Should neighbours ask beforehand?

[TisforTucan]

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.

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

Obviously you have never had a cat, they do as they please!

@Onerealday

Yes, I would talk to them before painting if I was in that situation. I think technically my city does require that.

I built mine as a double fence to avoid having to discuss anything.
There was already a fence there and I did tell the neighbor before I did this. I fortunately only have one neighbor next to me, and they’ve always been reasonable through 3 different owners.

I think that as your cat doesn't go far anyway I might be inclined to cat-proof the garden. That involves metal brackets that attach to your fence bending inwards, then have mesh attached. The cat can't climb on them and will stay safe in your garden.

In US in my lifetime it’s become fairly uncommon to allow cats to roam.

I used to let mine out but only into my own yard for an hour at time. They never discovered the glory of using the outside as a toilet.

I don’t let mine out now. It’s just not safe where I live as there are strays and feral cats. I lost a cat to some unexplained tumors and still not convinced she didn’t pick up a disease outdoors.

Also, the bubonic plague has been found in rats in the US, so that’s pretty scary.

These get my vote ( if the only way for a cat to get into your garden is over the fence).
www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&source=hp&ei=S0-sXtGJFK-HjLsPxdeXwAM&q=fence+rollers+to+deter+cats&oq=fence+rollers+to+deter+&gs_lcp=ChFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocBABGAEyBggAEBYQHjIFCCEQoAE6BQgpEJECOgIIKToECCkQCjoFCAAQgwE6AggAOgIILjoICCEQFhAdEB46BwghEAoQoAFQ5BJYrEBgyGNoAHAAeACAAdABiAHoFZIBBjMuMTkuMZgBAKABAbABDw&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp#kpvalbx=_Wk-sXqH8MIrFgQa8tab4Bw64

@Intelinside57 Looking into an exercise cage, hard right now since no one can do this for me but it's a great idea. My garden wouldn't be fully secure with netting it's the issue.

@HannaYeah My cats have always been indoors since we lost an outdoor cat. We have an older cat who is 16 years old, she has always been an indoor cat and shows no interest in going out. This cat is younger and although same breed is totally different, always escaping, climbing out windows. If anyone asked me, Im 100% agreed that cats should be kept indoors if you can. Cat has own litter, plenty of space, just has no interest with staying with us.

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

Are you supposed to follow the cat around wherever it goes? Don’t be so ridiculous.

Some nutters on here again .

OMG some of the questions and comments from obvious non-cat owners are hysterical.

OP, someone asked if the fence was yours and you said they put them up their side of the fence. It's irrelevant, if you own the fence they are not allowed to attach things to it. Check your deeds and if it's yours, tell them to take it down.

If you go to a safari park big cat enclosure, they have a fence then inclined at about 45 degree top section (with wires) that keeps the animals in.

15 years ago we went on a bus ride round longleet with this amazing brilliant tall story telling retired longleet employee doing a bit of cover work driving the odd tourist bus. He talked about how the big cats used to get out all the time. Initially they had 6ft fences then went to 8 without success, then the bits on the top seamed to do the job.

I've seen it suggested you can have a similar set up for domestic cats with inclined sections so long as there is nothing they can use in the garden as a platform to get over the top. It could be quite attractive like a garden sized pergola edging with clematis and evergreens growing along the wires - doesn't need to make the place look like a prison.

My dad has tried the plastic/ rubber spikes, multistrand wires, all sorts of things with his neighbours lovely big fluffy friendly cat. The cat jumps on the skylight just above him when he naps in the afternoon and startles him. Its really funny - Cat vs Retired Engineer. I can't decide if the cat is really intelligent or just so thick it keeps going until it overcomes the latest obstacle.

So it's ok for a dog (or person) to kill a cat, but it's not ok for a cat to kill a bird.

I used to have cats, and whilst I can't have any more anyway, I wouldn't actually want them nowadays because of all the hassle PEOPLE create. There are I'm sure a lot of (maybe lonely) elderly owners, who cats mean everything to them. Don't the cat haters ever think about that?

It's so annoying. 'Are you stupid, I cannot control my cat, it goes wherever it wants, cats like to roam, duh!'. Why should I care, ffs. It's MY garden and I HATE cats, they're disgusting. I don't hate any other animal, just cats. I don't care if they 'like to roam', I don't want these gross things in my garden!

Think someone's taking the thread a little to seriously over there..

Someone linked Google ideas seen a couple of things I could add to my fence to keep the cat down. Its a pain cause its nothing I can order I have to goto a DIY store. Atleast if I do it I can do it below the edge of the fence, should I let them know I'm going to be nailing stuff to my side of the fence is the question?

Your not thatcbotheeed so you need to ask yourself is it really worth the hassle

@pocketem - have people on unsentimental never seen a cat? They’re not dogs, you can’t stop them roaming around and it’s not a big deal.

I think it's going to be very awkward now.

Why? Your cat is presumably shitting in their garden, they made that harder in a way which doesn't affect you.

You can have mine if you'd like

I'll take it. There is a recipe I want to try.

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

😂 brilliant.

Now now naughty pussy cat. I told you before - no pooing next door!

Why am I suddenly thinking about Carol Baskin??

Tell them to fling the poo back over

@TisforTucan

I totally understand.

I’d really love to find a safe way to let mine out.

We've deterred cats from coming in our garden by chasing them away or throwing things at them. We're surrounded by gardens on three sides so they could come from any direction. Now just the click of the patio door opening makes them scarper even if they're on next door's fence. I WFH regularly and overlook the garden and noticed they learnt quickly to avoid ours and just stick to the fence as they move between neighbouring gardens. They don't dare come in anymore.

I've cat proofed the long side of my house, so quite a long space with brackets and chicken wire. A little lawn, tree trunks toys etc and my cats hop in and out of a window. It isn't free roaming but it's fresh air, sunshine and they still have managed to bring in birds and mice...my neighbours on 1 side had a large dog and the other side very keen gardeners. When I pick up the poo from cat garden I realise I do not want neighbours to deal with that either.

@Scochran you are a reasonable cat owner and from someone who is plagued by cats im genuinely grateful and hope you become the norm.