Cat dispute with neighbor
Discussion
Hi guys,
I've got a bit of an issue with one of our neighbors regarding our cats going into their garden. We live in a new build townhouse which of course means pretty small gardens. We have two cats, one of which is not at all interested in leaving the house/garden, but our 9 month old kitten is a bit of an explorer. Although they generally both tend to go to the toilet in our garden, the kitten will quite happily go over the fence for an explore.
The neighbor that this has recently become an issue with first installed trellis onto the lower fence panels at the end of the shared fence, and has now put cat repellent spikes on top as well. Unfortunately the kitten is not really deterred by this, and will still quite happily climb over them into next door's garden.
I've today received a pretty stern message from the neighbor telling us to keep our cat off of their balcony. I think I know the answer to this but do we actually have a requirement to do this? I absolutely don't want to cause an argument, and I understand that a lot of people don't like cats in their garden, but I can't see what we can really do about it? They have a dog which will bark at the cats, but I can't see that this would be causing it any distress. I'm happy for them to shoo the cats off as long as they don't hurt them, but short of keeping them inside (which I really don't want) I'm not sure what else to suggest.
Just looking for advice really. We're not on the best terms with the neighbor as it stands anyway, and I don't really want to make things worse! Cheers.
I've got a bit of an issue with one of our neighbors regarding our cats going into their garden. We live in a new build townhouse which of course means pretty small gardens. We have two cats, one of which is not at all interested in leaving the house/garden, but our 9 month old kitten is a bit of an explorer. Although they generally both tend to go to the toilet in our garden, the kitten will quite happily go over the fence for an explore.
The neighbor that this has recently become an issue with first installed trellis onto the lower fence panels at the end of the shared fence, and has now put cat repellent spikes on top as well. Unfortunately the kitten is not really deterred by this, and will still quite happily climb over them into next door's garden.
I've today received a pretty stern message from the neighbor telling us to keep our cat off of their balcony. I think I know the answer to this but do we actually have a requirement to do this? I absolutely don't want to cause an argument, and I understand that a lot of people don't like cats in their garden, but I can't see what we can really do about it? They have a dog which will bark at the cats, but I can't see that this would be causing it any distress. I'm happy for them to shoo the cats off as long as they don't hurt them, but short of keeping them inside (which I really don't want) I'm not sure what else to suggest.
Just looking for advice really. We're not on the best terms with the neighbor as it stands anyway, and I don't really want to make things worse! Cheers.
Purchase a supersoaker / water pistol, lend it to your neighbour for them to use on your cat if it goes in their garden. I am sure that once the 'pussy is soggy' it will avoid going anywhere near them again.
If nothing else it shows you are activley doing something about the situation.
If nothing else it shows you are activley doing something about the situation.
Le Mans Visitor said:
Purchase a supersoaker / water pistol, lend it to your neighbour for them to use on your cat if it goes in their garden. I am sure that once the 'pussy is soggy' it will avoid going anywhere near them again.
If nothing else it shows you are activley doing something about the situation.
+1 was going to suggest this. Cat should learn pretty quickly. We use one to keep other cats out of our garden as they tend to attack our cats.If nothing else it shows you are activley doing something about the situation.
R8VXF said:
Le Mans Visitor said:
Purchase a supersoaker / water pistol, lend it to your neighbour for them to use on your cat if it goes in their garden. I am sure that once the 'pussy is soggy' it will avoid going anywhere near them again.
If nothing else it shows you are activley doing something about the situation.
+1 was going to suggest this. Cat should learn pretty quickly. We use one to keep other cats out of our garden as they tend to attack our cats.If nothing else it shows you are activley doing something about the situation.
I will obviously do what I can to try to minimise the amount our cat goes onto their property, but as I'm sure most owners will know this isn't always possible. As I say if they want to scare the cats off that's not a problem- a bucket of water would soon teach them- but I just wanted to be 100% sure that legally at least there's nothing more we have to do.
