To ask this child's mum to please keep her out of my garden.

[PrettyFelineSquashedThyme]

Quite often people will stop and have a look at my cat in the window, he is of course very gorgeous and loves a fuss, however what’s been happening recently has made me fairly annoyed.

A few days ago I noticed a child of around 4 or 5 knocking on my window to get the attention of the cat, the window he sits in is facing the road but set about 2.5 in metres into very densely planted garden, which is currently full of young plants. I figured as a one off I wouldn’t say anything, however it keeps happening.

my question is, what would you do in this situation? Would you speak to the mum? I’m admittedly a complete wuss and hate confrontation but also my plants are getting damaged.

Edit: title should say “child’s mum” mum is not a child, but an adult.

Of course you need to say something to the mum! Unless you want your plants destroyed? Am surprised she hasn't told him to stop it herself.

You should tell the mum (or child if mum isn't around) that the cat should be viewed from the pavement and not to come knocking on the window. Scares the cat 🐈

Absolutely I would, even if it was grass or concrete

I saw a father and young child on way home from school the other day, trying to get at a neighbour's cat that was under a bush in her garden, about 10ft from the road

I never let my DC or GDC on someone else's property

Garden sprinkler, and turn in when child is in garden. Lol. Obviously joking, just speak nicely to the mum explain that you have young plants in garden but your happy for said child to wave at your cat.

Open the window and shoo him away!

Put lots of fresh blood and bone / manure around your young plants?

Squirt him with a water pistol (reverse cat scare?) 🔫?

I wish, he’s an indoor cat. However I recon if my face appeared at the window it might give her enough of a scare not to do it again.

Definitely tell her. The mum should be teaching her child not to go into peoples private gardens anyway, and certainly not banging on strangers windows.

The first time round I watched the whole thing and the mum was encouraging her, first to go up to the cat and again to bang on the window. I don’t know how it would go down if I asked her to stop tbh.

Can you put up a temporary obstacle to stop the child accessing the flower bed? Like a penguin bollard piece of low fencing until the plants are more established?

I'd definitely go out and ask them to stop crushing your plants and only wave to the cat from the pavement.

If this happens at school getting home time, I would be out gardening, waiting for their arrival. I would definitely say something. I’d be as pleasant as possible, as it’s not the child’s fault that mum is allowing this.

Some people really do blow my mind.
I had something vaguely similar a few weeks ago when a group of mums had stopped outside my house for a chat on the way home with their kids. We have a fairly long gravel drive and their kids were running up and down the length of it chasing each other while the mums just looked on saying nothing. The drive is gated but the gate was open -clearly was someone's house though! Car was parked up and they were running around it. I was WFH on a call but could see them through the window. Luckily they buggered off just as I finished my call and got up to say something and haven't done it again. So rude! I know where one of the mums lives, I felt like walking my dog down there later on and taking a stroll round her garden!

Open the window and tell the child off directly then wait for the inevitable thread about you to appear on MN

Oh gosh I would have been livid.
I wouldn't have been able to stop myself going and saying something to the Mum.
We have a lot of problems with the school children where I live here pulling lumps out if the hedges when they go past and they have never been taught to respect other peoples gardens.

If you don't want to go out and say something, maybe put a sign on the window asking them not to tap on it as it frightens the cat?

I’m a grumpy bitch at the best of times but for some reason I wasn’t that pissed off until the second time it happened, maybe I’m getting soft.

We’ve had a few issues with kids and their parents over the years due to living close to a secondary school and I’ve noticed a distinct lack of respect from some people for others property. I always make sure my DS doesn’t walk on peoples gardens, pick their flowers or shout in the street.

Why on earth don't you just bang on your window and tell the child to get out of your garden?

Omg I could never. Forget about mumsnet, there’d be a scathing note left to me on the Facebook page.

Because I’m terrified of confrontation.

If you don’t want to confront, could you put something in front of the plants? Some bamboo sticks or something? Failing that, keep your curtains closed for a bit. I mean, I would say something it doesn’t have to be nasty, just say ‘mind my baby plants please’.

It would be very very reasonable to nicely ask them both to keep out of your garden. If you really can’t bring yourself to do that put up a BIG keep out sign.

A sign that says:

If you can read this you are far too close. This is a private house and garden.

Good point, it’s happened early evening and in the day so I think they must out for a walk. Maybe I’ll do a spot of gardening before dinner.

I would be as kind as possible, my own DS is terrified if people tell him off and I certainly wouldn’t want to scare the kid. I’d offer to bring the cat out but he can nip.

People are unbelievable. Cheeky cow. Definitely tell her next time!

Tempted, and I’ve seen others with them.

Maybe a friendly one like “please keep off the flowers” wouldn’t make me seem like a complete witch.

Put a
Polite note in your window asking not to enter the garden and bang the window as it upsets the cat