Neighbour doesn’t want cats walking on her fence

[Mowyourlawn]

My next door neighbour came round today and said that she’s getting annoyed that our two cats keep walking along the fence in her back garden. She said that it upsets her dog and makes it bark. She has a huge dog that barks at everything.

It took me a bit by surprise as I am not sure what she expects us to do. We still have litter trays that the cats come inside to use and we don’t intend to train that out of them, but that’s not her complaint anyway. She doesn’t want them on the fence or walking in her garden.

We left it as if she can think of anything to let us know but I’m just a bit confused. DP thinks this is the start of bother but I really want to avoid that if I can. Has anyone else had this?

Picture of the main offender, who I don’t think is too concerned…

Tell her to train her dog not to bark at your cat! (Who’s gorgeous).

Are you saying a cat on your property is "fair game" and because cats are allowed to roam it's the owner's responsibility if you decide to injure it or kill it?

Or have I read this all wrong?

If I've read it right, you're completely wrong. You don't have the right to kill or injure cats.

Neighbour should just let the dog out, there’s normally a scramble up the fence but cats stop coming in the garden then and we don’t seem to get them walking the fence either. The squirrels on the other hand tease our dog relentlessly.

The law doesn't work like that I'm afraid.

You don't have the right to let your dog maim or kill a human just because they came on your property.

Squirrels wind up many cats as well.

.You are expected to control your dog and not allow it to attack other animals including humans
This is pure nonsense. It is perfectly legal to have guard dogs patrolling your property if you so wish.
Anyone who is not specifically invited in enters at their own risk (cats included).
Why in the name of God would you assume people are obliged to keep their own private property safe for your cats?!

Guard dogs are legally supposed to be under the control of a handler so they can be called off.

If a kid goes through a hole in your fence to get their ball and your dog maims them then you could be liable for criminal charges and/or compensation. It depends on the exact situation and where the notices are on your property are displayed.

In regards to the dog killing a cat. Both are property and the common moggy isn't expensive. However it can be taken as a warning sign that your dog is out of control. (Even if the cat wound up the dog and I've seen cats lying in the middle of the pavement in the sun on well known dog walking routes.)

Why should she?

Because it’s her pet and it is bothering someone else. It is not a wild animal, there is a human responsible for it who should be able to make sure that their choice of pet doesn’t bother anyone else.

So what should she do?

I would never harm any animal, but I cannot stop my dog from defending his territory if I'm not out in the garden with him. Or are you saying that my dog is not allowed out in my own garden (secured to keep him in) without me being there?

Pay for rollers on the top of the fence

Actually, I think you'll find it does.
Anyone coming onto my property is trespassing and a person would have to break in to gain entry to my garden

I've owned dogs in the past that would happily eat a cat, given the opportunity. Not aggressive with humans at all - many hunting breeds are like that.

I wouldn't want them to catch a cat, but at the same time, I'm not going to confine them to the house just so other people pets can wander.

I think I’ll try and get some of the spikes, just to show willing. I don’t think it will actually work, the fences have gaps everywhere that he could probably squeeze himself through. I have a slight fear that the preventative measures would stop them getting out rather than in.

I think half the problem is she keeps the dog inside all the time, so they can strut the fence and annoy him. I am pretty sure if he was ever let out in the garden they wouldn’t be as smug and might give it a miss. I would prefer them to be scared of him really so that they don’t get too close.

👏

That's not what the law says - cats have a legal right to roam.

Do my cats sometimes annoy my neighbour's yappy dog? Yes they do. But it appears that the dog is also annoyed by me being in my own garden and I'm damned if I'm going to stay indoors so it doesn't bark hysterically and throw itself against the fence.

This neighbour once complained to me that she was going to write to the council because they'd changed the bulbs in the local streetlights to brighter ones, and her dog was barking at the light and keeping her up all night. My suggestion that perhaps she should close her curtains didn't go down well. 😂

Cautionary tale - my brother's dog, very friendly, would roll over for anyone, very well trained, used to play in their garden, as they do and you were more in danger of being licked to death from him. Neighbour's cat would taunt the dog from the top of the fence, rather like it was a vendetta and one day misjudged the jump and fell into the garden. Let's say the dog playing with the cat did not end well. Neighbour was very understanding, as knew the cat had often sat just where the dog could see her, as if taunting him. Cats will be cats and dogs will be dogs, just saying that if you can help to change the cat's route it might be a good thing to do, but they are their own worst enemies some times and have their own mind!

@SometimesCalmPerson

"Because it’s her pet and it is bothering someone else. It is not a wild animal, there is a human responsible for it who should be able to make sure that their choice of pet doesn’t bother anyone else."

Where does that end though? Eg I don't like walking past dogs when out and about. I don't like the chance of them snapping at my hands. Does that mean that people should only walk their dogs out in the wild and not in shops, cafes, beaches etc?

🤣

@Somewhereoverthesea

What an absolute knob of a neighbour! How can anyone complain about blackbirds who sing so beautifully. A change from the raucous parakeets we have!!

She could get those spiky things that go along the top of fences to prevent birds perching there? Would probably work for cats too. No doubt she’ll expect you to pay for them. But it might be worth it to shut her up.

Or neighbour trains dog not to bark at everything. Plenty of dogs don’t bark at cats, squirrels etc.

tell her the dog barking is annoying your cats 😂

This isn’t something she can stop. She’s being ridiculous.

A dog out and about is contained on a lead or under control, though. If there is any real chance of them snapping at hands, they should be muzzled. A wandering cat is not under any control.

Oh never knew I could complain to my neighbour about this 😅😅🤔 honestly some people will complain about anything....

My neighbours cat likes to tease my dogs. They bark I bring them inside. It's no big thing. It's just one of those thing's

I remember an old neighbour putting seagull spikes on her fence as the neighbourhood cats were using her garden as a litter tray. The cats didn't go in her garden. My old cat would probably of found a way to walk on his tippy toes as he was just that kind of cat 😅

I would go with the "I have spoken to the cats and they are really sorry and said they won't do it again" line. Purely for your amusement.