Nasty neighbour.

PS: As a bonus, I no longer have a slug problem 🦔🦔

Small gaps in gates and fences are encouraged for hedgehog traffic. My garden is a hedgehog highway to three neighbouring gardens, where they are fed and housed (& filmed). I get to watch and hear their antics on their way through.

Until 2 years ago we had an absolutely charming family living next door. They were always so kind and they were a Godsend to us during the lockdowns when we used to chat over the fence. We were sad when they moved. There was a downside however. They had 3 large dogs and 3 cats. The animals were well looked after but the cats were constantly in our garden and even came into the house big we left a door open in the Summer. Also one of the dogs managed to push its way through our hedge on several occasions. We found this extremely annoying but did our best to say nothing. Whilst we would never harm an animal we don’t want them in our garden.

The cats will find their own way, if they want into that garden, of that you may be sure.

I have blocked gaps in my hedges to keep the neighbours' dogs out of my garden. Hedges and fences should be kept in good repair so you can hardly complain about a neighbour blocking a gap.

Did it not strike you that your new neighbour might not have heard your greeting either because he is hard of hearing or because he was deep in thought?

The other day when my gardener was here a newish neighbour ambushed him and asked him when he was going to cut the "overgrown" hedge on the outside of my garden. She asserted that the alley whech she goes through from her garden to the street was "partly blocked" by the hedge. The gardener told her that he would check with me but that he does not cut bushes, hedges and trees in the nesting season as there are laws against disturbiing nesting birds. She wasnot happy with this.

I told him to leave it until september as we do not know if there are any birds nesting in the hedge. However there are lots of other little animals and birds which use them for cover. I dont want them disturbed and she had a cheek telling someone she does not employ what to do. My nephew went around and inspected the offending alley. He said that the hedge is overgrown on her side too and he thnks she is being a bit of a drama queen. However there is still plenty of room to walk through. Kids manage to ride their bikes through and along the alley behind the houses.

She did knock on my door that day. I assumed from her somewhat bedraggled appearance that she was either selling, begging or collecting for a charity so I did not respond. If she comes around again I will tell her that my gardener will cut my hedge at my convenience. She is welcome to deal with her own over overgrown bushes as and when it suits her. However my gardener will not be cutting her side on time for which he is being paid by me.

I take no prisoners with entitled whining neighbours.

I am a cat lover as are many people, but I don't blame your neighbour for blocking the hole in the fence. Just because you don't mind the neighbourhood cats using your garden as a cut through, doesn't mean your neighbour has to. Is he a keen gardener? Why would he be happy for the neighbourhood cats to come through his garden and ruin all his hard work?

As for bring "unfriendly" perhaps he just isn't into casual conversation - I have some neighbours who are like that. They will wave and say hello but that is it - I, and the rest of the neighbours, accept that and let them be

lemsip

you don't want a voice popping up with a hallo as soon as you pop outside to your garden.

Why not?
Good and friendly neighbours are worth their weight in gold.
My next door neighbour and good friend's funeral was on Friday. All the neighbours were there and we agreed we could not have had a nicer neighbour or friend.
Cut him some slack - and block up that hole in the fence.

I don't know what your agenda is here Yongy. Obviously a troll!

I wouldn't describe him as a nasty neighbour, poor chap! Having to put up with the one next door, I feel so sorry he has to put with his next door neighbour and that nuisance cat!

lemsip

you don't want a voice popping up with a hallo as soon as you pop outside to your garden.

Don't know where you got this picture Lemsip.But hey let's imagine more things I've done to offend the lovely old man!

The problem is cat owners never admit what their cat does. I doubt if all the cats are going straight through his garden, a lot of them will be using it as a toilet , probably including yours.
Leave the fence alone.
Keep speaking to him, he may mellow.

Could you have a friendly chat with him and say that your gap was intended for hedgehogs as per guidance from RSPCA, Wildlife Trusts and Hedgehog Preservation Society? Blocking the hole won't stop determined cats or foxes getting into his garden. There are also products on the market to deter them from visiting which you could suggest.

Jewelle

OurKid1

I wouldn't base your judgement of him as grumpy on that one incident. I hate cats in my garden and would have blocked it off as well. That day you greeted him, he may have been busy, pre-occupied or just having an off day. I'd cut him some slack, continue to say hello and be polite and see how things pan out when he's settled into the neighbourhood.

Just because he's not a cat lover doesn't make him "nasty."

The OP has said that they have known him for 30 years.

Oh sorry - I missed that. The rest of the comment applies though.

you don't want a voice popping up with a hallo as soon as you pop outside to your garden.

OurKid1

I wouldn't base your judgement of him as grumpy on that one incident. I hate cats in my garden and would have blocked it off as well. That day you greeted him, he may have been busy, pre-occupied or just having an off day. I'd cut him some slack, continue to say hello and be polite and see how things pan out when he's settled into the neighbourhood.

Just because he's not a cat lover doesn't make him "nasty."

The OP has said that they have known him for 30 years.

Not only would I have blocked off the hole in the fence I would be sitting at the other side with a water pistol.
I put hours of work into my garden and do not appreciate other peoples so-called domestic pets using it as a toilet.

kircubbin2000

I hadn't realised gransnet was an anti cat zone. Sorry I posted.

So you don't want other peoples cats digging up your garden to use as a toilet, or using it as a go through, that makes you nasty?
I would have done the same. Most people spend a lot of money on their garden,they don't want other peoples pets digging it up and leaving a poisonous pile behind. That's possibly why he's anti social towards you.

I used to worry about cat poo when we had small children and lived in a terraced house in London where the neighbourhood cats visited on a regular basis.

We got a Labrador and the cats got the message.
I knew that my dog had been wormed and de-flea’d and where it had been but not random cats who left their doings in the borders!

Cars can jump onto and down from fences, and fences should not have gaps unless by mutual arrangement with neighbours.
He may be a grump, but he has a point.
I hope you can sort it amicably.

AGAA4

kircubbin2000

I hadn't realised gransnet was an anti cat zone. Sorry I posted.

No. There are a lot of people who love cats on Gransnet, me included, but nobody wants other people's cats in their gardens as they tend to leave their mess behind.

I'm not anti-cat, just anti-cat poo. It has its own unique horrible stink!

I wouldn't base your judgement of him as grumpy on that one incident. I hate cats in my garden and would have blocked it off as well. That day you greeted him, he may have been busy, pre-occupied or just having an off day. I'd cut him some slack, continue to say hello and be polite and see how things pan out when he's settled into the neighbourhood.

Just because he's not a cat lover doesn't make him "nasty."

kirkubbin2000
Sorry you are getting a lot of stick!
I think this is because the title is perhaps a little dramatic!
Your neighbour is grumpy and a bit antisocial.
Nasty implies something far more unpleasant.

Regarding cats, they are easy to love when they are your own as they rarely s**t on their own doorstep.

Yongy bit harsh and rude!

We are no longer troubled with cats! Four dogs in our garden. They are funny though (the cats) they sit in a nearby tree and “tease” the dogs.

We have foxes too, though in a busy built up area, so often have to remove fox poo, our dog poo and the very occasional pieces of cat poo (the very brave).

We don our rubber gloves and poo bags and to be honest cats don’t bother us at all.

Lovely.

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