Neighbours have put cat spikes along fence - what are my rights?

[Sherridale71]

My next door neighbours, two spinster sisters, have put sharp plastic spikes intermittently along the fence surrounding their back garden. The spikes are in strips of about 5cm long and they’ve placed them on either side of the concrete posts holding the fence up with big gaps in between. The fence separating our gardens is about 4m high.
I’m so angry about this that I haven’t been able to approach them to find out why they’ve done it although I’m pretty sure it’s to deter cats from going into their garden (I’ve read that they can also be a pigeon deterrent). We have two beautiful cats so I’m disgusted about this and worried that they’re going to injure themselves. We live in a neighbourhood that has many cats roaming around so they’re a danger to them as well.
My neighbours have made comments in the past about cats “crapping in the garden” and also told me last year that if they saw my new kitten in their garden they would “boot it”.
I’ve phoned citizens’ advice but they said I’d need to contact my landlady to determine who owns the border of the garden and said I’d need to speak to a solicitor as they can’t give legal advice...the internet is coming up with all sorts of confusing information.
Does anyone know what my rights are before I go and speak to them about it? My 5 year old son could easily hurt himself on them.
TIA

I have a lovely cat. I love cats but I dont think they should be allowed to roam in other people's gardens. I am lucky that I was able to train my cat to stay in my garden. She uses a litter tray in doors. I hate it when animals use my garden as a toilet.

Sorry, I agree with your neighbours.

Cat spikes, homeless spikes, skateboard spikes...what a nasty world we’re turning into.

Cat spikes and homeless spikes are not the same thing. One makes your cat slightly uncomfortable to stop incorrect behaviour and one is designed to stop someone having somewhere comfortable/safe to sleep.

Maybe your cats do crap in your garden but you say there are lots of cats roaming around so maybe there are 5 other cats who DO crap in their garden. Maybe it has nothing to do with your specific cats at all.

😂 OP’s response has made my day.

Oh dear, op made a mistake about the fence height and is blaming the lovely mumsnetters, who replied to her.

Byeeeee. Remember to slam the door on the way out.

I think somebody hasn't had their Whiskas this morning

Somebody hasn't had their Whiskas this morning

😂😂😂 wonderful, I love a good flounce in the morning!!

Spinster sisters what the hell has their relationship status got to do with this?

I am lucky that I was able to train my cat to stay in my garden.

No, you were lucky that you had a cat that had no desire to leave the garden! We have one of those, and one of the 'normal' sort who, like all cats, can't be trained to stay in the garden as he doesn't want to. The only options are letting them roam if they want to, or physical restraint.

OP, I don't get why you'd want your cats to go in the garden of people who said they'd hurt them? I'd much rather a cat-hating neighbour put up these spikes, as I'd fear that otherwise they might indeed kick them, or take nastier steps like poisoning. If they keep them out of their garden in a way that is harmless to the cats that seems like a good solution for everyone.

I don't mind cats but wouldn't want them doing their business in my garden. As for the spikes, surely it's your responsibility to teach your child not to go near them. Wait until he goes out into the big wide world ie school where there are far worse obstacles he will come across.

Our NDN has two "beautiful" cats that use our garden as a litterbox. I have to check the garden everytime we play so the children don't find them first and have to be very cautious if gardening as they tend to bury poo in flower beds. It isn't manure OP, cat poo on your plants won't help them at all and is just a bit disgusting.

Using the "I dig them everday" argument like it makes it okay is like expecting others to change your DCs dirty nappies just because you have to. Its annoying when you choose not to have pets but then get the worst parts of other peoples pets.

As someone who doesn't have pets but still ends up having to pick up cat shit before I can mow the lawn, I want to know where to get these spikes!

I very much doubt your 5 year-old would even attempt to scale a 4 foot fence, much less a four metre one. Even Bear Grylls would bulk at that, I should think [gron].

*baulk

Poor OP not expecting these responses. Her face as she settled to read the first replies must have been a picture.

I'm a cat lover and have my own tiny four-legged monster who roams the neighbourhood during the day. I would have no objection to fence spikes. Cats are savvy, they won't jump onto the spikes. I'd rather neighbours spike the fence than leave poison down or attack the cats. Sorry, but I think yabu.

Throw your cat shit into their garden op, that’ll learn ‘em.

I've just googled cat spikes and plastic ones won't hurt the cats at all. However, the first few image results are cats lying down on top of them, so they also may not be a totally effective deterrent...

Roaring with laughter at the OP's comeback. Brilliant.

Another cat owner here, mine goes over the roof, so my poor neighbours stand no chance.

@Sherridale71

You really need to stop digging those waste into your garden. You need to clean it up. It is a health risk, and the chemical ratio is different to cattle waste. Cat faeces is not manure and carries disease, which you are happily shoving into your plant beds.

And no one on here has been nasty. Your complaint was ridiculous. Your neighbours do not have to be welcoming to your pets- it is their garden, not yours and they don't want to clean up after other people's animals. Teach your child the word no, and he won't grab the fence.

cats can be stupid though - mine used to like to sleep on top of the wheelie bin. she jumped in in one day when she didn't realise it was open when we were gardening and we had to fish her out

I think the risk of toxoplasmosis from the cat shit you keep digging in to the garden is probably more of a risk to a 5yo than some flimsy plastic spikes atop a high fence.....

Ha! We put these in recently, it seems like everyone in our street but us has a cat and they were all crapping in our garden and scratching the fence to bits.

The amount of poo was really starting to upset me because I felt like I couldn’t use my garden without checking it and disposing of the poo first and it fucking stinks!

My FIL turned up one day with the spikes after we’d tried the noise boxes and orange sprays and I’ll tell you what, the spikes work really well, I’d recommend them to anyone

OP - you sound really selfish and bratty.

what nasty little people you are

Miaow. Saucer of milk for the OP....