I live on a hill, and my neighbor's garden is a few feet below mine. We have a retaining wall with some bushes, and their new fence sits behind those bushes. Recently, my neighbor had to replace their fence because they said our bushes were damaging the old one. To keep things friendly, we trimmed the bushes back. Now, I want to cat-proof my garden since we just got a kitten who's going to be an indoor cat. I plan to build a fence on my side that must be 6ft tall to protect her, which would make it taller than their fence when viewed from my neighbor's perspective. I'm really worried this might upset my neighbor since they just got a nice new setup. Can I build a double fence, and what's the best way to approach my neighbor about this?
3 Answers
Why does the fence have to be 6ft? Have you asked your neighbor if they’d be okay with you attaching something to their fence instead? They might prefer that to having a whole new fence on your side, especially since it could block access for maintenance. Plus, you can mention it'll keep your cat from using their garden as a litter box!
Have you thought about building a catio instead? I made one for my two cats, and they absolutely love it! Alternatively, maybe just chat with your neighbor about it. They could add something like a trellis to their side to make it look nicer while still solving your cat's safety issue. That way, it feels like a shared solution instead of taking up extra height on their fence.
Honestly, just ask your neighbor how they feel about it. If everyone communicates, it could save a lot of hassle. It's good to discuss your plans upfront since you can handle things in a friendly manner. Remember, it'll help significant neighborly relationships if you approach this politely!