Why??

[Smowball]

I live in a terraced house, with a 6 foot brick wall at bottom of garden. behind this is a cul de sac and so the wall is now the side wall of the house behind, well its garden actually. Yesterday i noticed something shiny on the wall from my lounge. Watched for a bit and realised there were many cats comi up to the bowl and eating from it, including mine. Then birds started to eat from it. I went outside and reached up to see that it was a bowl full of cat biscuits. bearing in mind that I have spent months trying to get cats that arent mine away from my garden as they keep coming into my house, I pushed the bowl away as far as I could. ive got up this morning and it is back and full up again and my back wall is now resembling cat alley! I dont want to fall out with this house owner, i dont know him apart from sight but I want him to stop doing this so how to I tackle it politely?

[vodkancoke]

Can you not just take it away?

[Old_Geezer]

Since it bothers you why not simply call and expain the situation ? I think they have the right to put a cat bowl in their own garden if they wish, but if the request is polite maybe they'd be willing to move the bowl further away from your boundary.

[China Doll]

Either ask him politely to stop doing it or remove the bowl each time (which isn't very polite). I'm not sure it's that much of a big deal, just go round and ask. If he doesn't then keep moving the bowl.

[jackthehat]

Knock the bowl off the wall making sure the biscuits all fall out on his side.

[Smowball]

Well the bowl isnt in their garden. If you face their house the wall on the right runs down the whole side of the cul-de-sac, same wall also runs across back of my house They then have a side gate which goes into their own garden.

[vodkancoke]

Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you didn't know who was doing it. I would do as China says, just go and have a polite word and explain the problem

[ummmm]

Do what Jack says.

[vulcan]

keep removing the biscuits.

[cazzz1975]

you should tell them that leaving food outside regularly will attract rats.

[Kiki-frog]

I think you're going to have to have a polite word, Smow. I can't see any reason why they can't put the bowl in their own garden.

[Smowball]

hmmm, I may try knocking it over and blame the cat !But if he puts it up again then yeh guess Im going to have to pop round to them.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah right, the description wasn't easy to picture and I forgot the main bit of it being on, rather than over the side of, the wall.

But I stick to my advice, stay on good terms with neighbours if at all possible. Start a cat bowl vendetta only if other options fail.

[Old_Geezer]

If he blames the cat I think you will have achieved nothing. My expectation would be that he will simply put it back assuming it was a one off incident. To achieve anything you would need him to know it was you, and that you intend doing it again and again so there is no point it putting it there.

[Smowball]

Yes OG , I see your point.

[weecalf]

Take the biscuits away that will drive the Ginger Nuts

[lankeela]

Pin a note to the bowl asking if its possible to put the bowl somewhere else as the cats are causing problems for your cat (if you have one)

[Smowball]

I could always take the bowl and if he comes round and asks for it then ask what it was up there for?

[rowanwitch]

say you have seen a rat going to the bowl.....

[tonyav]

Thats agood idea Smow.

[annie0000]

are you certain that the food he is putting out isn't poisoned and is there to get rid of the cats?