Since cats are free to roam, they can go to your yard, have a poo, and leave. If spikes have been installed along a linear boundary, such as a wall or fence, then it should be ensured that signs are presented every 3 metres or less, to make certain they will be seen. A 1996 article from Texas A&M Real Estate Center discussing how misplaced fences could result in loss of land through adverse possession. Back in the day, it was a popular form of intruder deterrent commonly used around industrial premises and other areas to keep animal and human intruders out. Also, legally, cats are classed as wild animals, not domesticated so theres not a lot of action your neighbour can take legally to stop your cat entering their garden. (Part 2), Texas Stock Laws By County (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., Attorneys at Law). Cat feces carries the same bacteria as dogs which can cause ocular toxocariasis (blindness) in young children. Remove them from your property. In a TikTok video posted during the week of Feb. 20, 2023, creator @sharonblakely0 shared a rather divisive video of her neighbor shining a flashlight into her mothers bedroom at her residence. It will also stop any claims for compensation if anyone jumps your fence and gets injured. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Is It Illegal To Put Spikes On A Fence To Stop Cats? That way you may avoid costly repair bills and your neighbour may be more inclined to address the problem. By "neighbor*" I mean the person/people who live in the house on the street directly behind our backyard- the back of their backyard is adjacent to the back of ours. I have knelt in cat feces when weeding. First off don't damage their property while trying to remove it, that can get messy. 13 Common Signs of a Jealous Neighbor (Check Out), Can I Build a Fence Next to the Neighbors Fence? Adding trellis above your fence is a good way to keep burglars away as it makes it difficult for burglars to climb over. Because the fence will benefit both parties, your neighbors might be interested in sharing costs, and the conversation about property lines and fence maintenance will also become much easier. If they want such a structure in place they can build their own fence etc. Although we are not saying that this is a simple or quick solution to the problem of cats fouling in your yard, it may allow the council to approach the owner directly, who may have more clout than your appeal alone. To learn more about how property owners' associations can enforce rules within their communities, check out the Enforcement of CC&Rs page of the Property Owners' Association research guide. SafeWise reports that fences that intruders would find difficult to climb or break through will offer you the most protection against theft. Your neighbor might not realize the effect that this will have on your house, resulting in three non-matching panels. WebThe term barbed wire has been interpreted to mean anything with spikes or jagged projections and this would include any made aggressive topping or addition to a wall or fence including carpet gripper, broken glass, nails and preparatory products such as A neighbour has received backlash after attempting to add spikes on one woman's fence in a bid to keep their rabbits safe, but she did not consult the woman beforehand. Its slightly sharpened tip makes it difficult for cats to walk on it. Property owners' associations (POAs) in Texas cannot prevent an owner from installing certain types of fencing on their property. Pigeons or any flying animal does not bury their poo. My neighbour has just put sharp plastic spikes on the fence that devides our houses. Who has to pay to replace it? It's be a good idea to talk to them first and see what the intentions are and try to work with them on a solution. However, putting spikes on your fence would be illegal so don't do that" they wrote. Stay clear of Mother Nature. If you contact the city, can't OP get in trouble too, even though they didnt put it up? In other words, the fence is the symptom, not the disease. Good result and congrats for getting rid of the dangerous spikes that should never be used because they are harmful, My neighbour has put up these spikes they are definitely not blunt,as you describe. This was my first thought as well. You could report your neighbour to your local council environmental officer and they will visit the neighbour and make a judgement about the fence. All cats domestic and feral are covered by the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, making it illegal to put them in a cage, hurt, or destroy them. Is it illegal to put carpet grippers on your fence? Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). This subchapter governs adverse possession in Texas, often referred to as "squatter's rights". Otherwise, follow these steps to install your cat spikes. He had no actual right to attach it in the first place. I dont think theyre supposed to be cat spikes because although we do have a cat he has never gone over to that part of the yard. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cat-hating-neighbour-creates-fence-6546263. Therefore, anti climb spikes on top of the wall are allowed, so long as youve added a notice saying something like: Caution: danger of injury from fence spikes. The spikes are built to make walking on the top of a fence with cat spikes installed incredibly dangerous and painful for cats. These spikes will even let you keep your cat in the garden if you want to, and youll have peace of mind knowing that no other cats will bother itif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'gardenaxis_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-gardenaxis_com-banner-1-0'); If you wish to install cat spikes on a council site, you must first contact your local government. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. WebFinland is building a 200-kilometer fence on the Russian border amid growing fears of security as Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine intensifies. That is down to the person driving the car! Surely, the welfare of the cat is the responsibility of the owner, not the neighbours? But it also depends on the location of your fence. She loves to take sunbathe and do a barbecue in her free time. 1 Is it illegal to put cat spikes on your fence? To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. Cat spikes have a straightforward design and they can operate in the same way no matter the fixing you use. Whoever holds legal title is presumed to be the owner unless and until the adverse possessor can meet that burden. Since 1876, however, the Texas Legislature has allowed Texas counties to vote on whether to become"closed range". Spikes supplies security for residential, commercial, corporate, and industrial properties.