To tell the neighbours the cat isn’t my problem

for what?

THIS and I live alone with my cat.

But it can't, even hopefully, prevent anything happening. What would prevent damage to that cat by that dog in that garden is for the CAT OWNER to prevent the cat from entering that garden. Do you not get it that dogs and cats have prey instincts and the law accepts this. Cat owners are not required to prevent their cats killing birds and other animals and dog owners are not required to protect cats from their dog in their own properly secured garden. As I said its the other side of the cats' right to roam.

Did you even read the op? 🤔 Neighbours have said they are going to report to the council.

If supervising OP can hopefully prevent anything from happening. If you have a dog you cannot trust yet, or a neighbour you cannot trust, the sensible thing to do is supervise the dog when outside.

She can trust the dog to chase cats. She mitigates this by having a garden dog cannot escape from, and by not introducing cats to that garden.

Absolutely ridiculous post. OP has categorically stated her dog does not chase other animals. It barks at the cat in the garden. It’s her garden, the dog does not need supervising the whole time it’s out there.

If you’re going to post ‘general’ comments, then don’t aim them at the OP when they don’t apply to her.

A few years ago I had an issue with a neighbours cat who liked prowling up and down the top of the fence and sitting on top of my nesting box for the birds.

I cut some long lengths of bramble and wound it along the top where the cat was walking. It wasn't the prettiest thing but it was free, natural and the cat didn't like the thorns so stopped doing it.
Worth having a look to see if similar might work on the top of your fence, I think you mentioned a trellis so a few zip ties might attach them. But just because it must be annoying to have the dog barking.
The neighbours can get lost.

In your own properly secured garden? I also believe it would be a stretch to go from "prey instinct" which is normal in dogs AND cats, to aggression. Civil actions (suing) are open to pretty much anyone about anything and as I said earlier, you might get vets fees or the price of the cat back but in the dog owner's properly secured garden? Not a hope in hell.

So you think OP should make sure she turns a blind eye to her dog incase anything happens?

If supervising OP can hopefully prevent anything from happening. If you have a dog you cannot trust yet, or a neighbour you cannot trust, the sensible thing to do is supervise the dog when outside.

Search Facebook for #whatsyourname
It's a reel about cat and dog neighbours 😆

YANBU a labrador prob won't he able to catch a cat.

However, be very careful about what you allow/teach your dog to do. My security conscious neighbour used to reward her dog for patrolling her boundaries and woofing at foxes, squirrels etc. The damn thing then didn't stop barking, including at us when we were using our garden.

Ah first answer nailed it!

I’m team cat in life but in this case neighbours are unreasonable. If they’re worried for their cat they need to get insurance. Just like if there’s a train track / road nearby and cat crosses and gets injured the train company / driver isn’t liable just cos the cats gonna cat!

Fair enough.
i just looked up the law. It does look like you can sue a dog owner if they kill your cat, but you have to prove negligence, which would presumably be difficult in someone else’s garden, although elsewhere should be possible?
Would there be an argument just on the basis of someone possessing an aggressive animal and not mitigating that?

actually no.......the neighbour then might have an argument that the OP saw the incident and did nothing to stop it and its hard to see what action the OP could take if, while supervising her dog in her own secured garden, a cat entered it.

There is no legal definition of the word "vermin" in UK law. Note the whole answer.....which lists some animals generally considered "vermin" Cats are not included. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldhansrd/vo031008/text/31008w02.htm

Im absolutely the same, i had dogs as well and I'd be absolutely devastated, the owner didn't even care, they just left their front door open and let it roam whenever it wanted. It was a massive aggressive big dog.

I'd write back and say
"Obviously i do shoo the cat away if I see it, however your cat is trespassing in my garden and therefore I do not accept liability for any vet bills if your cat is injured whilst in my garden".

You don't need to put your dog on a lead in your own garden or spend time shooing their cat out.
The cat will learn.
Ignore the neighbours.

😂I'd like to see the dog that could own a cat!

The cat’s owner is completely out of order! Why would they want to get to the point of risking their pet getting injured or killed in the first place? They need to take preventative measures to ensure their cat is safe, not expect you to do all the leg work. What would happen if the cat made into your house on a sunny day when the windows are open? It’s not just the garden that’s the issue.

I would make it very clear to them that you expect them to keep their cat out of your garden going forward. I would also cat proof your garden as much as possible and chase the thing out with water spray etc until it got the message that it’s not welcome.

Yes, cats have the right to roam but responsibility to ensure the welfare of the cat remains with the owner. The owner has to take reasonable steps to make sure her cat is safe, not you.
A single dog is very rarely going to catch and kill a cat who can jump and climb.
I do have a lot of time for cats but their owners are often completely useless.

My point is, batshit neighbours can go to great lengths when they get a bee in their bonnet. The sensible thing to do is to protect yourself and your dog by being as responsible as possible. If the dog is supervised whilst it is out, and hopefully one day trained to tolerate cats, the neighbour isn't likely going to be able to access the dog and make false claims.

There are no legal consequences to a dog killing someone else's cat on your own property.

It's a moot point, though, because the dog isn't ever going to catch the cat anyway.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Your neighbours have got a bloody cheek asking you to check your garden for their nuisance pet before letting your own pet out. They're nuts if they think that's reasonable. Let your dog out whenever you like.

Your dog absolutely will not catch the cat by the way. Might be just about plausible if you had a sight hound but a Labrador isn't going to catch a cat. Also, the cat will probably stop coming in once it realises it will get chased every time.

I meant no offense - It is just a legal definition that confers a right to roam. Basically you cannot expect a cat to stay where it is put and it will follow comfortable space/ food and the opposite gender just as hedgehogs and rats for example. Nor can you expect it not to poo where it pleases (dig your borders over at your peril. You cannot harm it, but you can put out deterrents though.