Neighbours, parking and cats

[bibblebobbleblackbobble]

Sorry for epic post. We've had civil but not friendly relations with our next door neighbours since they moved in 7 years ago. There is a two-part issue.

1.We have one car and half of our front garden is a driveway and the other half has plants and small trees on it. Next door has a smaller plot and have mostly a driveway with a hedge and raised planted border. This driveway could easily fit 2 cars if they were normal-sized and you could fit two massive ones if you paid attention (another nearby neighbour with a slightly smaller plot manages two vans). NDNs have two massive cars and a van. They park one car on the drive and the other car plus van on the road. I don't have a problem with this. However, they like to park as close to their house as possible and tended to block us in on our driveway. We would then have to ask them to move their car so we could get out. It was problematic late at night or in emergencies. So we started parking our car on the road in front of our house so that we wouldn't get blocked in. This means they either have to block their own car in or park slightly further away from their house.

1. NDNs have several cats. One of them comes into our house constantly, shits everywhere, climbs on top of kitchen worktops and eats off plates etc. It just isn't housetrained. We had a cat years ago, so are aware it is possible to largely train a cat out of this behaviour. We have mentioned it, but get brushed off with amusing comments about how cats are our overlords and they go where they like etc. So we ensure that doors are kept shut, no large windows are open on the ground floor, and we spray water at cat when it manages to get in and boot it out. We have adapted our lifestyle to manage with the cat.

On Monday, NDN came to the front door as they have had a genius plan for dealing with the parking issue. I should dig up my front garden and tarmac it so we can park our car on the driveway making enough space for NDN to park one of their vehicles in front of my drive without blocking me in. This was presented as the obvious and only rational thing to do. I said I would discuss with DH but that I was very happy with my front garden as it was. While we were talking, the Cat of Doom shot between our legs, into the kitchen, jumped on worktops and attacked an open tin of tuna I was using when the doorbell rang. Cat cut itself on the tin, neighbour came in to help catch it and took it away. This morning, NDN have put a note through our door asking us to pay £800 vet bill for cat's injuries. DH says pay it (somehow) for a quiet life, but I think we need to take a stand now. AIBU?

@Doris86

Paying the bill wouldn’t make it easier and cheaper in the long run as your husband suggests OP. It would just prove to the neighbours that they can walk all over you, and they would continue to come back with more ridiculous demands for cash. You need to put your foot down now and say no.

Exactly this. For good relations going forward you really need to push back on these matters.

I call reverse

Absolutely not. They are jawdroppingly rude and entitled.

"Please note that we will be calling parking enforcement if you block our drive again, and will call animal control if your cat continues to foul inside our house.

Are you pulling my bollock OP? I know fallouts with neighbours need to be avoided but their taking the piss here. Don’t pay their vet bill tell them to keep their sodding cat out of your house!
And if they have any more cheeky fuck suggestions regarding your driving way you need to tell them straight, ‘NO how about you park on your own drive I’ll park on mine and you won’t block me in’ end of conversation nothing needs to be sugar coated, they think your a soft touch prove them wrong!

Dear god don’t pay. They’re absolute idiots.

I'm agog that your dh wants to pay an £800 quid vet bill to keep the peace!!

Honestly, theres doing things to keep neighbourly relations friendly, and there's rolling over and handing over large sums of money unnecessarily.

Sorry Bibble but you have made me laugh. The Cat of Doom attacking the tin of Tuna is funny. Seriously do not pay the bill. You sound like a great neighbour.

Tell them to get their cat insured & send them a bill for all the cat shit you've had to clean up.
And you like your front garden as it is. Cheeky f*ckers 🤬

It won’t be cheaper in the long run, they will be back about something else and be back for more money. These aren’t neighbours you want to be friends or involved with. Just smile and avoid them. Don’t get into conversations with them.

If you let them tell you what to do it will never end! They are cheeky buggers who are trying to take advantage of your good nature. I understand you don't want to rock the boat but your neighbours don't mind rocking it and ruining your lives. Don't give in...they are piss takers

Tear their note into small pieces and post back through their letterbox ( or a certain orifice 🤣 )

Why on earth would you even think about it?? tell them to do one!

This all sounds like a huge joke
Do not pay a penny and do not change your driveway. I know you do not want angry neighbours but if you ascend to this you will only open doors to more demands.

I'd write them a check for the amount of "get fucked"

Cat shouldn't even be in your property and they need to get rid of a vehicle or two or sort their own driveway out. Weirdos.

You have my absolute sympathy. I recognise the situation (cats and stupid no. of vehicles for the available parking on neighbours property) only too well. They are taking the proverbial. They need to sort out alternative parking for their cars/van. As for the vet bill.....words fail me, but whatever you do, don't pay!

The OP should definitely pave over the front garden.
Newly laid drives - like patios - are useful for burying things under.

Like cats.
And spineless husbands

Send a note charging them for the tuna.

Please can the OP provide a diagram.
It should clearly show
*OP front garden including ornamental tree
*NDN garden including wanky raised border.
*Preferred parking positions of all vehicles
*alternative parking on street too far away for NDN to use

• usual entry route of Cat of Doom via back door *surprise entry route of Cat of Doom via front door *Exact position of tin of tuna *location of local veterinary practice

Absolutely do not pay! And send them a bill for cleaning products/services for cleaning up their cats s*%# that’s been all over your house.

Your neighbours are unreal and your DH is nuts to consider paying their vets bill.

Use the £800 to hire a solicitor to send them letters telling them they are breaking the law blocking your access to the road

Honestly I read this and my jaw dropped. I really can't believe anyone would have the gall to ask you to tarmac your garden and then send you a bill for Vet costs...They sound unhinged and I wouldn't have any further interaction with them (after telling them to FUCK RIGHT OFF) As for your DH - words fail me.....!!!!!

Havent read the whole thread but I'd spray your neighbours with water let alone their cat

@AlwaysLatte

Why did someone ring the doorbell if you and the neighbour were standing on the doorstep?

The op stated that the cat made a mad dash for the tuna that she’d been opening “when” the doorbell rang. Ie, she was opening tuna, doorbell goes, she abandons tuna whilst she answers door to batshit neighbour. Cat dives in and made for the tuna already opened on the side.

Just wondering, did you actually see your neighbour's cat cut itself on your can of tuna, or are you just going by what your neighbour told you? Their cat might have got injured elsewhere..