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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed with neighbours for metal spikes on shared fence?

167 replies

itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 17:35

I live in an area which what seems like quite a high cat population, there's usually about 7-8 I see roaming round on a daily basis. I'm not sure if this is why NDN has put metal spikes on their fence, but they have put two lots of very sharp, metal spikes on their garden fence corner (including part of our shared fence) which seems like it is to deter cats going into their garden.

I get it's very annoying having animals coming into your garden to do their business but these spikes are ridiculous, if a cat jumps on them they're going to end up with an injury. There has also been absolutely no discussion as to whether I'm happy with them going on our shared fence, and it isn't the first time they've made changes to the fence before without consulting me.

I've looked up about fence spikes and from what I can see the spikes need to be plastic and blunt as to not cause injuries. AIBU to think this is harsh?

OP posts:
PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 18:15

Cat shit in the garden is vile.

I was once on sofa, unable to walk as I was recovering from surgery and 3year old DS wandered in with it on his face and hands Envy (not envy). That was fun to clean up.

Spikes are not illegal as long as they dont join public land, and cat owners wont have a problem if they take responsibility for their pets rather than let them shit on others peoples property.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 28/05/2021 18:16

@thecatneuterer

Cat detergent spikes are not illegal.
They're only illegal if they have been designed to inflict injury on the cat. The deterrent spikes usually just make it uncomfortable/difficult/impossible for a cat to jump onto the fence and into the garden.

I'm assuming these arent actually big metal spikes and the OP is mistaken. But even if they are the metal bird detterent spikes, they're only illegal if a cat ends up actually injured and you can prove they were placed there to deliberately injure a cat.

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:22

@PheasantPlucker1

Cat shit in the garden is vile.

I was once on sofa, unable to walk as I was recovering from surgery and 3year old DS wandered in with it on his face and hands Envy (not envy). That was fun to clean up.

Spikes are not illegal as long as they dont join public land, and cat owners wont have a problem if they take responsibility for their pets rather than let them shit on others peoples property.

I'm sorry that happened to you, that doesn't sound fun! They do back onto public land though, a public footpath runs down the back of our gardens.

I don't really understand how people can "take responsibility" for their cats? They're cats, they have a "right to roam" and you can't keep your eye on them 24/7 to make sure they're not going in other neighbours garden. My cat goes in the other ND and they love him! I'd go in a clean up shit myself rather than having the spikes up bit there's been absolutely no discussion at all.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 28/05/2021 18:24

@donquixotedelamancha

It doesn't matter who owns it, it's illegal.

Is it? Could you elaborate? Even those big pigeon spikes are only illegal if they harm an animal and it can be shown to be deliberate.

Not exactly. I haven't researched it. I'm basing this on having reported it to the Council on numerous occasions (different properties - I'm with an animal welfare organisation and do this on behalf of people). They have told me it's illegal and have visited the properties concerned and made them remove them. That's all I know.
LadyEloise · 28/05/2021 18:26

An international hotel chain in Dublin has decorative metal spikes on a sloping ledge child magnet outside.
A neighbour's child walked on the ledge, while being supervised, slipped and a spike went into her upper underarm. Rushed to hospital. Stitches. Luckily she made a full recovery.
The family could gave gone the legal route, but didn't despite parents being lawyers - just not litigious.
This happened many years ago and despite drawing attention to it in person to a manager, said spikes remain. SadSadSad

EvenRosesHaveThorns · 28/05/2021 18:28

Cats should be indoors and in catios. They are responsible for huge amounts of wildlife deaths. Sounds reasonable to me

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:32

Thanks for this, Ive contacted hopefully the right department of the council to find out the legality of them.

OP posts:
PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 18:33

OP have you ever offered to clean up your cats shit from their garden?

Why do you feel your neighbours should be the ones responsible for discussing your pets with you?
It also wont just be your cat, itcould be several.

If you are worried about your cats, cat proof your garden!

m00rfarm · 28/05/2021 18:33

I had local cats spraying on my garden furniture, coming in through open windows and spraying on the bed, curtains and in wardrobes. I live in the algarve and you cannot live with every window closed. I tried everything. In the end I moved to another area. It’s disgusting having a neighbours cat treat your home like that. I could live with Shit in the garden. But not destroying my home.

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:36

@EvenRosesHaveThorns

Cats should be indoors and in catios. They are responsible for huge amounts of wildlife deaths. Sounds reasonable to me
That's ridiculous. They have a "right to roam" in the UK, and they're only doing what is natural to them with wildlife. Do you eat animals or even vegetables and crops? A huge amount of wildlife killed through humans daily actions.
OP posts:
Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 18:37

Fuck sake people, cat shit might be grim but it's not ok to cause any animal harm. And before anyone asks, I don't have a cat

thecatneuterer · 28/05/2021 18:37

@Librariesmakeshhhhappen I'm talking about metal spikes, not plastic ones. As I said I'm only basing this on a lot of experience with a couple of local Councils, who both take action when this is reported to them.

pabloescobarselasticband · 28/05/2021 18:37

@PheasantPlucker1

Cat shit in the garden is vile.

