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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Goldieloxx · 29/05/2021 00:22

Surely cats would see the spikes and not jump on it, isn't that the point

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 29/05/2021 00:26

I have out spikes up. The surrounding neighbours and also people at the back have 8 cats between them and I was sick of picking up their shit. I adore cats but people have t accept that others will take measures to stop them coming in their gardens, as is their right.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 29/05/2021 00:27

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Ring the RSPCA and put a complaint in.

They wouldn't give a crap, but the OP might find them harrasing her a week later for a regular donation 🙄

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 29/05/2021 00:29

@Goldieloxx

Surely cats would see the spikes and not jump on it, isn't that the point

Yes exactly! Cats are clever creatures, they look up things before they climb them. I've never had a cat impaled on my spikes but the cat shit depositing has gone down by 100% in my garden.

I did tell (not ask) my neighbours they were going up though and why and they were fine with it.

BusyLizzie61 · 29/05/2021 07:42

@itsmellslikepopcarn

Nope, sorry. If you can think I'm extreme or annoying or whatever, I've just gone to check again and they are 100% metal and extremely sharp. I'm not going round for a polite word to someone who thinks it's okay to possibly injure cats with that, whether it's my own or someone else's cat. He's breaking the law anyway having metal spikes on a fence that are met with a public footpath behind, he needs to at least have a warning sign for the fence not to be climbed.

And so you'll feel so relieved when he's advised to add a sign? Didn't realise that cats could read! Least any potential trespasser will be aware that his duty has been discharged if he's warned people that the hazard exists!

And yes, @itsmellslikepopcarn you sound incredibly ott!

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 29/05/2021 08:13

But they aren’t pooping in your garden...

No just all over the street, in the middles of paths/pavements and every grassy area/park I go to with my child 🤷‍♀️

And actually I say 'no' but I have found dog mess in my front garden several times. I happened to walk by my front window one morning and saw a dog in the act on a long lead in the middle of my garden (smallish garden, no fence) and the owner ignoring...well doing that thing dog owners do where they pretend not to notice that their dog is shitting (until I banged on my window that is). But I obviously don't blame dogs, and have no wish for any to be harmed in any way (the thought of animal cruelty is sickening). Dogs have no control over what their irresponsible owners do!

Bookishnerd · 29/05/2021 08:15

Hey OP

I've followed the thread but I'm still confused as to why you can't just knock on and have an honest conversation with your NDN about the spikes.

I agree with you that the spikes should come down, but maybe by starting a conversation you can understand what their motivation is.

Is there history between you and NDN that stops you doing it?

BlaBlaSmthSmth · 29/05/2021 08:19

And so you'll feel so relieved when he's advised to add a sign? Didn't realise that cats could read! Least any potential trespasser will be aware that his duty has been discharged if he's warned people that the hazard exists!

Surely you understood that when she said 'at least have a warning sign for the fence not to be climbed' that she was talking about humans

Original poster

itsmellslikepopcarn · 29/05/2021 08:27

@Bookishnerd

Hey OP

I've followed the thread but I'm still confused as to why you can't just knock on and have an honest conversation with your NDN about the spikes.

I agree with you that the spikes should come down, but maybe by starting a conversation you can understand what their motivation is.

Is there history between you and NDN that stops you doing it?

Hi! No there isn't any history there, just a bit of social anxiety that puts worries in my head about having a fallout if I were to go round.

I also think he's been a bit sneaky about putting them up. I work from home, more specifically in my conservatory so I'm surprised I hadn't seen them go up which makes me think he's waiting until I've been out for the day to put them up as he suspects I wouldn't be too happy about them. (He knows we're vegan as I've taking them round birthday cake from DD birthdays before so obviously knows we're animal lovers and wouldn't do anything to potentially harm animals).

OP posts:

donquixotedelamancha · 29/05/2021 08:32

just a bit of social anxiety
He knows we're vegan

House.

I must say, OP, I think this one has been far more fun than the usual 'daft thread, no posting history' lot.

Welcome to MN.

Original poster

itsmellslikepopcarn · 29/05/2021 08:34

Haha sorry! I knew I'd get some comments if I mentioned being vegan, just being honest 🙈

OP posts:

Bookishnerd · 29/05/2021 08:48

I think I'm being idealistic here, but is it possible that there's social anxiety on both sides and that this whole thing might just be a big misunderstanding that'll be cleared up with a conversation?

I know it's not often how the world works lol, but it's where I'd start from.

You sound like a reasonable person OP, so I assume you'd be really empathetic if they told you they were upset at having cat poo in their garden. And I'm sure they would also be empathetic if you shared your views about them being dangerous for cats, and you could meet somewhere in the middle and ask them to consider a more humane option.

I think the social anxiety would be far worse if you reported them to the RSPCA without first having a chat.

Fully accept that it's not an ideal world but it's where I'd start from

girlsallowed21 · 29/05/2021 09:04

I love animals but chosen not to have any pets because cleaning up animal poo is just vile. Can't stand it. It makes me sick and I would take measures (without harming any animals of course) to make sure my garden was pet free due to the mess they leave. They have a right to roam but I also have a right to a shit free garden so.... YABU🪴

NailsNeedDoing · 29/05/2021 10:00

Why are you automatically thinking the worst of your neighbour by saying he’s being sneaky? He probably just put the spikes up at a time that was convenient for him. Or, if he did choose to do it when no one was watching, then that tells you that he didn’t want a confrontation either and is just at the end of his tether with other people’s cats in his garden.

He hasn’t done this for no reason just to be awkward, he’s solving a problem he has in his own garden. You don’t know that he hasn’t tried other cat repellent methods without success. And again, if other people weren’t selfish enough to allow their pets into other people’s property, he wouldn’t have had to spend his time and money on something that he shouldn’t have to deal with in the first place.

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 29/05/2021 10:26

How would taking birthday cake round to them mean they know you're vegan?!

I'm always puzzled as to why a vegan would own a cat.

Iggi999 · 29/05/2021 10:46

Yes I thought a lot of vegans wouldn't keep pets due to suffering involved in the industry. Plus having to feed meat to the cat!

RogerDoors · 14/06/2021 21:43

Personally I have just put spikes on my side wooden gates the neighbours cat was using to go back in to it's own garden and in to my garden, I also notified the neighbour as to why. There has been tufts of fur all around my garden, on the fences, and yes the occasional cat poop.

However more seriously for me at time of writing last Friday I was in the Resuscitation unit in A&E (fifth time in two and a half years) due to my life threatening fur dander allergy. I had 2epi pen injections, doubled up my Fexofenadin, paramedics gave me 2 chloraphenamin injections, and Rescusc unit gave me multiple IV Steroids, and Hydro Cortisone injections. I clearly have a right to keep the cats/foxes, etc out of my garden, so have to do this otherwise it'll probably kill me.

Nothing against wildlife, just on someone else's property please not mine. My non-furry tortoise I have had since 1976 does his best to chase them away, and has been known to bite their tails if cats or foxes lay in my garden. My tortoise stays in it's own garden of course and does not cause any issue for any neighbours.

In this conversation everyone has their views, and mine is shaped due to my life threatening allergy.

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