The neighbours have blocked our fence..

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

That lets the cats... ours and theirs , come and go :/
The dividing fence is ours, but there is a small gap where it goes round a tree.. very low down where only cats can fit. Last night I went to call Obie in, he didn't come. Then I heard him, miaowing pathetically in next doors garden. This was so odd, I went to the tree gap and crouched to see if I could spot him and found it was blocked by a paving slab leant against the gap. It hadn't been there an hour earlier.

I pushed it over, Obie came in, very stressed.
The gap is something we can't help as the tree trunk is there. Next door have never taken any notice as their garden is neglected, but suddenly there is a new boyfriend who is doing up the garden. Opie ONLY goes out of our garden through that hole as it leads to a little channel behind some houses where she feels safe.
I feel quite annoyed. I know they are within their rights to block it, but I think I'm also within mine (as it's my fence) to UNblock it. They treat their animals very poorly.. I feed the poor cats daily as they are left out all day and night and only fed if neighbour happens to be coming home and they follow her in.

Would it be really awful of me to keep pushing the slab out of the way?! I'll be claiming that it must be Obie as he is a very big strong Maine Coon....

I'm actually tempted to cut a cat hole in the fence if they persist... !

I would push it out of the way. If something more permanent appears then I would also remove it as it is your fence and they are not allowed to alter it in any way.

You would also be within your rights to remove the fence if you wished, and plant a hedge that would have plenty of holes in......

What sort of terms are you on? Can you not have a word with them about it?

They would be within their rights to build their own fence right up against yours, as long as it was on their land.

Presumably they are trying to deter the cat from passing through the garden - maybe they plan to get chickens or a big hungry dog

Neither cats jump.. Obie is large but young and not very coordinated and Ophie has only ever gone out of the garden that way..she's very timid.
We are on peaceful but not friendly terms.. neighbour is a slightly odd lady who is friendly if she wants something but otherwise blanks us (all the other neightbours are lovely!) in her late 50s I'd guess with luminous pink hair and two adult sons who stagger in all hours loudly. I don't want to get on the wrong side of her as she is a bit rough (I know that sounds awful but it's true and while the building works we are about to do won't afffect her in the least I would place a bet she will get her sons to park so that access is difficult as she has form for it).
It's our fence and is well maintained..the gap is purely because our tree grows right at the end of it.

I think I will continue to push the slab out of the way and feign ignorance. However I quite like the hedge idea as it would look lovely

What would happen if you blocked the fence your side?. Your neighbours a bit of a funny so and so from the sound of it who's decided obie and Ophie aren't welcome.

We have a cat flap in our gate. Very convenient for him and he's not bothering anyone when he uses it.

The postman puts small parcels through it.

but I think I'm also within mine (as it's my fence) to UNblock it.

What makes you think you have the right to move something that is on their side of the boundary?

As it is your fence you can inform them if they damage it they are liable.

It must be quite a large hole for a maine coon to fit through?

Surely they will learn to jump the fence?

Tbh I would do this if my neighbours cats were coming into my garden. No one likes cat shit in the flower beds. Sorry.

If it is letting them out to a back alley, can't you make a hole in that fence so they go directly out instead of via next doors garden?

I'd understand if they were cat haters.. but they have two cats. Two poorly treated underfed and unloved cats to be sure, but cats.

Mine honestluy do not shit in their garden ..both come in to use the litter tray every single time (we even tried to encourage them to go outside but putting a litter tray in our garden but they prefer the inside loo) Their cats come freely into ours (mostly in search of food) .

The patio slab was blocking the gap (it's about 9 inches square and purely due to a tree trunk ) again today. Leaned up on our fence. The fence is 6 ft and Obie can't jump it. Dh is going to make a cat gap in it further back where it leads into the bushes behind (not in ) their garden. They can sod off asking to use our garden waste bin from now on though!!!

DH wants to take our fence down entirely ..which he is totally entitled to do.. it would leave a low wire type fence between the gardens that was originally a council fence. They have always been slightly odd unfreindly neighbours unless they want something, but this has pissed him off. However I have dissuaded him as I really don't want to overlook them!

Can he not jump over?

Just saw not, but I will say that even well fed cats can be quite adept at scrounging seconds from a neighbour. My parents had one who would stuff her face, then go elsewhere for another meal, with a few random mice, ducks and songbirds in between. Likewise, I know other people who have ended up with a new cat tagging on for part of the day.

The cat that disappeared for half a day, then half a week, then months on end did so despite a 6' fence.

I think you are right to make a hole that doesn't lead through their garden. It's the best solution. I'm pretty sure they can lean a paving slab against the fence as long as it doesn't do any damage.

I'd say no to borrowing the bin as well. Cheeky sods.

Lazy arses can ask the council for one anyway.

of they don't want your cat in their garden then they don't want your cat in their garden. Just make sure it is blocked when your cat is on your side and problem solved surely.