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Original poster

Should neighbours ask beforehand?

198 replies

TisforTucan · 01/05/2020 11:36

Woke up today to our neighbour nailing spikes onto the top of the fence (i'm assuming it's to deter our cat from going on it). We've never had any bad words, sure we probably irratate each other but never argued or anything and we've talked before.

Im not offended by the spikes, cat annoys us half the time by pooping in the garden ect but I just feel like they could of knocked and said "hi were going to do this, as we don't really want cat in our garden". I would of appreciated it more to have been told and think I'm more offended that they couldn't come talk to us.

Would anyone else want to be told? Funny thing is, it's not going to work as cat can jump over other parts of the fence so it's just made things a bit awkward I feel now.

OP posts:
user635836 · 01/05/2020 12:08

If your cat is mostly inside maybe it’s not your cat they are trying to deter.

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 01/05/2020 12:08

Maybe they thought that since what they put on their fence has nothing much to do with you, there is no need to go and have a chat about it...

TooTrueToBeGood · 01/05/2020 12:08

I tried to have a reasonable conversation with the cat but she was having none of it.

Don't try that again. Cats are devious and highly skilled in manipulation. Before you know it, she'll have YOU shitting in the garden.

Gawdsake2020 · 01/05/2020 12:08

Hope they’re offering to pay the vet bill if your cat gets hurt!

Lily193 · 01/05/2020 12:08

The BVA issued advice to keep cats indoors if people are self isolating so is it possible that this is why they're concerned about your cat on their property at the moment?

GoatCheeseTart · 01/05/2020 12:09

I would not be amused. There are other things you can use to deter cats., but they have chosen something intended to hurt and injure their neighbour's pet.

saraclara · 01/05/2020 12:09

They don't need to let you know, and you don't need to stress about it.

Why didn't you stop your cat going on the fence?

That has to be one of the funniest things I've read on MN.

tanstaafl · 01/05/2020 12:09

Is it to stop birds ?
We’ve got deposits of bird poo under a particular fence panel that pigeons tend to settle on.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 01/05/2020 12:10

I thought spikes/broken glass etc were actually illegal now? I recall this as I lived in a yard that had to remove the barbed wire/razorewire and glass spikes as they might injure anyone trying to break in. This was a good few years back, though.

Kazzyhoward · 01/05/2020 12:10

What can I do close to putting a tether on the cat?

You could have trained it to use a litter tray in your home!

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 01/05/2020 12:11

Well, I googled. It's a bit more complex:

Highways Act 1980
Section 164 (Injurious toppings)

The local highway authority has a duty to ensure the safe use of the public highway and this section deals with the problems of injurious toppings on fences and walls that are so low that they could easily injure a person simply walking along the public footway.

Section 164, clause (1) of the Highways Act 1980 states the following:

Power to require removal of barbed wire

Where on land adjoining a highway there is a fence made with barbed wire, or having barbed wire in or on it, and the wire is a nuisance to the highway, a competent authority may by notice served on the occupier of the land require him to abate the nuisance within such time, not being less than one month nor more than 6 months from the date of service of the notice, as may be specified in it.

The term ‘barbed wire’ has been interpreted to mean anything with spikes or jagged projections and this would include any made aggressive topping or addition to a wall or fence including carpet gripper, broken glass, nails and preparatory products such as plastic and metal spikes.

The term ‘nuisance’ has been interpreted to mean something that is likely to cause injury to people and animals using the highway and most highway authorities consider things that can cause injury lower than 2.4m to be a nuisance.

If you fall foul of this law you will be issued with a notice requiring you to remove the danger within a specific time period.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 01/05/2020 12:12
  • I don't know if that's helpful, OP!
Onerealday · 01/05/2020 12:15

How do you know if it is a shared fence? Our neighbours painted their side and it has came through abit so I will have to paint our side the same colour. The front of the fence is on our side but it is inbetween the gardens so this is a shared fence?

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 01/05/2020 12:15

I thought spikes/broken glass etc were actually illegal now? I recall this as I lived in a yard that had to remove the barbed wire/razorewire and glass spikes as they might injure anyone trying to break in. This was a good few years back, though.

I imagine it's the plastic ones

Ellmau · 01/05/2020 12:16

I don’t think that law Is relevant as the fence isn’t along the road or pavement.

But I don’t see why it has to be awkward, just ignore it in conversation.

Biancadelrioisback · 01/05/2020 12:16

I don't see why it's awkward. They don't want your cat in their garden, they don't have to like your cat, they can do whatever they (legally) want to keep it away. No need for them to go and talk to you about anything

Reginabambina · 01/05/2020 12:16

I think you’re being really over sensitive. They don’t like your cat going in their garden, they’re not morons and know there isn’t anything you can do about it, they have found a solution they can implement themselves. There’s really no need to make a song and dance about it.

Biancadelrioisback · 01/05/2020 12:16

Also how does it affect you?

Jengnr · 01/05/2020 12:16

I'd tell them if it was going to affect them in someway.

But it doesn’t affect you in any way.

Reginabambina · 01/05/2020 12:17

@ScrimpshawTheSecond I thought this was the fence between their back gardens?

bettybattenburg · 01/05/2020 12:18

There isn't any reason for them to talk to you - it won't make any difference to you. Do you talk to them before doing anything in your garden that might impact on them?

Original poster
TisforTucan · 01/05/2020 12:18

@Hoppinggreen what I’m going to do if it affects them out of basic politeness

This here is prehaps what I should of worded it as. I don't care what they do on their property, but just being polite. Do people not talk anymore? I use to live in a courtyard with several people but because we were close, we had a really good relationship with each other. We'd always check on each other and help each other out.

OP posts:
JKScot4 · 01/05/2020 12:19

Are they the rubber spikes? if not it’s illegal to put anything up that can cause injury.

Boireannachlaidir · 01/05/2020 12:19

I get what you're saying OP, yes it's their fence yada yada but there's nothing wrong with friendly communication. Mind you, that works both ways and hopefully you've acknowledged to them about the cat possibly pooping or wandering over to their garden. I hope your cat is okay. Lol at the PP who clearly doesn't know how cats operate...

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 01/05/2020 12:20

I don't see any mention of back or front?

There's lots more to these laws, too:

thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/garden-boundaries-fences-and-defensive-plants/614/the-uk-law-concerning-fences-walls-and-gates/

'injurious toppings' I think is the thing.