New neighbours cat

[butterflycatching]

Not so much an AIBU, because I am not going to change my mind, but it has been playing on my mind for a few days now.

I moved into a new-build a few months ago. I was the first one to complete, and the development has been gradually filling up. I have the house on the end of the development and next to me is woodland.

New neighbours moved into the house next door last week and popped round- I thought to introduce themselves. But, they actually asked if before I let my dog out in the garden if I would check that their cat wasn't in my garden so it doesn't get hurt, and if I would consider removing the pyracantha (spiky plant) I have planted on the woods side fence so their cat can use that as access to the woods.

I told them no, I had planted that for security, but I would happily plant more along their fence side too if it will keep their cat away from my dog. I then got a whole explanation of they were hoping to encourage the cat to use my garden side towards the woods for roaming- rather than the other gardens which eventually lead up to the road. I was left thinking they thought I was very difficult.

I am not wrong in thinking this is bonkers and entitled? I can't be checking the whole garden for their cat every time I let the dog out. And you can't train a cat to roam in a particular direction anyway!!

I have a cat - they are bonkers.

I also have pyracantha in my garden by the fence - it doesn’t deter the cat from climbing the fence.

They asked for your WiFi password?

My earlier post is now validated - they are CF CUNTS.

Wow I've had cats all my life and never considered either neighbours dogs or making pathways as they usually decide where they want to go!
I think your last statement is true, they seem very controlling and you've set firm boundaries - keep it that way IMO
What dog do you have? Our dog is woofy and medium size and we no longer have cats in our garden, they usually stay well away now ... which my 3 cats like lol

Oh my god they're twats. This reminds me of when my neighbour had asked me for my WiFi password and I gave it to him like an idiot 😭 A month later he still hadn't sorted his own WiFi so I just changed the password.

Their cat's welfare is not your job! They need to make their own garden safe for their cat and that's their own job.

Honestly some people 🙄

I am 100% mad cat lady, do not like dogs, and they ABVVVU (and batshit). Also there's a fair chance their cat might tease your dog by walking on the fence/walking around in your garden when dog can see it but not get out. Or just straight up chase your dog. So really you should be asking them to keep their uncontrolled unpredictable predator away from your trained pet's safe space/garden, if anything.

I’m a cat person, but your neighbours are the sort of people who give cat owners a bad name! Any cat will very soon work out which gardens to avoid, and how to get where they want to go! It probably will walk round the top of the fences to get to the woods. Don’t take any notice of the CFs.

It’s not fair for the neighbours to try and dictate to you how you should accommodate their cat. I know it is hard as you don’t want to fall out with them but the cat will walk along the top of the fence as they are such agile animals.
If you didn’t have a dog already would they expect you to check you can get a dog with them first?
No, no absolutely no! Your garden, your choice and they will have to live with it.

LOL! I have two cats and they figure out very quickly how to get around and what gardens to avoid. Your neighbours are bonkers

I think this is the issue though, they specifically didn't want their cat avoiding my garden, as when they had looked round they had identified it as the safe route. Now they've moved in its looking uninviting and they want that to change! They specifically want their cat to use it as a throughway.

Its why I wont be following one posters advice on here to give it safe high spaces. I don't want it feeling comfortable in that space and encouraging it to spend any time there.

Yanbu. They are crazy. First day and not a hi hello we are sally and Tom nice to meet you.

A can we have the wifi password, can you chop down bushes and can you make sure our cat isn’t in your garden but make sure it’s a safe cut though.

cheeky

Lol not particularly young but totally clueless 😅
I'm sure in a few years they'll look back and turn inside out with Cringe

Id have just laughed, as a cat owner. You can't force a cat to take a particular route anywhere, they'll go where they want. And they won't want to go into a garden with a dog in it.

They don’t seem to know how a cat works!

• They will automatically avoid any space which they don’t feel comfortable in - including gardens with dogs - unless they are of the bad ass variety where they will enjoy sitting on the top of the fence and pulling faces at the dog and just generally winding it up… either way, you absolutely do not need to check before letting your own dog out into your own space!
• If they want to do it they will find a way to get to the wood regardless of any plants - heck if they are really determined they will walk across the roofs of houses to get to where they want - I know of a cat that hates water but will put up with forging a little stream to get into the local beauty spot… again, ridiculous that they would ask you to remove a plant in your own garden when (a) your plant, your garden and (b) cat won’t care at all.

