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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:
ClocksGoingBackwards · 23/05/2022 16:29

No, he shouldn’t put spikes on other peoples fences but if he’s surrounded by cats that are constantly in his garden that he works on and is proud of, the what do you expect.

It would be horrible of you to expect him to take the spikes away unless you are offering some other method of preventing cats going in his garden.

Just let the man enjoy his garden the way it was intended, and you and the other cat owners can carry on enjoying your anti social pets.

backinthebox · 23/05/2022 16:40

There is another thread running on MN where the cat owners are telling someone who has had enough of cats doing unpleasant things in their garden that it is their responsibility to keep cats out if they don’t want them there. I presume your neighbour is doing just that. The majority of cat owners expect everyone else to just accept that cats will go where they want and do what they want and cat owners are not obliged in any way to prevent them from this behaviour. However, it would appear cat owners are also not happy when a person attempts to keep cats out of their garden either.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 23/05/2022 16:46

backinthebox · 23/05/2022 16:40

There is another thread running on MN where the cat owners are telling someone who has had enough of cats doing unpleasant things in their garden that it is their responsibility to keep cats out if they don’t want them there. I presume your neighbour is doing just that. The majority of cat owners expect everyone else to just accept that cats will go where they want and do what they want and cat owners are not obliged in any way to prevent them from this behaviour. However, it would appear cat owners are also not happy when a person attempts to keep cats out of their garden either.

Yeah but putting spikes on a fence you don't own is breaking the law. Letting your cat out isn't.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 23/05/2022 16:48

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? 😄

That was my first thought 😂

Beachsidesunset · 23/05/2022 16:50

If they're your fences, why did you get the ugly side?

Inkyblue123 · 23/05/2022 16:52

Ask him why he has done it and maybe you could put up trellis instead? I don’t have pets but I do get extremely annoyed by the neighbourhood cats shitting in my garden. I can’t let my toddler out there and last year had to bin everything from the veggie patch. I’ve tried all sorts to keep them
out, never thought of spikes…

10HailMarys · 23/05/2022 16:59

If it's your fence, he's not allowed to alter it, so YANBU to think he should have asked you.

However, YABU to think he should just have to put up with your cat in his garden. Yes, you think your elderly non-hunting cat is a harmless delight, and I'm sure he's a lovely cat, but he's your pet and you're responsible for him. I quite like cats, but as I don't have one of my own I'm not a big fan of other people's cats shitting in my flowerbeds or killing my plants by constantly weeing on them, so I can see why the spikes appeal to your neighbour.

The spikes aren't cruel to birds. It might stop them perching on the fence, that's all. They have a zillion other places to perch and they won't be harmed. Cats, on the other hand, are extremely dangerous to birds.

Onlyhuman123 · 23/05/2022 17:24

Our next door neighbour did this; there was a gap at the top of one fence panel (1 was a 6ft panel, the other a 5ft panel so cats could jump into gap and get into the neighbours that backed onto us), firstly using chicken wire and the snagged ends ripped a hole in another neighbours cat. We ripped it off and binned it. She then put up burglar spikes that ripped our cats paw, so we had an unwanted vets visit and bill! We unscrewed that, posted it thru her letterbox with a note saying 'before attaching anything to our fence, please ask our permission'.

She then started lobbing lumps of animal poo from her garden into ours which pissed me off as it would land on our decking and table/chairs (I knew it was her because I saw her do it one day from an upstairs window). So OH knocked her door and said we've seen you throwing poo into our garden, please stop. She went bright red and stuttered 'well, I don't know what to do with it!' So he said, put it in a bag, leave it by our door and we'll bin it...but also said, please be aware that there are foxes that travel through our gardens (a fair few) and plenty of other cats in the neighbourhood, I don't understand how you can think all the poo in your garden has come out of our cats arses; especially when we have a litter tray in the house, which they both use daily?' She was stuck for words and never another lump of poo was thrown! 😂

I understand people getting annoyed with cats pooing in their gardens but please! Go and speak to the cats owners first before putting up spikes because if a cat is injured as a result, fair play if that neighbour is asked to pay towards the bill!

Onlyhuman123 · 23/05/2022 17:25

Oh and meant to say, we blocked up gap in fence, just to appease her 🙄 😑

Original poster
Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 18:18

Beachsidesunset · 23/05/2022 16:50

If they're your fences, why did you get the ugly side?

I think it's fairly standard for the owner to get the ugly side! Don't ask me why!

OP posts:
AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 23/05/2022 18:30

I’m with your neighbour sorry OP, where I used to live there was loads of cats, they were in and out of our garden pooing where my kids played and scratching all the trampoline, worst one was the one that came in and had runny poo everywhere, I do not have pets as I do not want to pick up poo so why should I pick up after other people’a pets? And no wild animals such as foxes do not count before that’s trotted out.

in my ideal world anyone that wanted cats would have to have their garden cat proofed before being allowed outdoors

Beachsidesunset · 23/05/2022 18:34

Theatrefish · 23/05/2022 18:18

I think it's fairly standard for the owner to get the ugly side! Don't ask me why!