Thanks for the replies.
I'm sure whatever you aren't speaking to your neighbour over is at the root of this and whilst you probably can't be forced to make a cat do anything, for the cat's sake I'd try and keep it off. A friend at school had his dog poisoned by a neighbour his dad had fallen out with when it went into his garden. I'm sure they aren't poisoners but if they're really angry at you and your cat is adding to the grief, they may be a bit mean to it...
I'm kind of in the opposite camp here-we recently moved to a cul de sac that seems to have about eleventy cats present. The woman over the road has 5 of the little bleeders, most other houses have one or two each and most, if not all seem to like our garden/garage/shed/car. Basically leave a door open and in goes a cat.
I've yet to formulate a battle plan-i won't be impressed if I feel that I can't leave the patio door open in the summer but one thing I won't be doing is ranting at the neighbours.
Whilst I think it's a bit weird, and a bit whiffy having loads of cats in ones house, each to their own and I also understand that once they're outside no 'owner' can't be expected to control them.
I'm thinking cat deterrent plants, super soakers, kick in the arse (for the cat, not the owner) will hopefully keep them at bay. Moaning at the neighbour probably won't help
I've yet to formulate a battle plan-i won't be impressed if I feel that I can't leave the patio door open in the summer but one thing I won't be doing is ranting at the neighbours.
Whilst I think it's a bit weird, and a bit whiffy having loads of cats in ones house, each to their own and I also understand that once they're outside no 'owner' can't be expected to control them.
I'm thinking cat deterrent plants, super soakers, kick in the arse (for the cat, not the owner) will hopefully keep them at bay. Moaning at the neighbour probably won't help
silverous said:
JustADay said:
I wish this was an option, but I should add that for reasons not worth going into we're not actually on speaking terms with this neighbor.
Is it possible that *this* is the real issue ?I can certainly see the root cause, and I will do everything I can to keep our cats in our garden, but there's only so much you can do.
spikey78 said:
I'm kind of in the opposite camp here-we recently moved to a cul de sac that seems to have about eleventy cats present. The woman over the road has 5 of the little bleeders, most other houses have one or two each and most, if not all seem to like our garden/garage/shed/car. Basically leave a door open and in goes a cat.
I've yet to formulate a battle plan-i won't be impressed if I feel that I can't leave the patio door open in the summer but one thing I won't be doing is ranting at the neighbours.
Whilst I think it's a bit weird, and a bit whiffy having loads of cats in ones house, each to their own and I also understand that once they're outside no 'owner' can't be expected to control them.
I'm thinking cat deterrent plants, super soakers, kick in the arse (for the cat, not the owner) will hopefully keep them at bay. Moaning at the neighbour probably won't help
Could try something like this https://www.garden4less.co.uk/havahart-spray-away-...I've yet to formulate a battle plan-i won't be impressed if I feel that I can't leave the patio door open in the summer but one thing I won't be doing is ranting at the neighbours.
Whilst I think it's a bit weird, and a bit whiffy having loads of cats in ones house, each to their own and I also understand that once they're outside no 'owner' can't be expected to control them.
I'm thinking cat deterrent plants, super soakers, kick in the arse (for the cat, not the owner) will hopefully keep them at bay. Moaning at the neighbour probably won't help
silverous said:
JustADay said:
I wish this was an option, but I should add that for reasons not worth going into we're not actually on speaking terms with this neighbor.
Is it possible that *this* is the real issue ?Tell them you'll get rid of the cat - but first they must come round and give you a big happy smile and a bearhug.
maybe, they just don't want cats in their garden. if they did then surely they would have bought a cat. What makes people think that their pets should be allowed in other peoples gardens.
Would you object if my dog came into your garden for a dump? I bet you would. Stop inflicting your pets on other people.
Would you object if my dog came into your garden for a dump? I bet you would. Stop inflicting your pets on other people.
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