Should I worry about new Jack Russell Terrier next door with my cat?

[PinkMonkey]

The house next door has sold to a couple who have a Jack Russell, I met the couple and the dog, they all seem lovely.

The fence is only waist height, so I'm guessing it'll be able to jump it. My cat is in my garden all the time and I'm worried about her. She doesn't move very fast, she's a rescue cat and has an old injury to her back leg and tail.

Anyway, I know it's in a terriers nature to chase small animals (in the same way it's in a cats nature to chase birds and smaller animals). Does anyone have experience of Jack Russells, will they hurt cats (even if they're gentle dogs)?

Should I put a higher fence up?

[tabulahrasa]

I'd ask the owners what he's like with cats, yes terriers tend to chase cats, but no-one on here is going to know what that one is like.

[PinkMonkey]

Stupidly I didn't ask them when I met them, so I was just wondering what the general view was.

I will ask them when they move in (in 8 weeks). I think I'm just being paranoid.

[tabulahrasa]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be abrupt...it's just that yes, terriers can be a bit chasey, but some aren't, lol

[Pandemoniaa]

My JRT is scared of cats. But as much as anything, this is because he was given a serious and painful telling off by a cat who wasn't prepared to take prisoners. Terriers do tend to chase small furry creatures because that's what they were bred to do. But that doesn't necessarily mean all terriers will or that they'll hurt cats either. It depends on the individual terrier.

I'd wait until the new neighbours arrive before worrying about this though and then introduce yourself and mention the cat.

A waist high fence might be quite high enough to stop the dog jumping anyway (my JRT couldn't manage a waist high fence unless it had handy pawholds) and if they are sensible and reasonable dog owners, they'll want to contain their dog. Not allow it to start jumping fences.

If the fence is easily jumped by this particular JRT then you could consider putting a bit of trellis along the top.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I have a terrier who happily spends 2 days a week with my mums cat and we have a hamster. He is very respectful of the cat having been twanged a few times. IMO it can be worse if the cat runs than if it stands its ground. But not every terrier will chase. Mine has only every shown an interest in birds.

But as a dog owner I'd be looking for more than waist height fences for my own dogs security. Mine could jump that.

[PinkMonkey]

It's okay Tabulah you weren't abrupt, I'm a worrier by nature

Thanks to the others for the advice, I think you're right, I need to wait and talk to the new owners.

Some sort of trellis sounds like a good idea if need be. They might want to raise the fence anyway.

[Rowgtfc72]

My big JRT scaled a six ft fence to get next doors rabbit.When he caught it he just licked it ! Short JRT has chased a cat and is bloody quick but has never caught one-they are too clever for her. Next doors cat sits on the fence and winds them up but theyve never tried too get it. Would agree with the above poster though, would definitely want a bigger fence for the dogs security never mind the cats safety.