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.

No no I’m with you… don’t say anything!!! Given the mum has no respect for your property it could become quite confrontational and she obviously knows where you live!

Honestly, I’d block that bit of garden off with bamboo or a barrier of some sort or mini fence, to protect your new plants.

Id put a sign out that says to keep off the grass due to flowers of seedlings or whatever.

Id install a remote operated sprinkler so they’d get wet if they came too close and wouldn’t do it again lol

Lastly id close the curtains during peak hours (kids walking to, and coming home from school) xx

Allowing your child to bang at someone's cat tells you the type of mum she is, aka her child can do what she wants, anyway to put up temp barriers

Is it just me that would be sitting under the window with a Halloween mask on waiting for a knock?

OP stop being such a bloody wuss! 'Maybe a friendly one like “please keep off the flowers” wouldn’t make me seem like a complete witch.' FFS! They're YOUR flowers! Just put a sign up if you have a gate, saying 'PRIVATE! KEEP OUT!' If you don't have a gate, then make up a sign on a piece of wood, and hammer a stake into the grass. Then if they allow their child to come in, just go out and say, did you not see the sign. My cat hates having people knock at the window and your child has already trampled on my plants, please just keep her out of my garden. There's nothing unreasonable about that OP. I honestly can't believe that people allow themselves to be walked all over like this!

Love this idea!! 🤣 🤣 🤣

Act like they are trying to get your attention. Open the door and ask if you can help them, if they say about the cat, tell them you thought the window was going to come through they where banging so hard. Mix a bit of a telling off into the conversation. Keep talking till they are uncomfortable and leave. Repeat every time

@NonPithyBird Start your own thread. Hopefully you get some good advice

You're terrified to tell a child politely that they mustn't come into your garden? Seriously?

Thank you. I posted here by mistake! So sorry, have asked for it to be removed.

I am frankly incredulous, and not a little disappointed, that there are 110 posts on this thread and not one person has suggested the obvious MN solution, i.e. that OP invite the child into her house to meet the cat. She could have a key cut for the mother so they can let themselves in even when OP is out. Or better still, OP could simply give the cat to the little girl as she is obviously a little cherub who deserves the cat so much more than the OP.

And where is the cat photo?! Standards are dropping , I tell you.

Buy a small picket fence for around your flower bed? They aren't very expensive and are just pushed into the ground. If your not keen on asking them not to it's all you can do. Have to say the mum encouraging it is out of order.

How very dare you, cat photo posted five days ago (16/05/2024 22:46). MN standards maintained 😁

Can you lock your gates?
Or just say
Dear mum
Please stop your child trampoling on my plants. Your daughter can wave to the nice cat from the pavement

Grow a pair and just say to the kid directly "please don't do that, you are standing on my plants". I mean, that's not confrontational at all.

Oops, apologies. Must have missed it. Gorgeous ball of fluff.

Glad that standards are not dropping, although where’s the diagram…?!