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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Spikes on fence

72 replies

Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 13:41

I am perfectly willing to be told AIBU!

We own three of the four boundary fences around our property (we get the ugly side!).

Our next door neighbour has installed a row of spikes on the top of our boundary fence. This is presumably to stop the cat.

On one hand, I sort of understand this, he is very proud of his garden. On the other hand, we have a very elderly, non-hunting, cat who is just about spry enough to get over a fence and enjoys going outside.

Spikes also seem cool to the wildlife, like birds.

AIBU to think the neighbour shouldn't install spikes on our fence without asking us?

OP posts:
FlorianImogen · 23/05/2022 13:43

I don't know the law but would think if it's your fence they shouldn't be putting spikes on it. Also aren't spikes on fences illegal ?

Original poster
Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 13:47
  • cruel to wildlife, not cool!
OP posts:
Greensleeves · 23/05/2022 13:49

IF it is your fence, then legally he has no right to install anything on it. I'd tell him to take them off. He can install an additional fence on his own land if he desperately wants spikes.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 23/05/2022 13:53

Tbh I’d be trying my best to keep my cat out of his garden in the first place (maybe add a trellis to the top of your fence on his side), because if he’s willing to put something so obviously dangerous to cats and other wildlife on his fence I’d be concerned about what else he might be booby trapping his garden with once your cat is in there.

nokidshere · 23/05/2022 13:53

Unless he has also put a notice on the fence stating that it is spiked and could cause injury then he could get sued if anyone hurts themselves on it (yes even by a trespasser). But if it's your fence then obviously he shouldn't have done it at all. And it leaves you open to lawsuits as it's your fence. Tell him to remove it.

AchatAVendre · 23/05/2022 13:55

If you own the boundary fence, then of course he cannot alter it without your permission!

Its also possible that he could be liable for any loss, damage or injury caused by the spikes.

The law tends to support the view that animals such as cats may do things that are consistent with them being cats but not interference with other peoples' property!

Finalcountdowntoourtripaway · 23/05/2022 13:58

Presumably op's dcat cant read......
Remove and drop back into their garden op.. Legally they can't attach anything to your fence.

Lucyccfc68 · 23/05/2022 14:02

He must be at the end of tether to be putting spikes on the top of your fence. Of course he cannot legally attach anything to your fence. He may be happy to take them down if you stop your cat from shitting in his garden.

Offer to get a litter tray and retrain your cat to use it.

WeAllHaveWings · 23/05/2022 14:02

If they are sharp spikes that will injure then ask them to remove. If they are blunt to just make it awkward/uncomfortable for the cat and encourage them not go in his garden then I wouldn't bother asking.

Your cat and wildlife will just find another route.

Blunt "spikes" may be preferable to them thinking of other ways to deter your cat such as installing a sonic device which might also upset your cat in its own garden. Our neighbour put in a sonic device to deter neighourhood cats and even ds's young ears could hear it in our garden! We were on good terms so he switched it off when we explained.

StoppinBy · 23/05/2022 14:05

I don't agree with the spikes but I also don't agree that your cat should be allowed to wander in to any yard that it likes regardless of the law.

He's probably had enough of your cat shitting in his garden. I bet they weren't cheap so he's clearly pretty annoyed.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 23/05/2022 14:21

we have a very elderly, non-hunting, cat who is just about spry enough to get over a fence and enjoys going outside

All cats are hunters. The fact that the cat leaves your garden means you cannot know how many animals it has killed. I say this as someone who grew up with cats. They are responsible for millions of small animal and bird deaths every year. Their shit stinks to high heaven and I can see why your neighbour has installed spikes. We found the cat detectors attached to a hose worked really well. We had a camera so could see which route into our garden the cats were taking. Your neighbour believes it is your cat that is coming into his garden.

We have a lot of birds in our garden and nesting birds so we don't want cats here too. We mulched all our garden beds to stop them crapping in our garden too.

Original poster
Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 14:21

Thanks all. He's put them on every one of his fences, so I don't think it's specifically our cat. There are a lot of cats in the neighbourhood!

We are on good (nodding) terms so perhaps asking him to remove them would be a good first step. I just wanted to make sure the law was on my side first and I wasn't being a dick.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 14:23

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 23/05/2022 14:21

we have a very elderly, non-hunting, cat who is just about spry enough to get over a fence and enjoys going outside

All cats are hunters. The fact that the cat leaves your garden means you cannot know how many animals it has killed. I say this as someone who grew up with cats. They are responsible for millions of small animal and bird deaths every year. Their shit stinks to high heaven and I can see why your neighbour has installed spikes. We found the cat detectors attached to a hose worked really well. We had a camera so could see which route into our garden the cats were taking. Your neighbour believes it is your cat that is coming into his garden.

We have a lot of birds in our garden and nesting birds so we don't want cats here too. We mulched all our garden beds to stop them crapping in our garden too.

Our cat would love to be a hunter but he's shit at it. He runs at birds from about 10 meters away. I swear they sigh at him before bothering to move.

He once accidentally stood on a spider but I think that's his total kill tally to date. Mostly he sleeps on the windowsill.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 23/05/2022 14:29

Cat owners always swear blind that THEIR cat never hunts and never poos in other peoples gardens. Must be all these phantom pooing cats that dig up other peoples beds then mustn’t it?

id say he’s at the end of his tether to do that tbh, your cat is probably more of a nuisance than you realise.

