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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Neighbour put up sharp plastic spike strips on her fence to stop cats climbing over

48 replies

dottycat123 · 02/07/2017 21:00

My ndn has historically been a challenge to live in harmony with. I have two cats who frequently climb the dividing fence (her fence) and go into her garden. They clearly see this as an extension of our garden. Other neighbourhood cats also move through all the gardens.
The ndn has nailed strips of sharp plastic spikes along the fence, the spikes are sharp enough to draw blood if I push my hand down on them. One cat was limping last night. I am so angry that she would want to try to hurt any animal , there are two stray Tom's who live in the area which wouldn't be able to see a vet easily if injured. Is there anything I can do? For context she is a lady who lives alone, no partner/ children and generally intolerant of normal neighbourhood activity.

OP posts:

CatchingBabies · 02/07/2017 21:32

I'm shocked at the responses here. I don't think it's right to allow your cats to poo in her garden and you should be putting up fences to stop that or giving her a super soaker to keep them away but if this spiked fencing can potentially injure an animal then it's wrong and most likely illegal under the bird protection act. Injuring the cats isn't the solution! And yes they will learn, to jump right over it, it won't keep them out.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 02/07/2017 21:35

YABU I'm with your NDN on this one. Cat shit in the garden is disgusting especially with young kids playing in the garden and I am fed up with dead birds killed by our NDN's vile cat.

Aquiver · 02/07/2017 21:37

I'm afraid I'm with your NDN on this one. We have a cat of our own who is now terrified of going into our garden, thanks to two neighbours' cats who terrorise him. My DH and I have discussed getting anti-cat spikes installed on our fences to stop the other cats getting in (ours is quite old and just wants to potter about in our garden).

Allyg1185 · 02/07/2017 21:39

My dh gran smeared all the fences, walls and gates in vaseline

ProphetOfDoom · 02/07/2017 21:44

I have every sympathy with your NDN. Cat poo and piss is particularly stinky & In fact you could argue by owning a cat you've put your NDN to expense and inconvenience. The cat will learn to avoid her garden.

I am a cat owner, by the way, but I am not blinkered to their antisocial habits. Plus dcat was the reason I had a fat mouse for company today.

NotAUserNumberSoNotATroll · 02/07/2017 22:03

Your stupid cat stood on a spike, it'll learn. Be thankful your neighbor doesn't have a dog like mine - which got hold of the last cat which thought it could use our garden as a toilet and left it with more than a sore paw.

If you let your cats off your property you risk them coming to harm. You should've shown your NDN some respect and done this yourself not think your precious little moggies rule the neighbourhood!!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/07/2017 22:29

Since when has The Litter Tray turned into AIBU? You sound very proud of your dog NotAUser, I wouldn't be boasting if my dog injured or killed another animal.

OP, my neighbour put the spikes on top of her fence and although my slightly dim cat couldn't negotiate them, other cats could so they aren't necessarily a deterrent. I don't agree you should keep your cats in as they are used to being out, but would it be possible to cat proof your garden? We've attached netting to the fence so ours can't get out and others can't get in and so far so good.

I'm not sure what our new neighbours think about it as they asked DH who the fence belonged to but tough, they'll have to get used to it!

ThouShallNotPass · 02/07/2017 22:30

My cat goes nuts if we try to keep her inside so she roams the village all day and no doubt shits in people's gardens (though I am inclined to think she more often than not only does it in ours as I often see her come home, do her business in our sandy/soil area and bugger straight off again).
I would be absolutely fine with spiked fences stopping her shitting in people's gardens, even if she does get a sore paw. She'll learn quickly. The more spiked fences the better. Our garden isn't fenceable as it is open plan and HA owned so I just have to hope she behaves herself.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 02/07/2017 22:34

The cats will learn to avoid or jump over the spikes. There won't be much potential for harm. Cats are light on their feet and even if it does draw a little blood it will be no more than a roaming cat might encounter from spikey plants or broken glass etc.

IrritatedUser1960 · 02/07/2017 22:43

People are so unbelievably precious, I'm surprised everyone doesn't just concrete their gardens over.
In my neighbourhood there are many cats and dogs, I have 2 cats myself and everyone gets on. Not one person has ever whinged about a cat/dog since I moced here 12 years ago.
I chose to have a beautiful front garden instead of a brick drive like everyone else and it's often got dog poo and rubbish from passing teenagers in it. I just go out there, clean it up and get on with my day.
It's called being a good neighbour.

