To suspect my neighbour killed my cat

Indeed. A cat's nature is to hunt birds. A human's nature is NOT to slaughter beloved pets.

Cats who kill birds are normal cats and can be safely trusted around humans.

Humans who slaughter pets are monstrous, possibly psychopathic and absolutely dangerous to be around.

www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/domestic-violence-animal-cruelty-abuse-neglect-murder-children-dogs-a9018071.html

Fine, not murder but deliberate and premeditated killing of an animal which is what op suspects.

I maintain that cats have the killer instinct and that is what they do.

I understand you don't care about cats being killed, but I suspect most people simply hate cats for being a nuisance or crapping in their garden, rather than genuinely caring about birds.

Pet slaughter is a known precursor for psychopathy and directly linked to human murder.

Report it to the police, keep your cat inside - not because you should have to, it's absolutely normal to want your cat to play outside, but because you now know you are living next door to a possible psychopath.

And keep your kids, well well away from him.

In fact, I'd move. And I am not joking.

"We found not only have most animal abusers been exposed to violence and abuse, but that this has resulted in reduced empathy and a normalisation of aggression,” he says. “So there is a high likelihood that this violence will be enacted against spouse, children and within society against people and property.”

www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/domestic-violence-animal-cruelty-abuse-neglect-murder-children-dogs-a9018071.html

A cat can't be murdered. A domestic cat killing birds is not "nature". Is it also nature when dogs kill stuff, because we don't tend to tolerate that?

This is suspected murder of a cat.

A cat hunts because thats their nature.
Can you not see the difference? 🤦🏻‍♀️

It's not. They are not native predators in the UK. Nature would be a Scottish wild cat killing a bird. Not non native domestic cats killing dozens,

@Mani2024 this sound so terribly sad. Your neighbour sounds awful but wild birds in the UK are struggling so I can see some of their point, but to go from "cats are a nuisance" to full on harming a cat is a huge leap and if they are responsible for the death of your kitten that is reprehensible.

Sadly, however, as a previous cat owner for many years, there are just some young cats that do not stay out of trouble and it is also entirely possible your cat was hit by a car.

Our very last cat was a prolific huntress. We adored her. But it was while hunting she leaped in front of a neighbours car while it was reversing. After that we said no more cats. We now have a wildlife garden. And if we ever get another we will be cat proofing the garden to keep them on their own patch and away from vehicles.

If we're not allowed to care about cats killing birds, why should we care about cats being killed?

I'm sorry op for your loss. Your neughbour sounds very unpleasant and dangerous, and I would definitely be asking for footage to co firm whether or not your suspicions were right. However, right now without this type of evidence you can't prove he did it.

I wonder whether those protesting about cats killing birds are also happy to tuck into a Sunday roast chicken or beef, which has been farmed amd slaughtered, thus intentionally creating environmental damage.

Cats with killer instinct will hunt, chase prey and eat them. It's just what they do and part of nature.

YES THEY CAN! Many people have cat runs for this purpose.

Go and ask for the ring doorbell footage. Tell them your cat was run over and you want to see what happened. If he killed the cat and you get proof don’t put it on Facebook. He’ll be lynched.

That’s awful, OP, your poor little cat. I’d report him to the police, and I’d get a catio built so the surviving cat is safe. But I’d also consider moving out and letting the house to some kind of psychopathic drug dealing hoarder.

That’s not environmental damage. It’s nature 🤦‍♀️

Go and ask the neighbours for the ring footage, they should still have access but it will have only recorded it it triggered motion, and if motion was triggered in the same 10 min period it won’t catch any new motion (if that makes sense, I’ve worked that out from mine!)

As them now for the footage op before its gone. You can say its too see about how the accident happened

I think I would be explaining everything you have here to the police including his begging you not to get a cat and confession and see if they think he might be worth having a word with. The fact he can't look at you. Maybe just bluff him and ask him did you kill my cat because you were seen going up there carrying something that morning and guage his reaction. He won't know for certain if he was seen or not.

But I hate them as a species for the environmental damage they do

A human getting uppity about another animal causing environmental damage.
Thats hilarious.

I’ll never understand people who get upset about cats chasing birds. What do they expect them to do? Say “oh are humans quite fond of birds? Well ok I’ll leave them alone then. Not so fond of mice though, can I chase them?”

I mean it’s not as if humans don’t hunt animals and for sport at that.

How unpleasant
What a ghastly person you must be

If you still have the body of your cat you can pay for an autopsy. They can easily tell if a car caused the injury or something else. The police are always interested in purposeful cat killings.

It's a huge red flag for a man to kill cats. In all honesty I'd move especially if you have children. I'd also tell the police what you suspect. It is part of a larger picture and I bet there's reports about him if not convictions that don't relate to cats at all.

That's really horrible if he has, and it sounds like he might have been cruel to them anyway, with the squealing. I'm just not sure you can do anything unless you can prove it.

It looks like you're going to have to keep any cats inside for their own well being. If you want to let them outdoors, what about a catio?

I know some people do regard cats as pests. My friend had her cat shot by someone.

It's possible. As is a traffic incident.
However you should be doing more to ensure your cats don't bother birds. They may have the right to roam, but it's awful for bird populations and leaves them vulnerable to all sorts of things (such as horrid neighbours or cars).