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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:
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 28/05/2021 20:05

Whatever.

If people who butthurt about this kept their cats indoors there would be no need for spikes.

BarbarianMum · 28/05/2021 20:11

@snowcobra I assume you dont include wild birds or other people's pets in the list of animals decent people would not hurt?

My garden is cat proof to protect my pets and the birds that choose to feed there. Cats are either pets, in which case their owners should keep them on their property, or they are wild in which case it is ok for other people to keep them out.

sbhydrogen · 28/05/2021 20:18

I need a diagram. I don't understand how it can be a 'shared' fence but back onto a footpath. Please also upload a photo of said spikes.

Sounds more like a burglar deterrent than a cat deterrent.

Keepingthingsinteresting · 28/05/2021 20:32

Because how do I know it's an issue if they don't mention it?

Let me give you a clue OP, it is an issue. Cat shit is disgusting and cat owners who let their animals roam around shitting in other peoples gardens and killing birds are deluded or selfish. I used caret gripper strips- piss cats off and don’t harm the birds.

sbhydrogen · 28/05/2021 20:37

There are lots of shitting cats that come into our garden now. Absolutely delightful as I have two young children who will put anything in their mouths. Might buy a super soaker so I can squirt them from the window until they learn not to come into our garden.

snowcobra · 28/05/2021 20:44

@BarbarianMum Putting up dangerous metal spikes around your garden will not prevent cats from hurting wild animals elsewhere.

It will not solve the problem of free-roaming cats killing birds, which is an issue I do care about.

What it will do is potentially cause serious injury to the cats.

GammyLeg · 28/05/2021 20:44

Surely owners have a responsibility to keep their cats safe? Roads are dangerous for cats too - how do you prevent them from wandering onto the road?

thereisonlyoneofme · 28/05/2021 20:48

Re the spikes, there is a house near me that has actual razor wire on their fence. Im sure that must be illegal

PigsEnigma · 28/05/2021 20:51

If my dog shit in your garden you'd expect me to come and clean it up wouldn't you? I am absolutely sick to death of all the cat shit in my garden. Why do cat owners think it's OK for their cats to do mess for everyone else to clean up?

donquixotedelamancha · 28/05/2021 20:56

Putting up spikes that could injure a cat is just evil.

It's not even mean (let alone evil) unless the spikes actually do hurt cats. I've seen cats sat on the pyramidal standard spikes- some cats just don't care.

If it's the big pigeon spikes I can't find an example of cats being hurt by them. Cats are not stupid, or they'd impale themselves on lots of things in the environment.

Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 20:57

I obviously don't think it's okay for cats to shit in other people's garden, but as I've mentioned my one cat stays inside most of the time cause he's old as fuck, and putting metal spikes on a fence to injure a cat isn't the answer?!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsmellslikepopcarn · 28/05/2021 21:00

@donquixotedelamancha

Putting up spikes that could injure a cat is just evil.

It's not even mean (let alone evil) unless the spikes actually do hurt cats. I've seen cats sat on the pyramidal standard spikes- some cats just don't care.

If it's the big pigeon spikes I can't find an example of cats being hurt by them. Cats are not stupid, or they'd impale themselves on lots of things in the environment.

I went outside and pressed my hand down on the spikes to make sure they werent plastic and would give way a bit, it was painful and should a cat jump up from the path below it would definitely injure itself.
OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 28/05/2021 21:03

I went outside and pressed my hand down on the spikes to make sure they werent plastic and would give way a bit, it was painful and should a cat jump up from the path below it would definitely injure itself.

A cat weighs a lot less than the force you exert. If it's the usual pyramidal ones they certainly don't hurt cats. It's the awkwardness and discomfort which is supposed to deter them.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:06

All these people on here pissed off with cat shit in their gardens - why are not not directing your anger at the owners, rather than being ok with an animal being hurt just for doing what animals do?

ElizabethSiddall · 28/05/2021 21:10

Today 17:40 MilduraS

It's very harsh but I can understand their frustration. My own cats use my flower bed as a litter tray and it drives me mad but I love them and I'm glad they're not going elsewhere (I hope hmm)”

We have 4 cats and cat fences to keep them in the garden. Because I didn’t want a garden full of crap (keen gardener) I put covered litter trays outside and they happily use them.

Elieza · 28/05/2021 21:10

Take a photo and email the council and rspca (or sspca if in Scotland ) and see what they say?

Evidencebased · 28/05/2021 21:11

" I just assumed it's a shared fence"
Oh boy you need to educate yourself about fences and boundaries.
There are legally such a thing as shared boundaries in Uk.
But they are rare.
Nearly all fences belong to one party.

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 28/05/2021 21:12

@MagicSummer

Good for them - nobody wants other people's cats in their garden. Nasty creatures - I don't like them.
What a shitty attitude you have. No one cares if you dislike a particular animal. There are plenty of animals I'm not fond of, but the thought of someone purposely harming an animal makes me sick.
GammyLeg · 28/05/2021 21:12

@Throckmorton has anyone on this thread said they are “ok with an animal being hurt”?

A lot of people have expressed that they don’t like seeing birds killed by cats though.

GreyBird84 · 28/05/2021 21:14

It might be to stop birds and / or cats.
My understanding is that they do need a warning sign up about the spikes like you must do if you have cctv.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:16

A lot of people have said they are fine with things on fences that would harm animals. I don't like seeing birds hurt either, but it's the height of hypocrisy to object to one animal being injured while being fine with another animal being hurt.

PigsEnigma · 28/05/2021 21:17

I don't want the cats hurt. I don't want them in my garden. My dogs would do them a hell of a lot more damage than some cat deterrent spikes. But the owners don't care, they 'have a right to roam'. And I have a right to let my children use the garden without worrying if they'll step in or pick up cat poo or whether my dogs will injure a cat that haplessly wanders in to use the pots as a toilet. They're a pet. They should be kept within your property boundary. They've also harassed the hedgehogs and got more fledgling birds than I care to remember.

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 28/05/2021 21:21

@Sleepybunny21

Putting up spikes that could injure a cat is just evil. I can't believe the people on this thread defending it!

I dislike dogs, and the constant dog noise where I live drives me mad sometimes, but I would never harm a dog!

This is how I feel too. The barking is awful and the dog mess left all over the place especially the space directly outside my sons school (where the children/parents have to wait for school to open) is disgusting. But I wouldn't wish harm on a dog (or blame the dog at all obv) ..people who do, especially if they act on it are vile evil creatures.
Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:21

Here's two examples @ GammyLeg

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

Good for them - nobody wants other people's cats in their garden. Nasty creatures - I don't like them.

ElizabethSiddall · 28/05/2021 21:21

Today 21:12 GammyLeg

@Throckmorton has anyone on this thread said they are “ok with an animal being hurt”?

A lot of people have expressed that they don’t like seeing birds killed by cats though.“

Our cats can’t kill birds, which we also love to watch/feed.

Wire cones are the solution. Cheap, easily installed. Position them about 2 metres up the tree trunks (doesn’t harm the trees if you don’t use copper fixings) and the cats can’t surmount then. Bird feeders 3 metres up, everyone’s happy Smile