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AIBU?

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Original poster

To tell the neighbours the cat isn’t my problem

389 replies

Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 06:51

We have neighbours who own a cat. The cat is a bit of a pain in the backside and continually came in our garden. Obviously, we couldn’t stop it and it treated our garden as its own causing some damage to toys and crapping in the flower beds.

We have recently got a lab from a rescue who, as we quickly discovered, doesn’t like cats. As soon as we brought our dog home and let it in the garden it immediately chased this cat down. The dog didn’t catch the cat and is likely never going to but likes to terrify the cat. Thankfully, the cat seems to be trying its luck a little less and our garden isn’t suffering so much mess and damage. Most of the other houses have had dogs for a fair while so cat hasn’t gone into the other gardens, ours was the only one it went into because of the dogs.

The neighbours have now complained that they are worried that my dog is going to harm their cat and possibly kill it. Now, as I’ve said, the dog is likely never to catch the cat and my garden is very secure so will never escape. The neighbours have said they will charge us for any vet bills if their cat gets injured and they will complain to the council.

neighbours have also said that if the cat is in my garden then I shouldn’t let the dog out for a pee. The issue is, I often don’t see the cat before I let her out.

My dog is pretty chilled, never any bother in any other way other than when the cat comes in.

AIBU to tell the neighbours that it isn’t my problem if their cat is scared. It’s my garden and my dog’s home and if they have an issue then they’re the ones who should keep their animal in? I’ve suggested for them to put rubber spikes or similar on their fence to hopefully prevent the cat, who is a twat, coming in but they have said the expense to do that should be on me and they don’t like to do things like that!

OP posts:
Dumbdog · 17/04/2025 09:56

Quiethouse · 17/04/2025 09:54

We don't have a dangerous cats act but we do have a dangerous dogs act. It is somewhat open to interpretation. Whilst a cat is regarded as property, if your dog is regarded as acting out of control (even on your own property) you can face a fine, prison sentence and be ordered to have the dog destroyed.

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The definition of out of control involves harm to humans or service animals. Unless it’s a guide cat, the OP is safe from prosecution

MalcolmMoo · 17/04/2025 09:55

Not your problem! We’ve just moved house and there were a couple of cars in the garden the first couple of days, house was empty before so they prob got used to it. Not seen them for a week or so now as they’ve learnt my dogs are here. The cat will just learn not to go in your garden.

Also if the dog is in your garden and the cat comes in and gets hurt that’s on the neighbour not you. You have every right to let your dog out for a wee when they need it.

Quiethouse · 17/04/2025 09:54

ViolasandViolets · 17/04/2025 09:49

What about if your cat kills a bird?

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We don't have a dangerous cats act but we do have a dangerous dogs act. It is somewhat open to interpretation. Whilst a cat is regarded as property, if your dog is regarded as acting out of control (even on your own property) you can face a fine, prison sentence and be ordered to have the dog destroyed.

godmum56 · 17/04/2025 09:53

Lostcat · 17/04/2025 09:16

I was thinking this. Even if it’s in your garden, if the dog kills the cat isn’t that your responsibility?

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nope. Its the other side of a cat having the right to roam. cats are protected by the same "deliberate cruelty" laws as any other animal. You can't shoot at them, use them for bait in dog fighting, poison them and so on BUT if they are out of their owner's property and are killed or injured then that's just too bad.

pizzaHeart · 17/04/2025 09:51

goldenretrieverenergy · 17/04/2025 06:58

It’s your garden. As long as it’s secure and your dog can’t escape to their garden, it’s none of your concern.

This ^
and I’m a cat person 100%.
Their cat is not daft and will stop coming to your garden or will achieve a partial truce with your dog.
If a fox would come to her garden and hurt her cat to whom she would send the bill, King Charles?

comeandhaveteawithme · 17/04/2025 09:51

ViolasandViolets · 17/04/2025 09:45

YANBU about their cat

YABU if you think your dog won’t mess up your garden more than their cat.

There's a big difference between mess you choose to deal with and someone else's mess that they impose on you against your will.

ViolasandViolets · 17/04/2025 09:49

Lostcat · 17/04/2025 09:16

I was thinking this. Even if it’s in your garden, if the dog kills the cat isn’t that your responsibility?

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What about if your cat kills a bird?

herbalteabag · 17/04/2025 09:48

I have two cats. Recently a dog gained access to our garden and terrified them. They simply shot inside but after a night being a bit wary they carried on as usual. This wasn't a neighbour's dog, so quite a shock to them!
Most cats are extremely fast moving and will not get caught by a dog. They will learn to avoid the dog when they hear it coming or hear the door open etc.

Original poster
Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 09:48

ViolasandViolets · 17/04/2025 09:45

YANBU about their cat

YABU if you think your dog won’t mess up your garden more than their cat.

I didn’t say the dog wouldn’t mess up the garden. I’m fully prepared that she might however there is far less crap to contend with. Because I pick the poo up straightaway it’s not being traipsed around on shoes and I’m not dealing with it when gardening. The dog also doesn’t scratch hell out of the kids toys 🤷🏼‍♀️.

