If my greyhound eats the neighbours kitten...?

[purpleduck]

Ok, our neighbors have just gotten a very sweet kitten, and have been allowing it to go out.The cat has been going into our back garden. In the warmer weather, the dogs do go out in the garden to laze around. They don't excercise there as it is very small, and we take them out -so it won't be a problem in the winter.

Thing is, last night they forgot that the cat was out, did not leave a window open for it, and it came around and jiggled at our front door or something. I thought someone was trying to break in - the dogs were going mad. Dh came down and checked it out -he opened the door, and thats when we discovered that it was the cat. The greyhound dashed out, thinking that it was christmas, and DH had to prise the cat out of the dogs mouth. He went over to the neighbours to get them to let the cat in, and they didn't seem bothered

I really, really love cats...I know cats will be cats etc. I don't want my dog to hurt her -but its just so daft of them to get a cat, and let it wander when there is a greyhound next door. The dogs have to go in the front, as that is where their toilet is.

It just P*sses me off that it seems to be my problem - they don't seem to care..grrrrr!

[thisisyesterday]

hmmm tough one i reckon
they can't really control where their cat wanders

but equally your dogs have every right to be in their own garden

a greyhound killed my aunt's cat and it was pretty horrific tbh. dog was on a lead held by a small child, saw the cat, ran off (child couldn't keep hold of it), end of cat.

[cheesesarnie]

yeees but i can see both sides.another aibu post in next few days will read 'aibu to get a kitten even though next door has a greyhound'.

[WidowWadman]

My inlaw's greyhound once ate a cat. Well didn't eat it, but killed it, when it came back for more after he was pulled away the first time.

Nothing my inlaws could do about it.

I like cats, but I think if the cat is allowed to roam freely, the owner has to accept that there are hazards, mostly in the shape of cars, but also occasionally in the shape of greyhounds.

Poor kitty, but I wouldn't lose much sleep over it, as you warned them.

(I hope this doesn't read overly callous)

[Stannie]

They are obviously entitled to get whatever pet they see fit tbh and any dog can be a danger to cats (although Greyhounds would be more of a risk due to their training etc)..

You have warned them though and you cannot be expected to keep your dogs under lock and key on your own property to protect their pet.

Hopefully it will learn to steer clear of your garden/dogs.

[purpleduck]

I did actually send our small dog out to try and give the cat a fright - in hopes that it would steer clear of our garden. Unfortunately, our little dog is so completely un-intimidating - he just growled, and wagged his tail at it.

I suppose it just bugs me that they don't seem bothered.

[purpleduck]

Widow - I have that opinion as well - that if they are allowed to roam, then the owner needs to accept that there are risks.

I would feel terrible though.

[Stannie]

It's a shame they don't seem worried but there is nothing you can do in reality..

@ your little dog - sounds like our GSD. I tried to use him to scare cat away (it has designs on our chickens it seems) he thundered up to it, screeched to a halt, growled, wagged his whole body and then did a play bow ..rollseyes useless.. Cat simply sat on fence with expression of utter disgust on it's furry little mug then sauntered off (no doubt in search of BantamBlood.. )

[lavenderkate]

I knew some greyhounds that killed a small terrier once. I think its the pack mentality.

is the kitten dead?

[edam]

How old is the kitten? If too young to have had all his/her jabs, really shouldn't be out anyway.

Fingers crossed kitten learns that your garden is ruddy dangerous PDQ.

[Milliways]

I own a dog & a cat. Our cat is very used to huge dogs, but used to love sunbathing on the roof of next doors kennel! (metal hot roof, now replaced with wood).

Next door breed dogs so there are a few there. I would hate it if they ever got our cat, but I accept that if my cat is stupid enough to venture into their territory then he accepts the risks (especially as it is open land behing us!)

[valhala]

An impossible situation and I feel for you Widow. I am a dog and cat owner and would also feel terribly upset if one of my dogs harmed a neighbour's cat but, as you say, it is your garden, you doubtless chose dogs when you had a garden or a house in which you could have dogs, all very proper, and you are not in the wrong. Its not as if you are setting your Greys on the cat or haven't warned the neighbours.

I am livid with your neighbours as I imagine you are - of course they have a right to own a cat but its bloody stupid to do so when next door have Greys of all dogs.

You could try putting one of the various cat deterrent potions in your garden and going out ahead of your pooches to scare the cat off if its already in the garden - a water spray should do the trick. (I bet the damn neighbours will moan though, won't they!).

