Neighbor weaponizing High frequency cat scarers.

Niall02

A neighbor (in her 70’s ) has put up cats scarer around the perimeter of her property. One mounted on a wall at head height? And two others on the edge of her garden (Pointed at public footpath not garden).
So, these are render ineffective for there cat use but go off every few seconds when people walk by or we come out our house/garden.

I have approached her to let he know we can hear devices in the house with windows open and makes the garden unbearable in summer as the noise goes off longer. It is a high frequency squeal.

The first time I knocked on the door pre Covid, I explained we can hear it and I showed her how to adjust the frequency, but 1 week later she adjusted them all back so we can hear. She has now got another one pointed at our window…great.
I went around again, and she just said. “This is my property, and I am legally allowed to do what I want, I cannot hear it. There is no problem here”. It was a very odd behaviour and no room for compromise.
Now I am starting to document to take to the environmental health, but I assume they will not do anything as it’s just effecting my house? Also if the officer DOES come out they may not be able to hear it and just write it off.

It really is affecting our lives and she seemingly taking pleasure in this. Now COVID-19 has struck I do not want to go around a third time…..but this is dreadful and we cannot use the garden as it gives us a splitting headache.

Should I document and approach the environmental health? Will anyone do anything or will she just get away with this behavior?

These are all plugged in and have wires trailing from windows and doors to keep them on constantly.

Doozergirl

If she can't hear them, would she notice if they were accidentally unplugged? 😬

In seriousness, Environmental Health may well write her a letter about it if you contact them.  It might be enough.  

Do those things even work for cats? 

Niall02

Doozergirl said:

If she can't hear them, would she notice if they were accidentally unplugged? 😬

She would. As we would be out on the front more or in the garden more! She doesent use the fornt door anymore as she runs wires through the letterbox. Its all very weird. We are a quiet family. No pets. She did not care when we explained the noise and the fact that its not audible to everyone. She seem to be happy about it disturbing us. She has no children as I asked if anybody else has heard it who may be able to hear to that range.

Mickey666

Does it also stop teenagers hanging around?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sonic-youth-high-pitched-sound-alarm-under-25s-8665652.html

Niall02

Mickey666 said:

Does it also stop teenagers hanging around?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sonic-youth-high-pitched-sound-alarm-under-25s-8665652.html

No, these are bog standard High pitch cat scarers. No anti social behavior here and not many young people either. We are considered young in our 40s

Emmia

Is she (early stages) developing dementia etc with symptoms of paranoia, and perceives you as a threat in some way?  Is this recent behaviour?

Has she put up the scarers as a means of (what she thinks is) protecting herself? Does she have any family or friends who visit?

I'd try writing to Environmental Health,  and possibly Social Services if you think there is an issue with her health. 

GDB2222

Surely, the way to deal with this is to buy one of the items, exactly the same model, open it up, and disable the internal works. That just means snipping some wires. Next time she’s out substitute that for one of her live models. Disable that one, and next time she’s out, etc.

That would be criminal damage, of course, but it’s better than having a heated argument with someone who has dementia.

Jeepers_Creepers

"So, these are render ineffective for their cat use but go off every few seconds when people walk by or we come out our house/garden."

This lady has a cat of her own? So the purpose of these cat repellents is to keep out everyone else's cat? Blimey.

I wonder how she'd respond if you explained that, according to her reasoning, you'd be equally entitled to buy a score of these devices and fit them on your fence pointing in to her garden? Not that you'd do this, of course.

She could well be a vulnerable lady, but the situation is clearly unacceptable and cannot continue. I would not carry out any sabotage or retaliation (and I doubt you would) but instead contact Environmental Health as it seems to me to be a valid case.

I suspect they will act and inform the lady that it's unreasonable and must stop. If for any reason they don't do this, then it's your local Bobby. I'm not sure what the legal case is - harassment? - but you frankly have no other way to stop her that isn't illegal.

Do you have LP on your home insurance? A 'legal' letter from them might sober her up too.

Emmia

GDB2222 said:

Surely, the way to deal with this is to buy one of the items, exactly the same model, open it up, and disable the internal works. That just means snipping some wires. Next time she’s out substitute that for one of her live models. Disable that one, and next time she’s out, etc.

That would be criminal damage, of course, but it’s better than having a heated argument with someone who has dementia.

But this will be obvious as the OP will be in the garden more, as the sound will have stopped.

Jeepers_Creepers

I know what these devices are like - one neighb has one fitted in our shared border hedge at the bottom of our garden to stop cats passing through (not ours - we have dawgs...).

It ain't an issue for us in practice as it's PIR activated and well inside the hedge, so it only goes off if I'm right up close, trimming away. But, it would be completely unacceptable to have that thing ultra-chirping either constantly or nearer the house.

Niall02

She'll know the letter is from us if the Environmental health do write one. But as the law is not on our side my worry is she will up her game and order more. She seem to know what shes doing and I had wondered if dementia was at play. No family or friends. I did go around offering to get shopping when covid hit and left my number and relevant telephone numbers incase of an emergency or needing food. It's such a shame respect is not a two way street!

It's such a shame it fulls under civil matter as I do not want to drag an elderly person who may be suffering from dementia to court. Also as much as I wish I could go and turn them off I do not want to be accused of vandalism.