OP posts:
comeandhaveteawithme · 17/04/2025 09:47

I'll never cease to be amazed at the entitlement of cat owners.

cakeisallyouneed · 17/04/2025 09:46

Whilst cats have the right to roam, owners do this at their own risk. To take someone to civil court for an animal causing injury to another animal you’d have to demonstrate irresponsibility of the owner. In your case the neighbour knows you have a dog and is still allowing their cat into your garden. You are being reasonable by having a quick scan for the cat. If your dog attacked their cat in your garden they’d not have a case. If their cat got hit by a car on the road would they argue that the car shouldn’t have been there?
they’re just annoyed you’ve got a dog. Also if they’re worried about vets bills tell them to get insurance!

ViolasandViolets · 17/04/2025 09:45

YANBU about their cat

YABU if you think your dog won’t mess up your garden more than their cat.

DisapprovingSpaniel · 17/04/2025 09:44

It's a moot point, I think. It'd be a rare case if a lab could even catch the cat, let alone do more than bark at it. The cat has faster reactions and faster speeds and is more agile.

I am guessing what will actually happen is that you've just cured your cat shit problem. Either because the cat will no longer come in the garden or because the dog will eat it.

Whattodo1610 · 17/04/2025 09:43

Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 08:16

I might just do this! Harm goes both ways after all.

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I’m a cat person but I would do exactly this. Your neighbours are ridiculous. As pp’s have said, the cat is just being a cat - it will learn eventually, atm it’s just taunting your dog - part of cat behaviour.

Zanatdy · 17/04/2025 09:42

If their cat comes into your garden, it’s not your problem, and not your expense. Hopefully cat see’s sense and stays away.

Original poster
Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 09:40

billybear · 17/04/2025 09:37

bit of trellis on top of your fence to make it harder for the cat to get into your garden, not your problem its what dogs do its the dogs garden the cat will get the message

The fence that is between our properties belongs to the neighbours who don’t want anything added to it. The fence currently has a trellis but the cat often just walks on the top of the trellis. It also jumps from their shed into the garden. I know it’s not likely to be possible to physically stop the cat but they’re unwilling to try anything other than me stopping the dog going in the garden.

OP posts:
billybear · 17/04/2025 09:37

bit of trellis on top of your fence to make it harder for the cat to get into your garden, not your problem its what dogs do its the dogs garden the cat will get the message

AlteredStater · 17/04/2025 09:32

Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 07:37

Nope, they don’t complain. The other houses already had dogs when they brought the cat, as a kitten, home so it learnt from a very early age. Now it’s just got into a habit of being in our garden as ours was the only ‘safe’ one until now.

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Yes cats are very territorial, and when part of their territory is removed such as a dog appearing, they find it hard to adapt and try to hang on to the territory, but eventually it'll realise it's a losing battle. They're stubborn little bar stewards!

Right now my only cat is in an on-off battle with a local cat because the local cat is older and our garden was its territory before mine arrived. However my cat thinks that it's his territory (well it should be!). In their feline minds both are right and they have fights over it every so often but neither wins. The crazy thing is they are related so it's like family in-fighting! 😂However I don't go to the neighbour who owns said cat and complain, as cats roam free and I understand why that cat thinks our garden is his. But it does show how tenacious they are about territory and are very unwilling to give it up!

Original poster
Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 09:30

ClairDeLaLune · 17/04/2025 09:27

Also, if their cat has learned not to go in the other gardens because of dogs, surely it will learn not to go in your garden because of your dog??

I’m hoping it will learn, it seems to be taking a while now. The other neighbours already had dogs when they brought the cat home. When the cat was a kitten it quickly learnt not to go in their gardens and this hasn’t changed. Don’t know if it’s habit or a territorial thing that it now sees my garden as its own.

OP posts:
Nextdoor55 · 17/04/2025 09:30

CowTown · 17/04/2025 09:25

There isn’t. We live opposite the public green in our neighbourhood and watched a lurcher dog bolt across the green toward a cat and throttle it until its neck broke. The police did nothing. Only concerned if it was another dog or a small child.

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That's criminal laws but not civil.
Owner of cat has a civil case apparently

law.stackexchange.com/questions/61877/what-happens-if-my-dog-kills-a-cat-in-my-garden-uk

Leavemyteam · 17/04/2025 09:29

Blackkittenfluff · 17/04/2025 06:55

They can jog on.
So can the cat.

Cat needs to run not jog!!

ClairDeLaLune · 17/04/2025 09:27

Also, if their cat has learned not to go in the other gardens because of dogs, surely it will learn not to go in your garden because of your dog??

CowTown · 17/04/2025 09:25

Miniminxymoo · 17/04/2025 09:21

As far as I know, there is no law against dogs attacking or killing cats. Not that I think it’s right at all and not that I want my dog to do it. However, my dog is in a secure garden. When I say secure, I mean secure in the fact that the dog cannot escape.

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There isn’t. We live opposite the public green in our neighbourhood and watched a lurcher dog bolt across the green toward a cat and throttle it until its neck broke. The police did nothing. Only concerned if it was another dog or a small child.

Niallig32839 · 17/04/2025 09:24

Cats are fast and the dog is most likely just going to bark and chase the cat off. My dog can’t stand cats and we get 2 in our garden all the time, usually sitting on the shed or the back wall. Soon as my dog sees them she barks and runs towards them and they run off. If they were too scared or thought the dog would get near I’m sure they would stop coming in. Cats aren’t stupid