To tell the neighbours the cat isn’t my problem

If the cat enters your property then it's the cat owner's fault. You'll do whatever is reasonable to keep your dog from attacking it, but at the end of the day you've warned the cat owner. Tell her she'll pay for injuries to your dog if she keeps threatening you to pay for her cat. Silly woman.

I love both cats and dogs BTW, just hate CFs.

Unless its small claims civil actions cost megabucks and yes a cat owner could do it if they felt in need of expensive amusement. I suspect that in either case, the claim would get no further that my example of the expensive watch getting mowed.

Absolutely. My cat (not the one I mentioned before) actually chased and attacked (a bite) my neighbours' elderly cat in their own garden . I didn't know about it until NDN turned up on my doorstep explaining that our pets don't get on and how about we organise the time they are allowed out so they're not out at the same time? Their view was, happily, "cats will be cats" and they weren't looking to recover the vets bill from me (although I immediately offered), just manage their exposure to each other. Much more sensible way of viewing the Pets Clash Situation.

You're not being unreasonable OP, it's their responsibility entirely. You've done your bit by making your garden secure,

Good luck with that. Are the cat owners the owners of the neighbours garden? No is the answer. Next … Is the dog able to get out of this garden? No - The dog is secure. The cat gets injured in the neighbours garden it is the cat owner’s responsibility of care.

Why do you think this? If you are correct, why aren’t cat owners held liable for picking up their cats’ poo from other people’s gardens, or for road accidents their cat causes? Why for cats do you think owners have rights but not responsibilities?

Complete bollocks.

The dog is secured on its own property and the cat has entered that area. The dog's owner has zero responsibility to keep wandering cats safe from their dog.

If the dog entered the neighbour's garden and attacked the cat, that would be entirely different.

I’m a cat owner, and I still think they’re being unreasonable. Their cat will learn that their territory has changed and your garden, quite rightly, now belongs to your dog.

If that is really the case and OP could be found liable for the vets bills then the law really is an ass.

If that were the case OP should be able to take out a civil law case against the cat for trespass on her property. That would be just as ridiculous.

Wrong! The car’s owner can take civil action for recovery of any vets bills, regardless of the fact that the cat wandered onto their property!

Actually the owner of the car could take out a civil case for recovery of any vet bills regardless of the cat wandering into their garden!

But there is no need. Cats are not like dogs, that’s why you don’t need public liability insurance for them and you don’t have to pick up their sh*t. OP would have as much liability for it in her garden as for a hedgehog.

Can you protect yourself by getting a cctv camera in back garden. That way if they try and bill you if their car got injured you would have proof either way.

I have cats and dogs my dogs ignore the resident cats but any other is fair game! The cat will learn to stay out of the garden eventually as it has with others that have dogs .
Neighbours cannot hold you liable for any injury on your property only if your dog got loose

They are being ridiculous, we have a dog and several cats come into our garden or sit on the fence with the sole purpose of winding him up! He’s a pretty fast little terrier but has never managed to catch one !

Not your issue, OP. Your neighbours are idiots - you are not responsible for what happens to their cat on your property. I say this as someone who has two outdoor cats and loves them beyond all reason. Absolutely their responsibility to either put up measures to discourage it going into your garden or accept what might happen if it does.

My mum has an ex racing greyhound who will chase down any cats that come into his garden. If he catches one, he will kill it.
If you let your cats roam, then you accept that they might get caught by a dog or hit by a car. The owners have no right to demand vet bills from you, and reporting your dog to the council will just be a waste of their time.

I hope you are enjoying your new canine friend.

I say this as an owner of 2 cats who roam outdoors - tell the cat neighbours to F off! Your dog will likely never ever catch that cat - they’re too quick - and you should be able to enjoy your garden in peace! Good for you OP - and so pleased you’re giving a rescue a good home ❤️

Tell the entitled cat owners to fuck off.

Your dog is secured in your garden. The law couldn't care less if your dog kills a wandering cat.

FWIW my 12 week old kitten got out and into my next door neighbour’s garden and promptly had its leg bitten off (or mangled, needing £3k worth of surgery to amputate, pre me sorting the insurance) by their dog.

The dog was this awful, aggressive, neurotic, Romanian rescue that the neighbours would earnestly try to socialise with my very young kids to try and address its behaviour - but that horse had sadly bolted and the poor dog was fucked.

The whole situation was absolutely horrible BUT at no point did I feel entitled to ask for vet bills or ask the neighbours to moderate the dog’s movements in their own garden. The dog was being a dog and was on its own territory and my cat took a chance and lucked out. He lives very happily on three legs and is pals with the dog we now have, three years on.

Your neighbours are bellends. The end.

@OuchyEars you’re right, it should say “an offence NOT to stop if you run over a dog.”

I reposted because lots of people seemed to be saying that the OP is liable for someone else’s cat’s safety in her garden, and that’s not the case. If you let your cat roam you’re accepting it can do whatever and go wherever it likes, but nobody else is responsible for keeping it safe.

lol, I’d tell them to jog on, in the nicest possible way!

Your garden, your dogs garden. Their cat, their responsibility…….

Tell them you'll bill them for the damage to your garden from the cat. That'll learn 'em

I'd be more worried about my dog hurting himself. We have cats walking along our back fence and my dog hurls himself at the fence in a complete frenzy. I worry he's going to damage his back (because I've heard of this happening) and cost me a small fortune. Not much I can do though - it's just life.