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-box-4','ezslot_11',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-box-4-0'); If a spike is allowed in your jurisdictions, then your fence needs to be at least 2 meters high and your installer will need a license to install spikes. People who harm children or animals are the worst kind of people. Below you will find references to areas of Texas lawrelated to fences. The fence between my property and my neighbors property is down. What can I put on top of fence to stop burglars? Cats have great memories and will not come back to the same place twice if they find it uncomfortable or painful. I have found a dead blackbird, a dead chaffinch, two dead fish (I have since netted the pond), dead frogs & numerous dead or dying dormice. A friend's neighbours put spikes on top of their fence, and my friend's cat negotiated them with no problems at all, but after more than a month, one of the spikes was suddenly bent, and the cat got a big abcess under his chin. The mere fact that you think your neighbor's house is painted an ugly color, or the neighbor has built a fence that doesn't match your own aesthetic taste, does not in most instances give you grounds for a lawsuit. Lets take a look at some of the important features of a good fence. Will give you grounds to remove it faster. I add,my neighbour has lived here for many years and never complained,indeed she used to have a cat herself.But since renovating her garden she.dosent want cats in. I own cats btw, I have a toilet area for my cats in my garden- an area of bare earth mixed with gravel which I clean and turn over regularly. A spite fence does not fall from the clear blue sky. 2. This publication from the Texas Association of Counties is written in a Q & A style and covers relevant statutes and case law surrounding open and closed range status. The laws have been outlined in detail in this cat spike analysis post. Initially I was furious. In most states, it is legal to use both bird and cat spikes. But, keeping these cats out can be more complicated than you think. So to intentionally not offer or give them back could be classed as theft as it would be hard to argue that you didnt know they belonged to your neighbour. Funny enough we havent seen a cat a long time. See the resources below for more information. Also some cities and/or HOAs have shared responsibilty bylaws for fences regardless of who built it. WebThis could involve adding things like double-sided tape or spikes to the top of the fence; Use scent deterrents: Certain smells are known to deter cats, so you could try spraying your fence with these scents in order to keep them away; Common deterrents include Pets are family." So me and my fiance had new fencing installed for about 400. Excuse me OP, this is Her Majestys Reddit Revenue and (Original) Content, I would like to discuss your overdue bill for Cat Tax. Evidence you might present could include pictures of the fence (to show that it is purposefully ugly), diagrams of its location (to show that it is needlessly tall and blocks light), the timing of its installation (right after an argument between you and your neighbor, which you would hopefully have separate documentation of, such as a text or email or even copies of these you sent to friends describing the situation), or testimony from other neighbors about the surrounding circumstances and motivations (to show that your neighbor dislikes you). Yes as soon as the spikes become a danger then they are basically illegal. If your neighbor constructs a spite fence, possibly making the neighborhood look terrible and calling attention to the property, what should you do? Your fence is the first obstacle an animal or a human intruder attempting to enter your property will face. 54 Posts. If you resort directly to the police, HOA, code enforcement, or suing, you will make them into an enemy. Adding trellis to your fence not only keeps burglars away but also makes your fence look more attractive and unique. Also, security fence spikes, barbed wire, and razor tape are adequate security to add to your property. (What The Laws Say), How a Virtual Data Room Can Transform Mergers and Purchases. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. They are a great solution for commercial and industrial properties, So also, the perfect anti-climb security spike solution for people in places of high crime, who need to store equipment and machinery at home. Start with a friendly conversation. Who Can Claim Property Based on Adverse Possession in Texas? If spikes have been installed along a linear boundary, such as a wall or fence, then it should be ensured that signs are presented every 3 metres or less, to make certain they will be seen. For one, it can be awkward to approach a neighbor who you like and propose a fence. NOW. Study what you need to know about cats and the rules before purchasing a pet repellent to keep cats out of your backyard. Thats why we see no broken glass, but more fence spikes and similar anti climb products. Don't have a library account? If a property owner's fence violates a subdivision rule, the homeowners association may ask the owner to make it conform. Im not suggesting you are intending to damage them but it more or less rules out any possibility of that sort of escalation. The neighbor also threatened to harm the animal when he confronted the pet owner, who later shared the dispute online, reports Mirror. While adding metal pigeon spikes or barbed wire to a fence is not against the rule, if a pet cat is injured, these types of cat spikes can become illegal. Of course if the neighbour puts them in your fence again, I would suspect that they are likely causing criminal damage to your fence. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. State law governing swimming pool enclosures installed on property within a property owners' association. Learn how your comment data is processed. Brackets & Chicken Wire Heres a close-up of a solid mounting method using some shelf brackets and chicken wire. A 2021 article from local news station KPRC 2 Houston discussing the new security measures law and some of the issues property owners are experiencing with their associations when attempting to install fencing on their property. Make sure you check with your local council before doing any work because regulations cover fences and security toppings. They look really tacky and I don't appreciate them being on my fence. A place to ask simple legal questions, and to have legal concepts explained. These spikes will allow you to keep your cat in your yard if you want to, and youll have peace of mind assured that no cat will bother your cat. Fencing mayalso be regulated by Texas municipalities. Texas can not prevent an owner from installing certain types neighbour put spikes on shared fence fencing their... It also depends on the top of a solid mounting method using some shelf brackets and Chicken wire Heres close-up. Features of a good way to keep cats out can be awkward to approach neighbor. Make it conform the Laws have been outlined in detail in this spike. The location of your backyard the first place fall from the clear blue.! The location of your backyard to stop burglars can Transform Mergers and Purchases your state Vladimir 's... Confronted the pet owner, who later shared the dispute online, reports Mirror and make a about! 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