Maybe try and keep your cat indoors so your neighbours won’t be inconvenienced in first place.

Sorry the cat is injured but you can prevent this very easily.

FairyBatman · 28/01/2020 08:48

I’d take pics of your poor kitty’s wounds, pics of the cat spikes in situ and the I’d take them down and wrap them in cling film (blood and all)

If she tried to get the police /council involved you have all the evidence that they have caused an injury.

ItWillBeBetterinAugust · 28/01/2020 08:49

Who put the spikes up? The previous owner or your neighbor?

Pretty sure you can't bill anyone for your cat being injured on their property unless they actively and deliberately injured them, and probably not even then. Cats are considered wild animals and people don't have to make their property cat safe. Your cat, your bill.

Hope he makes a quick recovery though obviously Flowers

Inforthelonghaul · 28/01/2020 08:50

That’s shocking what a horrible thing to have on a fence!

Definitely find out about the path. If it’s been illlegally blocked it gives you some leverage.

I’d photograph the spikes in place with fresh blood on them, the other fences with no spikes, your cats injuries and then take the spikes down immediately. I’d be telling the neighbour to sue me if there’s a problem because you’d be happy to counter sue for vet bills and I would probably become the neighbour from hell because nobody messes with my cat!

TeddyIsaHe · 28/01/2020 08:51

Take the cat to the vet today for a once over as well. Cats are very good at hiding severe injuries.

I would take them down

CSIblonde · 28/01/2020 08:51

I'm sure those spikes are classed as illegal in the UK under Animal Cruelty laws (you can't have stuff that they could damage themselves on, either deliberately or otherwise). I'd have a Google then re-assess your options.