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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:
memberofthewedding · 28/05/2021 21:25

For future reference it might be a good idea to establish who the fence belongs to. Look on the land registry to see if there is any information and/or ask the neighbours if the fence "belongs" to them. If the fence "belongs" to them than as stated by other posters you cannot remover, alter or paint it. However you can report infringements tot he local council and they will be responsible for any resulting damage or harm to creatures or humans.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:29

Interesting item here suggesting that cat food with grain fillers might be contributing to cats hunting, and if they are fed a more appropriate (ie meat) diet they hunt less

www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/11/meaty-meals-and-play-stop-cats-killing-wildlife-study-finds

PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 21:33

Throckmorton there is a huge difference between not liking cats and actively wanting to hurt them.

I dont like cats, but they are intelligent creatures. When have you ever seen a cat stuck in a barbed wire fence?

They know not to jump on the spikes. They are used as a deterrant, not a trap.

PotDaffodil · 28/05/2021 21:33

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.

This refusal to accept responsibility is exactly what pisses non-cat-owners off. Why do you think the animal you have chosen to have has a right to roam over my garden, which I have had to pay and sacrifice so much for? Houses and gardens are not easy to obtain now in case you hadn’t noticed.

If you are trying to grow something nice in your own garden, or even food, you shouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of sticking your hand in to some selfish cat owners’ leavings! Nor worry about the effect in the food chain - or have to stop your own right to use your own garden to grow things.

Cat excrement spreads disease just as surely as human excrement does, and the effect of far too many cats on wildlife is very well known.

NailsNeedDoing · 28/05/2021 21:34

This neighbour isn’t purposely injuring an animal, no animals will have any risk of being hurt if their owners take responsibility for them.

The right to roam is a ridiculous law that shouldn’t apply to pets in residential areas. People choose to keep cats in built up areas where they know the only place their cat is going to go is into other people’s property, they let them out to do what they want, and then blame other people when their pet gets run over and left or injured by cat deterrents.

There are so many options that cat owners could use to keep their cats on their own land, but most seem to be too cheap or too lazy to bother.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:40

@NailsNeedDoing

This neighbour isn’t purposely injuring an animal, no animals will have any risk of being hurt if their owners take responsibility for them.

The right to roam is a ridiculous law that shouldn’t apply to pets in residential areas. People choose to keep cats in built up areas where they know the only place their cat is going to go is into other people’s property, they let them out to do what they want, and then blame other people when their pet gets run over and left or injured by cat deterrents.

There are so many options that cat owners could use to keep their cats on their own land, but most seem to be too cheap or too lazy to bother.

What nonsense. If I put spikes on the public road I'm not purposely trying to puncture car tyres - no cars will be damaged so long as no one drives down the public road.

People put spikes on a fence knowing full well that those spikes will injure animals. If you think it's acceptable to take the failings of an owner (letting cats get in your garden) out on an animal then you are a vile individual

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:43

@PheasantPlucker1 - I saw my childhood pet cat with rips on his body caused by glass someone had put on a fence. Cats aren't psychic - if a fence top has sharp things on it and they can't see those things then how the heck do they know to avoid them?

Mumofthree86 · 28/05/2021 21:47

Can any cat owners give any advice as to how to stop cats pooing all over a garden? I don’t think non pet owners should just accept cleaning other people’s pets mess is part of life.

quizqueen · 28/05/2021 21:50

Speak to your local council to see if it's legal and , if it isn't , then report it.

PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 21:53

Throckmorton how do you know the broken glass was on a fence rather than just on the street?

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:53

@Mumofthree86 Water pistols/motion-activated sprinklers - cats don't like being wet. You can buy lion poo from zoos that I am told is effective (although then you have lion shit around the place - not sure how useful that is...). Cats seem to be afraid of cucumbers so I guess you could put some of them around the place. Apparently plastic bottles full of water left lying around also put cats off. I have heard they don't like citrus, but I'm not sure how one is supposed to use that information

BarbarianMum · 28/05/2021 21:53

@snowcobra what an odd argument. It will stop the neighbourhood cats harming my pets in my garden. Which is my priority. And - as tortoises dont hunt garden birds - means my garden is full of birds nests.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 21:54

@allPheasantPlucker1 - from the location of his injuries

ViciousJackdaw · 28/05/2021 21:56

I am reminded of Trainspotting. When Tommy bought a kitten in an attempt to get Lizzie back. Ends up with toxoplasmosis from its shite. I have no idea why some (not all) cat owners think it is acceptable to put others at risk of something which can kill. It is no better than the metal spikes really.

