To tell the neighbours the cat isn’t my problem

The idea that another person can prescribe what you can do in your own garden is ridiculous.

I say that as a person who owns cats who roam. Cats are very adept at learning hazards and threats and avoid areas where they are uncomfortable. If they are scared of the dog they will avoid. If they aren’t avoiding then they are still sizing the dog up. If the dog hurts them then that’s their stupidity honestly. That has got nothing to do with you!

either they keep the cats in or they accept that there are dangers in the wider world. No court would ever rule that a neighbour was responsible for something their dogs did to a trespassing animal in their own garden. Outside of the home it may be a different story.

We have a retired greyhound. He and his predecessor have had scratches from cats (one leading to infection and needing antibiotics from the vet). You would have neither civil or criminal liability if a cat was injured etc in your garden (or anywhere else except the cat’s own garden, for that matter). Cat’s claws and mouths are notoriously full of bacteria. I’d be telling the neighbours in your scenario that if their cat scratches your lab in your garden and you need to go to the vet, they’ll be paying the vet’s fees.

My fucking batshit neighbour said this to one of my other neighbours who basically told them to fuck off. Politely though. Long story with the batshit neighbour but she's basically a right pain in the arse.
Cats learn quickly and if neighbour's cat was that bothered it would stop going in the bloody garden but no, it keeps going in and hanging around and winding up the dog.
If the neighbours are that concerned they can keep their cat in or cat proof their garden so it can't go in your garden.
Not your problem.

You can’t train natural behaviours out of dogs. There is no way to stop my whippet chasing after small furry creatures that run. He’s never caught anything beyond a couple of fat pheasants, but thinking I can change him would be foolish.

That’s why we avoid close proximity with cats when out and about. On the rare occasion we’ve come across a cat when he’s off lead, we immediately put him back on.

But if a cat enters his garden, and I’m not around to bring the dog in, the cat better be quick.

As pp says, you’ve been paying for a messed up garden, and ruined toys. I’d tell your neighbour that if that is her attitude then you’ll be sending her an itemised invoice of the costs her cat has racked up, along with your bank details.

I agree with all the posters who say that its down to the cat owner to keep their cat safe. I should warn you OP, that twice, my dogs have been attacked by a cat in my garden and both times the wounds got infected. You might like to mention this to the cat owner that if their cat attacks your dog in your garden then you will be after THEM for vets bills.

Stop trying to shoo the cat out, let the dog enjoy its own space. Cat owner has the choice of keeping the cat in or accepting the reality of life as a cat owner. If they talk about claiming money again, point out the fact that for ?years their cat has been digging up your garden and plants and you’ve never raised it as an issue with them because you accept that whilst you don’t like it, this is what animals do if they’re allowed to roam.

I’m a dog and a cat owner.

Yes, absolutely this.

I have cats and love cats. They have freedom to roam, because their lives are much more fun that way than if I kept them indoors all the time.

But this means accepting the risk that they will go somewhere where there's a dog (or a car, or a fox, etc etc...) and be injured if they're dumb enough or unlucky enough. It's the price you pay for their quality of life, and cats, in practice, are actually pretty clever and fast.

OP's dog is far from the only danger this cat will be exposed to. The cat owners are accepting a whole range of risks by letting it roam.

“This is my dog’s home, and he will continue to use our garden daily. If you are concerned about your cat being injured whilst in my garden and requiring vet treatment, I suggest you either keep him within your property, or invest in some pet insurance.”

I had a similar problem with my neighbour. They own the fence along their side, and let it deteriorate to ruins and refused to mend it, so we put our own fence in front of it, and a massive hedge because I have a dog and I don’t want him getting out.

Neighbours have a rabbit, and a small dog. They both can walk through neighbours rubble of a fence and crawl under a few gaps where the ground is uneven and get into my garden.

My dog can be let out all day in my garden as it is 360 degree surrounded by fence, wall, hedge and big thick high gate.

I’ve looked out a few times and seen neighbours bunny rabbit happily munching on my lawn, but luckily my dog was inside.

I’ve told my neighbour that she needs to stop her rabbit, and dog, coming into my garden as I can’t be sure my dog won’t kill the rabbit. He’s an alpha male dog.

Her response to me was that I should keep my dog in, as she’s not prepared to hutch her rabbit or fix her fence. All she needs to do is put something to block the gaps her side.

My response to her was that I’ve given her warning as to what could happen, I’m not keeping my dog in, and it’s on her.

I had a problem with a neighbor and her cat always use to come in my house and it was the height of summer so doors and windows would be open it got to the point you would think the cat was mine. anyway she came knocking on my door wanting her cat back happily gave her it back and she told me to keep my doors and windows shut so her cat doesn't come in I told her to jog on its the height of summer and my kids want to play in there garden. she wasn't happy and I never seen the cat out again she made it stay in. I would just tell your neighbor to get a grip and if your dog is out then its on there cat if it comes in.

Ha ha. Presumably they also asked you not to go out in your car in case their cat happened to be out and you might kill it by running over it?

We have cats, the neighbours have a terrier. The cat very much isn't your problem. They may tease the dog, which you won't be able to stop, but if they get into the garden that's on them, not you. A sensible cat wouldn't risk it.

They are being ridiculous. It’s your garden. They cannot expect to claim rights to your garden over you. If you have a patio door that you might leave open when the weather warms up I expect the cat will learn to be more wary then. If your dog catches the cat I think it might kill it. My friend’s dog caught a squirrel once and it was over in seconds I’m afraid 😢

Or you can preempt it now but checking with your household insurance and advising neighbour they won’t pay out if cat is injured in your garden so they need to get medical pet insurance if they’re worried about the costs of letting their cat roam.

Your dog is a Lab. To use a good Northern expression, they’re all mouth and no trousers. A Jack Russell, however, might kill a cat.

I'm having a similar issue.

No neighbour complaints.

My springer spaniel verus the neighbours cat, only the cat is an adorable tabby and very smart, she is under a year and walks along the wall for a rub, while my dog is having a fit.

I'm hoping they can be friends.

I also have a visiting heron every morning, he is huge, arrives for some chicken at 6am.

Your dog most likely won't catch the cat.

My dog is a house dog. If I'm letting her outside, I will knock on back door to alert the cat.

The neighbours cat isn’t your problem. You have a dog and your dog is in your garden. Your garden does not belong to your neighbours.

I have a cat and a dog, as others have said, if the cat was that scared it just wouldn’t come in, cats aren’t stupid and it sounds like this one can outrun the dog no issues. Your neighbours are being ridiculous.

This! A neighbour’s cat evidently enjoyed sitting on the fence and winding our dog up! You could almost hear it chortling, , ‘Ha ha, you can’t get me!’

I'm so glad I live somewhere there are dozens of cats and no-one bothers about them roamingly freely or that some gardens contain dogs.

Oh ignore her. Another cat owner here. Cats soon learn to stay out of the way of cat-chasing dogs. If the cat persists there's nothing anyone can do.
Your neighbour is full of herself.

I am a cat person and have cats
However, YANBU here, at all.