Show quote history

I would think whoever pays for the fence would choose the good side!

watchingrnfire · 23/05/2022 18:38

Yabu

We are looking to put spikes and anything else that will prevent our neighbours cats entering our garden. And to prevent foxes.

I hate our neighbours cats, chill in your own owners garden, why are they coming to lie in my garden and even defecate in my garden!?

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 23/05/2022 18:43

watchingrnfire · 23/05/2022 18:38

Yabu

We are looking to put spikes and anything else that will prevent our neighbours cats entering our garden. And to prevent foxes.

I hate our neighbours cats, chill in your own owners garden, why are they coming to lie in my garden and even defecate in my garden!?

Why? Because they are allowed too 😉

Saz12 · 23/05/2022 18:48

They should’ve asked first, but he must be pretty fed up of the neighbourhood cats to go to the expense & trouble. The spikes are already there now, so removing them won’t stop damage having been done to the top of your fence. So long as not razor wire I’d live and let live tbh.

the side of the fence with the horizontal supports is the easiest side to climb up to gain access. Hence facing the harder-to-climb (but more attractive!) side outwards.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 23/05/2022 18:50

Saz12 · 23/05/2022 18:48

They should’ve asked first, but he must be pretty fed up of the neighbourhood cats to go to the expense & trouble. The spikes are already there now, so removing them won’t stop damage having been done to the top of your fence. So long as not razor wire I’d live and let live tbh.

the side of the fence with the horizontal supports is the easiest side to climb up to gain access. Hence facing the harder-to-climb (but more attractive!) side outwards.

Unless they're plastic spikes (which are completely pointless anyway) they can injure cats and wildlife. I wouldn't care about the damage to my fence

mumwon · 23/05/2022 19:40

We have a friend who has several highly prized rare breed cats who she does not want to loose, She has a rolling bar thing on the top of each of her fences which means cats can't cling to it & climb over. The advantage of this (& its not cheap) is that it won't injure the cats.
I wish more people would use them - I believe the other alternative (however successful that is I don't know) is to have a top of fence which angles over at 45 degrees to the cat side which also is suppose to make it difficult for the cat to cling & jump

Lucyccfc68 · 23/05/2022 22:06

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? 😄

Yes I have a cat and it has a litter tray, so doesn’t crap in anyones garden.

ScootsMcHoy · 23/05/2022 22:21

Beachsidesunset · 23/05/2022 16:50

If they're your fences, why did you get the ugly side?

It's because you cat have any extra bits projecting into your neighbours 'land' which is technically air.

If the fence is on the boundary then that's as far as you can go into their garden. If you have the side with the joists in your neighbour's garden then you are over the boundary.

You can get fences with no bad side though.

AlanThePig · 23/05/2022 22:53

I have spikes on all my fences (I own them all). I wish I could say it stopped the cat from behind us killing our wild birds and ducklings but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to bother it. Neither do the endless sprays Ive tried nor coffee grounds and I can’t use sonic deterrents because of our wildlife.

happily, after it’s owner had to chase a half dead moorhen chick around her home and return it to my pond, they put a bell on the cat.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 24/05/2022 00:43

Lucyccfc68 · 23/05/2022 22:06

Yes I have a cat and it has a litter tray, so doesn’t crap in anyones garden.

Show quote history

Mine have litter trays. One does the other does occasionally and then my third does what he likes. Having trays doesn't mean that's the only place they'll poo

SD1978 · 24/05/2022 03:40

If it's your fence, he should have asked, but he's also obviously fed up of cats crapping and walking through his garden, and I can't blame him. Having had a similar issue it's so frustrating that a cats right to roam, for some outweighs others right to not have shite in their gardens whether it's your elderly cat or not, someone's animals obviously caused it. If the spikes aren't damaging the fence then personally, I wouldn't comment.

Mally100 · 24/05/2022 06:07

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.

This, so you are saying that your cat should be free to roam in his garden? And most probably digging whatever he has planted and shitting there too? And it's ok, because it's a cat? No I don't blame him.

Mally100 · 24/05/2022 06:14

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 24/05/2022 00:43

Mine have litter trays. One does the other does occasionally and then my third does what he likes. Having trays doesn't mean that's the only place they'll poo

Show quote history

So then it's acceptable to you for it to be messing in someone else's garden?

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/05/2022 06:19

Lucyccfc68
Lellochip

You don't have cats do you? 😄

Yes I have a cat and it has a litter tray, so doesn’t crap in anyones garden.”

if it’s free to roam, it almost certainly does.

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