That said, I wouldn’t do any of these PA suggestions like just removing them and dropping them over the fence. I’d go around and have a proper chat to him face to face and see what the issue is and how you can resolve it together.

Not very MN like I know.

mymindisamuckingfuddle · 23/05/2022 14:30

We put spikes on our neighbours fence to stop the bloody pigeons sitting on it and pooing all over our garden furniture!

But we asked them first, and wouldn't have done it if they'd said no.

You can't do things to your neighbours property without permission (can you, other side neighbour who has attached their washing line and bird boxes to our fence without asking!)

Original poster
Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 14:31

ShirleyPhallus · 23/05/2022 14:29

Cat owners always swear blind that THEIR cat never hunts and never poos in other peoples gardens. Must be all these phantom pooing cats that dig up other peoples beds then mustn’t it?

id say he’s at the end of his tether to do that tbh, your cat is probably more of a nuisance than you realise.

That said, I wouldn’t do any of these PA suggestions like just removing them and dropping them over the fence. I’d go around and have a proper chat to him face to face and see what the issue is and how you can resolve it together.

Not very MN like I know.

I'm willing to swear he doesn't hunt!

Pooing is another matter!

But there are literally 10 cats on our street so I would be astounded if ours was the main culprit. Our neighbour has put them up on all boundary fences so I genuinely don't think it's personal.

OP posts:
CoastalWave · 23/05/2022 14:33

Why don't you just protect your garden with protect a pet (or similar!) netting? Keep your cat safe in your own garden. He'll still be outside.

Having lost one cat to the road, my two now have their own catio and a secured garden. I now can't believe I just used to let my boy wander why the hell he liked. You wouldn't open a door and shove out a Golden Retriever to 'hunt' and enjoy the fresh air!

Original poster
Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 14:35

CoastalWave · 23/05/2022 14:33

Why don't you just protect your garden with protect a pet (or similar!) netting? Keep your cat safe in your own garden. He'll still be outside.

Having lost one cat to the road, my two now have their own catio and a secured garden. I now can't believe I just used to let my boy wander why the hell he liked. You wouldn't open a door and shove out a Golden Retriever to 'hunt' and enjoy the fresh air!

He likes to go and visit the cats across the (safe, quiet) road. He generally squeezes under the back gate anyway.

OP posts:
PraiseBee · 23/05/2022 14:41

He's probably fed up of cats shitting in his garden. I'm with your neighbor tbh.

Staynow · 23/05/2022 14:41

If you didn't let your cat shit in and dig up his garden then he wouldn't have needed to pit them there. Cat proof your garden and then ask him to take the spikes down. I have a vegetable garden and finding cat shit and dug up areas in it is disgusting and destroys the seedlings.

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 23/05/2022 14:48

We have spikes on our fence (to keep our cats in the garden), they came with a series of plaques to secure to the fences to warn burglars the fences have spikes!

Our neighbour is a cat hater, and although our boys don’t venture into her garden, our other neighbours colony could stroll in at any time as the spikes only cover one side of her garden!

She was most put out when a cat got locked in her house a few weeks ago. It panicked & tore a blind, smashed a vase & created havoc (so much so she thought she was being burgled)! Neighbour knocked on our door demanding we pay for damages… she took a picture… it wasn’t our cat lol!

In all honesty, although cats have the right to roam, owners need to be responsible; our cats don’t go out at the front of our house, too many feral & other neighbours cats have been lost to the road. Add in diseases like FIV & FELV from stray colonies, keeping your cats in a secure garden is for their own safety. We have trees for them to climb (just a small garden, we don’t have acres of land), an outside litter area, and cat mint galore, although they’re old & just vegetate in the sun.

As another poster said, I’d never let my dogs wander the streets, our cats are just as precious members of our family.

(And all owners, please keep your cats in at dusk & dawn, help reduce wildlife loss).

iex · 23/05/2022 15:18

CoastalWave · 23/05/2022 14:33

Why don't you just protect your garden with protect a pet (or similar!) netting? Keep your cat safe in your own garden. He'll still be outside.

Having lost one cat to the road, my two now have their own catio and a secured garden. I now can't believe I just used to let my boy wander why the hell he liked. You wouldn't open a door and shove out a Golden Retriever to 'hunt' and enjoy the fresh air!

A cat is NOTHING like a dog - its cruel to restrict them

theemmadilemma · 23/05/2022 15:28

I'm on the fence here. ;)

I have a cat, like cats, but am incredibly aware of that the fact that they shit in other peoples gardens rather than their own and can and do ruin plants.

There's the question over if he should really have attached it to your fence, but I think if it was me, on the basis that he's just trying to keep your cat out of his garden, not harm it and minimal damage to the fence is likely, I'd let this go.

Finalcountdowntoourtripaway · 23/05/2022 15:38

There are no laws to say control your dcat.
Tell ndn you have given dcat a stern talking to.

Lellochip · 23/05/2022 15:44

Offer to get a litter tray and retrain your cat to use it.

You don't have cats do you? 😄