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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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Miljea · 29/01/2020 22:26

God, RTFP. The 'ownership' of the fence has been ascertained!!

The neighbour could always affix a length of wood on her side of your fence, with the cat deterrent affixed on top. It'd be illegal to remove that.

I have cat spikes. 5 generations of small native nesting birds have survived since I did that.

I like cats. But I don't have one because they are so destructive to native wildlife.

SnoozyLou · 29/01/2020 22:33

If they're capable of injuring a cat, they're illegal. I'd tell her - awkward or not - what's happened and if it happens again she'll be getting a vets bill.

HappyExteriorSadInterior · 29/01/2020 23:05

Hi OP,
Those spikes are truly horrific, no wonder your poor little cat was so badly injured.
I hope he starts to heal over the next few days. Sending lots of love and cuddles to your cat, I'm glad he has such a kind family looking after him. 😻

DailyFailstinks · 29/01/2020 23:07

This is awful Flowers Cat spikes should be banned - evil things!

VivaLeBeaver · 29/01/2020 23:11

The neighbour could always affix a length of wood on her side of your fence, with the cat deterrent affixed on top. It'd be illegal to remove that.

Actually the neighbour can’t put anything on her side of the fence. It’s still the OPs fence regardless of side. Neighbour can’t even paint her side without permission never mind bang nails, etc in it.

Miljea · 30/01/2020 02:35

Yes they can!

Miljea · 30/01/2020 02:41

Daily tho I don't necessarily agree, there are those who think domestic cats should be banned. Evil things.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/01/2020 06:23

No you can’t

www.boundary-problems.co.uk/boundary-problems/fences.html

Miljea · 30/01/2020 21:38

Well that's interesting. My entire road on my estate is breaking the law! 😂😂😂

But my cat spikes will remain.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/01/2020 21:47

Yeah I think most people don’t realise/care and do it.

Miljea · 30/01/2020 23:59

I guess I don't care if my neighbour paints his side of my fence! Why would I? How would I know? 😊

But, I won't deny, if the spikes on the fence were taken down, I would rig up an alternative, right up against that fence. We have saved a load of native wildlife by keeping cats out of our garden.

TheBouquets · 31/01/2020 01:22

Maybe the spikes are to stop intruders more than cats. I have been thinking about putting something along those lines on my new fence because I have a very nosey neighbour who has been caught wandering around the garden trying to dismantle the security lights. It could be that someone has had security concerns

UrbanJellyfish · 31/01/2020 01:27

You could stick a squash ball on the end of each spike or something. Then they'd presumably not be able to cause deep wounds, but would still serve the purpose of preventing cats jumping onto fence (or is the whole purpose to deter through injury like barbed wire?).

BlackCatSleeping · 31/01/2020 02:15

I must admit I’m laughing at the idea of well-behaved cats. Cats can be real arseholes. Even cats that are well taken care of can still cause trouble for neighbors. It’s in their nature I’m afraid.

As your cat is injured, it will need keeping in for the time being, but it if is happy enough indoors then consider keeping it as an indoor cat. It really is so much safer and better for them. I know it’s controversial but cats can be perfectly happy living indoors.

Gonetoget · 31/01/2020 08:14

Biggest threat to birds is intensive farming practice, artificial gardens, cars, modern life basically. Cats are pretty low down the list.
Have all the cat haters in the name of protecting the wildlife, started growing their vegetables and cycling everywhere, or is it easier to put up barbaric contraptions to impale otherwise innocent creatures an easier way to ease the conscience.

ShatnersWig · 31/01/2020 08:28

FGS if a cat is pissing you off (someone else's,) squirt some tap water at it

Hmm, great advice, thanks. I'll quit my job and sit in my garden all day with a hose every time one turns up to come and shit on my lawn or in my borders.

DowntownAbby · 31/01/2020 09:05

Just seen your pic of the spikes @Alexandra80

They look nasty!

At first I thought YABU because I thought the 'spikes' would be those blunt, softish ones which animals just don't like to feel under their feet, but not those things.

I am not a cat lover - they make such a mess in the garden and kill lots of our wildlife out in the countryside where I live, but I would not like to see one hurt.

mumme111 · 31/01/2020 09:09

Sorry I love cats but in my old house the neighbours cat kept pooping all over my garden where my children play and it's not fair as nobody would like my dog pooping in their garden? X it's not nice to hurt animals but I would put up spikes aswell and hope the cat learns and doesn't get too hurt x hope your cat is ok but do try and find out who owns the land x

ravenmum · 31/01/2020 09:36

You can get motion-operated, automatic sprays that squirt water on anything coming in your garden. Hard to keep them out of the entire garden with that, though. Personally I'd go for a massive fence, but I do love my privacy :)

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