Mymumsanighthorse · 03/07/2017 09:17

If you're happy to put up with cleaning up others dog poo and rubbish that's fine irritated. Most people wouldn't call it being a good neighbour though, they'd call it being a mug.

Branleuse · 03/07/2017 09:36

She probably doesnt want your beloved kitties shitting in her garden, which is fair enough. I say this as a cat owner and lover

Kit30 · 03/07/2017 09:45

If you have a cat then it's up to you to monitor it do it isn't a neighbourhood pest. You haven't do your neighbour has taken reasonable steps to stop your cats fouling her garden. I have a cat and I also have lovely neighbours who spend a lot of their time and energy cultivating a beautiful garden. They're generous with produce ( though I don't think I'll be able to face any more courgettes for a while) and cuttings. Even if they weren't I wouldn't want to create unnnecessary friction so we installed a Freedom Fence which keeps our cat in his own garden and out of anyone else's. The added bonus is that he comes in and out when he wants and there's no risk of him getting hit by a car/lost/stolen or otherwise harmed. I can give you contact details if you pm me

DioneTheDiabolist · 03/07/2017 09:52

She is trying to cat proof her garden. With a bit of luck your cats and the ferals will leave it alone. I don'the see the problem and I have a cat. [Confused]

WaywardOn3 · 03/07/2017 10:35

Am I liable if your straying cat gets injured by my dog in his garden? I sinsearly hope not.

I just don't see the point in having an animal you're not really looking after. You let it kill wildlife, shit anywhere it pleases, taunt dog, go where it wants, gets injured or killed on the streets (or causes an accident when someone swerves to avoid it) with you non the wiser etc (I'd be in trouble if my dog did any of that)

And you have the brass neck to moan that someone doesn't want it in their garden!

TestTubeTeen · 03/07/2017 10:41

She's not 'wanting to hurt an animal' she's wanting to keep your cats (and others) out of her garden.

Especially, I should imagine, stray Toms, spraying everywhere, shitting, spreading ticks and what have you.

I have had numerous plants ruined by cats jumping into our garden from the fence. I am glad I have now found out there is a cheap plastic strip that will do the job - and keep the horrible foxes out too.

Tell your children not to put their hands on her fence - if they haven't worked out that the spikes are sharp.

Cat owners are a challenge to live in harmony with!

RubbishMantra · 03/07/2017 12:31

Not even sure if the rigid plastic ones are actually legal to use OP. The RSPCA and RSPB recommend using the easily collapsible rubber ones which make it uncomfy/tricky for the cat to stand on without causing injury.

OP, could you speak to NDN, and offer to replace the hard, sharp spikes with the rubber ones? Keeps the peace with NDN and ensures your kitties don't spike themselves.

Like Pink, I thought I'd meandered onto AIBU for a minute.

fairness1 · 10/06/2018 12:53

Quite honestly your neighbour is rightfully looking after her own property and your been the selfish one expecting her to tolerate your cat entering her garden and messing it up or doing damage to it. People like to make their gardens nice, maybe even keep fish and spend lots of time and money to this end. It's unfair of cat owners to allow their cats to roam and damage other peoples property, kill their fish etc, have cat mess to clean up to avoid the children ending up in it or themselves. Be considerate,not selfish and keep your cat on your own property, not others.

LighthouseSouth · 10/06/2018 12:56

I absolutely adore cats

however, after much dithering I do understand why people do this, sorry.

I don't see what her marital or family status has to do with it? My dad would do this if I hadn't asked him to rethink. (It kind of worked, he is starting to hate cats less now...)

IGiorni · 16/06/2018 10:03

We are looking at doing this. We have two indoor cats but there is a cat on the street that torments them from outside by yowling and banging on the windows of our patio doors. They get really stressed out and we’ve tried other things to keep it away.

MissVanjie · 16/06/2018 10:10

It’s her garden and she can do as she pleases. Cars are far more likely to injure cats, but i imagine you don’t want to do away with those as they are convenient for you as well as others. The cats will learn.

insancerre · 16/06/2018 10:13

I'm with your neighbour
Why should your cat crap in her garden?
That's really antisocial of you and not very neighbourly

Vickisticki · 24/04/2021 12:48

The law says they must ask neighbors whos gardens are next door if it's ok with them and the spikes are to be plastic and blunt. My neighbour has just put these up without informing us and they are sharp so if my cat comes home with holes in his feet I will be reporting her. As I wouldn't mind her putting them up but to not be told just like when I woke one day and found people in my garden cos she was having a new fence up but the cheeky cow had locked my door dog in my shed for this work too. Can't stand this pompous lady

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