I was once on sofa, unable to walk as I was recovering from surgery and 3year old DS wandered in with it on his face and hands Envy (not envy). That was fun to clean up.

Spikes are not illegal as long as they dont join public land, and cat owners wont have a problem if they take responsibility for their pets rather than let them shit on others peoples property.

This. I don't agree that they are illegal. Just as your cats have a right to roam you have responsibility for any injuries they may suffer while doing so. I could be wrong but a driver doesn't legally have to stop if they hit a cat ( although its not morally ok) but they do have to stop if they hit a dog.
Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:39

@PheasantPlucker1

OP have you ever offered to clean up your cats shit from their garden?

Why do you feel your neighbours should be the ones responsible for discussing your pets with you?
It also wont just be your cat, itcould be several.

If you are worried about your cats, cat proof your garden!

Because it's not just a normal thing to come round and ask if he's having problems with my cat? (One cat)

Unless they have 24/7 surveillance of their garden they won't know who's cat it is, there's a public footpath at the back which I usually see cats on so yes, it could be several. As I said I'd rather just clean it up then risk injuring an animal who doesn't realise it's doing anything wrong but hey ho.

OP posts:
RosieGuacamosie · 28/05/2021 18:41

People with cats are worse than people with dogs in that they think their precious pussies have the “right to roam” and by that I mean shit in peoples flower beds and bring in dead animals through open windows, but hey ho, right to roam!

If it’s their fence there’s nothing you can do about it.

RosieGuacamosie · 28/05/2021 18:42

Unless they have 24/7 surveillance of their garden they won't know who's cat it is, there's a public footpath at the back which I usually see cats on so yes, it could be several.

Oh come off it! Since you live next door it is highly likely that it’s your cat at least some of the time.

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:47

@RosieGuacamosie

Unless they have 24/7 surveillance of their garden they won't know who's cat it is, there's a public footpath at the back which I usually see cats on so yes, it could be several.

Oh come off it! Since you live next door it is highly likely that it’s your cat at least some of the time.

So you want me to go round to my next door neighbours and clean up all the cat shit in their garden just incase it belongs to my one, old cat who spends most of his time inside and has a litter tray? Confused
OP posts:
PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 18:47

OP thats my point.

You didnt discuss it with the neighbours, yet feel they should discuss it with you.

Its your cat! Theyre going to love you once they know you reported them cos youre cross your cat cant shit in their garden anymore...

StoneofDestiny · 28/05/2021 18:49

I thought it was illegal to have spikes, jagged glass and similar on fences?

RosieGuacamosie · 28/05/2021 18:49

Or cat proof your garden so you can make sure your cat isn’t shitting in other people’s?

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:54

@PheasantPlucker1

OP thats my point.

You didnt discuss it with the neighbours, yet feel they should discuss it with you.

Its your cat! Theyre going to love you once they know you reported them cos youre cross your cat cant shit in their garden anymore...

Because how do I know it's an issue if they don't mention it? As I've said in various other comments, I have one old cat who spends the majority of his time inside and has a litter tray, many other neighbour cats visit my garden so it could be any number of them or coming from the footpath behind us. I don't often speak to my neighbours other than a "hello how're you" if I see them or a wave, so I didn't consider starting up a conversation about cat shit.
OP posts:
Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 28/05/2021 18:55

That's ridiculous. They have a "right to roam" in the UK, and they're only doing what is natural to them

Where I live, sheep have the right to roam. Would you be happy with a sheep going into your garden and doing what comes naturally to it, and cleaning up all the mess it leaves behind? Or would you take steps to sheep proof your garden?

You've chosen to have a cat. Damn right you shouldn't kind cleaning up after it. Your neighbours have chosen not to have a cat. Your choices should not spoil their enjoyment of their garden. If you let your cats roam then you take your chances with what harm (hopefully none) they come to. You honestly have no right to be annoyed that your neighbour doesn't enjoy your cat, or any cat, shitting in their garden and killing birds.

sunshinesupermum · 28/05/2021 18:56

OP sorry you're getting it in the neck for all the neighbourhood cats shitting in your neighbour's garden! Ignore the idiots on here telling you o go clear up all the cat shit. Good luck with the council - hope they are helpful.

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 18:57

Tbh I would LOVE to see a sheep in my garden, I wouldn't mind cleaning up after one. I understand being annoyed at unwanted cat shit in a garden but I had no idea my cat or any other neighbourhood cats were doing so until metal spikes appeared on his fence.

OP posts:
PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 18:58

OP, then why complain they didnt discuss it with you?

They have cat proofed their garden, using their fence. You dont think you own the fence so why would they ask you first?

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