Cat walking off lead

Unless it's a big, aggressive dog, the cat is more likely to do the damage. Mine scratched strange dogs' faces all the time, got one in the eye once and caused a nasty infection.

No I won’t. I am vigilant about checking surroundings for people/other dogs. What I won’t do is the same for voles.

I think both you and the cats owners need to be able to recall and control your pets, to keep them safe and other peoples pets safe. If you can’t do this then they both need to be on a lead. Plus also to get them away from any other hazards when out and about too!

let’s reverse the situation and say a large dog chased for your patterdale and the large dog couldn’t be recalled or prevented from chasing your dog. How would you feel? Do you think it’s reasonable if you were expected to have your dog on a lead or in a carrier because other people can’t recall their dog?

I think any owner whose dog injures or kills an animal or human should be prosecuted.

You may regret that one day, see above.

I have a border terrier who would absolutely go for a cat if she had the chance. I have two cats who she is fine with because she has grown up with them but a strange cat.....she would 100% try to get it. Her recall is ok until she sees a squirrel, a fox, a cat etc and then she goes stone deaf. Hence she is always on a lead as despite doing all the training I do not trust her one inch. Lovely as she is, she can also be an absolute bellend.

Also, leaving the cat issue aside, if he chases squirrels he is going to come off worse one day. They can be vicious and carry disease.

One of my neighbour's cats decided to take on a squirrel, got a very nasty bite and ended up costing his owners three visits to the vet!

However, people don't take their cat for a walk. It may choose to accompany them.

Your dog never has a free run? Poor doggy. You can be a good dog owner and still let them have a run out in the fields. It’s what mine lives for!

My dog would most likely act in the same way. She is pretty good but her recall goes out of the window if she spots a squirrel or similar. That's why she is kept on a lead.

OP, if your dog kills a cat, you could be held liable, not the cat owner. Even if they were "walking" it.

If your dog kills livestock, you could be held liable. And the farmer would have the right to shoot your dog.

If he doesn't have perfect recall, it's your responsibility to make sure he's on a lead if he could encounter small animals. End of story.

If the cat was static in someone's arms, was the issue that the dog was leaping up at the person trying to get at the cat? What did the dog do when the cat was picked up?

You should teach the dog not to chases cats

If your dog does not have perfect recall, and I have never met one that does, you should be ready to put it on a lead when other people, wildlife, or pets are around.

It would be absolutely unacceptable for any dog to kill a cat. In any circumstances. (And I have had Large and now small Sighthound.

This. If you’re walking in a residential area then of course your dog should be on lead. But in open countryside it’s normal for a dog to chase things. Mine chases squirrels and rabbits. Her chances of getting them are zero.

Are you not in the UK OP? I know other countries it's the norm to keep cats indoors but in the UK there are cats walking outside all the time so this makes no sense.

That said i do put him on a lead if I see people/other dogs, to ensure he doesn’t annoy other people. He’s a puppy and still learning.

The fact the cat happened to be walking along with its owners is a red herring.
Cats wander all over the place (they have a right to roam), so your dog might encounter them on any walk. Whether or not there are people with the cat isn't particularly relevant. Now you know that there's a risk of the dog chasing cats, so probably a good idea to be vigilant on future walks.

When I walk my Whippet in a specific place we sometimes see a pedigree cat 🐈‍⬛ walking with her owners.

Your dog shouldn’t be chasing a cat.

If it can’t be trusted, put dog on lead.

Cats have the right to walk with their owners.
Bengals often do this.

I don’t think any dog, however well behaved, has total recall. Dog trainer to the stars Steve Mann concedes that. Dogs do chase - squirrels, birds, balls, sticks, their own tails - doesn’t mean they should always be on a lead in open countryside. The squirrels and birds just laugh at their pathetic efforts. We trained our dog not to chase our cats (the cats now bully him mercilessly) but he continues to chase birds whenever he sees them. I don’t think this means he must never be off lead.

I used to do this all the time with my cats. It was rare they'd be bothered by a dog, but if they were they just hid in the middle of a big bush for a bit.

If you can’t stop your dog chasing things it needs to be on the lead all the time. 100% a your dog problem. Most cats are outdoor cats and wander where they like so you should be prepared to encounter them outside at any point.

So your dog chased a cat and it's the cat's fault? Just put your dog on a lead

If the cat wasn’t with people, and was killed or injured by OP’s dog while off-lead in a public place, how would people feel?