Other than that I don't see what you can do unless you have a half-decent council animal warden (as you probably know they might call themselves dog wardens but generally their remit covers all/most animals), who would be willing to go round and have a word with next door and impress upon them the need to keep their kitten in, for its own sake.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that your fears are unfounded for your sake as well as the kitten's.

[valhala]

Sorry OP, I called you the wrong name! Having a dopey day, many apologies.

[lavenderkate]

I have dogs.
I also have cats and they all adore each other.

However, my dogs hate nextdoor's cat.
(are you still with me?)
Our neighbours cat rarely ventures here.

on the odd occasion it trespasses it craps itself halfway across drive and flees at 155mph.

[WidowWadman]

You had me confused there!

Btw, feeling terrible when something happens to the kitten is a normal reaction. I would too, if it was my dog, but at the same I'd try to remind myself that it was neither my fault, nor the dog's fault.

Hope no kittens will be eaten in the near future.

[purpleduck]

No worries Valhala - I've been called worse My kids go on cat patrol. I think I will look into deterrents.

Lavender - The cat is ok I think - dh went over to ask them to let the cat in, and to suggest they check for punctures etc.

The neighbours are 2 young girls, and I think one of them in particular is not bothered - unfortunately she seems to be the one responsible for the cat.

Edam, I'm not sure how old the cat is -a few months I think, so I think it is just old enough to have had its jabs.

LOL Stannie

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

They have a right to have a cat. You have a right to have a dog. They can't be expected to keep their cat in, nor you the dogs. If anything happens in your garden then its the risk they've taken.

But I don't think people can say its daft to get a cat when there is a greyhound next door. I have a cat and a greyhound in the same house. Next door's terrier shows more interest in chasing the cat, though obviously can't catch it. My dog has never chased the cat or the chickens. Every dog is different.

[wishingchair]

The cat will learn (hopefully not too late) not to venture into your garden.

As long as your dogs can't and don't get into their garden then YANBU at all.

[TimothyTigerTuppennyTail]

I think that you can be prosecuted for criminal damage if your dog injures or kills a cat, but don't quote me on that!

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Not if its in the dog's own garden.

[TimothyTigerTuppennyTail]

Ah. That makes sense!

Hope the dogs don't meet the kitten on their way out for a walk then.

[valhala]

Stripey, I do take your point, honest. I have 2 large breed dogs and cats and have fostered many others, including Greys (lovely souls, btw). My boys love the cats and I have trained each foster dog to be tolerant of them too - with the exception of one impossible SBT.

I couldn't agree more that each dog is different,(I speak as a supporter of the "Deed Not Breed" campaign), and I get cross at the idea that someone who can and will treat an animal properly might be told that they shouldn't. However these are not cat-friendly Greys we are speaking of. What I meant is, if the neighbours were unaware of whether these Greys are cat-friendly surely they should have asked Purpleduck before choosing to own a kitten? By the same token I would have loved to have adopted my foster SBT but although I have a right to do so I would have been unkind to have kept her as my own as she was a risk to my cats' lives.

I still don't have an answer for the OP though....

Nonetheless it is good to emphasise that I agree with you that each dog is different as all too often one breed gets a bad name and I think we both know how that kind of situation ends up.

[purpleduck]

But stripey - when you get a pet, most people weigh things up. For example I have a friend who would love a cat - but they live by a busy road. She doesn't believe in keeping cats in, so they don't have a cat.

I know all dogs are different, but surely they could have taken our very fast dog into consideration before they let the cat out?Maybe ASKED if our dog would chase/maim.

I'm not arguing with you btw I just keep going back and forth in my head .."their pov, our pov...yet on the other hand...."

The kids and I would be devastated if something (gulp) happened to the little guy.

[valhala]

Sorry, I meant to say "I get cross at the idea that someone who can and will treat an animal properly might be told that they shouldn't HAVE A PARTICULAR PET"

Man, I'm making more than my fair share of typos and mistakes tonight!

[purpleduck]

Timothy - the dog keeps hoping

[GrimmaTheNome]

When I was a girl, one of our cats was mauled by a greyhound... but it lived way down the street. These things happen, dogs and cats being what they are. It didn't happen again though! Hopefully poor wee kitty will have learned that her territory does not include your garden now and that'll be the end of the problem.