Good luck with these new neighbours - maybe they’ve never lived with neighbours before (could be first timers moving in together or have only lived in more self-contained accommodation previously) - hopefully they will settle down over time and stop making bizarre requests. Are they very young?

I'd just have said okay to the checking the garden (which if I remembered to do it, which I probably wouldn't, would just be a two second scan while I unlocked the door) and a no to the shrub. I might need a favour one day, so it pays not to come across as totally difficult, especially when you don't even need to follow through on that one! It's not like they can check that you're doing it!

Then I'd have mentioned foxes in the wood.

As said cats do cats, so whilst they may have identified their preferred safe route the cat won't be listening. I'd be pleased to see safe places for my cat to go, but I would just be hoping the cat agreed tbh.
I think it would actually be possibly unfair on the cat if you super proofed your garden to its benefit (as well as unfair to you/your dog etc), as one day it may not be as safe as the cat first learns it to be.
All in all though I think the cat has done you a favour in a way, you know exactly how cheeky and expectant these new neighbours can be right off the bat. They know you don't give ground, rightly so, but imo fortunately they asked for the impossible to give - otherwise there could have been a whole stream of things from the sounds of it.
Don't feel bad, they'll settle in hopefully and chill a bit with their cat, expectations - and neighbours!

It's great that you didn't agree when you were put on the spot. It's probably best to say "no" to any request from them, or at least "I'll have to think about that". You don't have to explain your reasons though, "that won't suit/work/be possible" is good enough.

They had the same chance that you did to look at the building plans, location of gardens, roads etc before choosing their plot.

Regarding your dog, one of the best things about having a house is that you can leave the back door open and allow the dog to wander in and out. It would be ridiculous to voluntarily limit yourself re: checking for their cat. The best thing is to disencourage the cat from entering your garden at all. A neighbour of mine suggested using a water pistol if her cat was annoying my dog by sitting on the fence 😂.

The cat will just walk along the fence tops of it wants to avoid the garden, and they’re more than capable of jumping over bushes etc. They also work out how to avoid the dogs pretty well. The cat will be fine without you needing to do a thing.

YA absolutely NBU! If they wanted their cat to have direct access to the woods they should have bought your house first. Though, cats being cats, you can pretty much guarantee it would go the opposite direction 😆
Sounds like as very new home owners they haven't factored in all the things they are responsible for now like their broadband.
Hope this is the end to their daft requests and you enjoy your new home

The cat thing they wrapped up as an animal safety/welfare issue and kind of implied I was a dick for not being concerned if it got hurt.

I’d have made it very clear that I couldn’t care less whether their cat gets hurt and would’ve told them that if they’re that concerned about its safety they need to keep it inside.

Nah, don’t people please. Put your plants up. As a cat lover, also a huge plant lover. Fuck your neighbours, your money, your garden. Ignore them.

Cat owner here, they do know you can’t train a cat right? 🤣 we had new neighbours move in about 18 months ago with two dogs. Our cat had previously considered their garden as hers as the elderly lady who lived there fed our cat treats and liked to watch her pottering about. I made it clear to new neighbours that they were welcome to shoo our cat away/use a water pistol to deter her. I was hoping the dogs would frighten her off but no, she’s fearless/stupid (there’s a fine line) and enjoys sitting on next door’s shed tormenting the poor dogs.

it is a bit cheeky and bonkers.

I can see they just want their cat to have safe access to a large roaming area, however I’d be more trying to make friends and maybe apologise for my cat if it possibly came into your garden.

don’t worry, my cat leaps into pyrocanthus and is so far fine and avoids local dogs.

And if it does, throw it back!!!

Never mind that! I’d be using the dog as a deterrent to stop the cat coming into my garden! Ignore them about the plant as well. Cats will go wherever they want.

Well done @butterflycatching for asserting your boundaries from the start. I'm shit when put on the spot like that!

They do sound entitled and like they'll be high-maintenance neighbours, so I'd be prepared to say no to all of their requests.

I'd personally be adding more cat deterrents, like those spiky things to pop along the top of your fencing etc.

I'd probably buy a water pistol too and encourage the dog to chase the cat 😂