Mumofthree86 · 28/05/2021 21:58

Thanks, I shall try some of them, I have scattered orange peel around having read some where it’s a deterrent (and coffee granules and bought lavender) I’ve seen the lion manure but would have thought it smells as much as the cat poo 😂

Kakiweewee · 28/05/2021 22:00

I feel that cats should be indoor and catio only too. You can harness train if you want to take them out.

Life span of outdoor cats is significantly shorter than indoor cats. I can't go through losing another cat to traffic.

SoapboxFox · 28/05/2021 22:00

Get a blowtorch and melt the spikes into a harmless shape? Grin

PheasantPlucker1 · 28/05/2021 22:01

Throckmorton broken glass can be on walls/fences accidently as well as intentionally.

I hope if you still have cats you have cat proofed your garden to stop that happening again, it must have been awful for the poor animal.

RosieGuacamosie · 28/05/2021 22:02

[quote Throckmorton]@Mumofthree86 Water pistols/motion-activated sprinklers - cats don't like being wet. You can buy lion poo from zoos that I am told is effective (although then you have lion shit around the place - not sure how useful that is...). Cats seem to be afraid of cucumbers so I guess you could put some of them around the place. Apparently plastic bottles full of water left lying around also put cats off. I have heard they don't like citrus, but I'm not sure how one is supposed to use that information[/quote]
But why on earth should I, or any other person who doesn’t want cat shit in their garden be forced to either stand constantly at the back door ready with a water pistol, fork out for motion-sensing sprinklers or have to put up with lion shit in my garden, all because some selfish cat owners think their pet has the right to use my garden as their territory?

bakingdemon · 28/05/2021 22:03

It might not be about your cat, but about others, or even about foxes. Cat shit is toxic and hazardous to humans health, especially children and pregnant women. Cats do not have a right to go onto any private property. I loathe cats and I loathe clearing up their shit. We keep a water pistol by the back door to squirt at any cats we see in our garden and I would 100% put spikes on our fence if we needed them. YABU.

ElizabethSiddall · 28/05/2021 22:03

PotDaffodil

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.“

By putting cat fencing on your boundaries. Not difficult, we have a large rear garden and did it ourselves in a weekend with metal brackets and wire mesh (came in just shy of £140 which, if you can afford to responsibly keep cats, won’t be an issue: if budget isn’t a problem there are several companies who will do it for you).

I love our cats but respect our neighbours too.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 22:03

Mumofthree86 I assume (hope!) they sanitise the lion poo in some way, although then I can't see how it would work, so maybe they don't and it comes au naturel as it were! I'd almost be tempted to try it just out of curiosity!!

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 22:04

Oh read the thread RosieGuacamosie - I'm not saying you SHOULD do this stuff - someone asked for advice and I gave it. I don't even have a bloody cat!

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 28/05/2021 22:06

[quote Throckmorton]@Mumofthree86 Water pistols/motion-activated sprinklers - cats don't like being wet. You can buy lion poo from zoos that I am told is effective (although then you have lion shit around the place - not sure how useful that is...). Cats seem to be afraid of cucumbers so I guess you could put some of them around the place. Apparently plastic bottles full of water left lying around also put cats off. I have heard they don't like citrus, but I'm not sure how one is supposed to use that information[/quote]
Right. Why should people have to go through all of this effort to keep their gardens free from other people's pets' shit, though? Who can sit all day and night with a water pistol waiting for the cats to appear? What a ridiculous suggestion.

Throckmorton · 28/05/2021 22:06

PheasantPlucker1 I've said upthread I don't have cats now. And yes, it was bloody awful

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