Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours dog

38 replies

Slowdownyouredoingfine · 18/08/2025 21:37

We have young children and an 8 month old cat. He (the cat) has free rein to go in/outside in the daytime and is kept in from about 9pm. The kids are also in and out in the daytime.

Next door neighbour who lives alone has a large dog, dog has always barked over the fence at us but she has recently told us the dog is aggressive and will attack cats and also men as she doesn’t like them. (Told us a story of dog attacking her adult son)

Owner is so worried about it attacking something/one that she wont take the dog outside her house/garden. If my kids are playing in the garden and she lets the dog out it will bark constantly until owner drags it inside (takes ages.)

I’m so worried this dog is going to end up over our fence one day, or our cat will go in their garden and end up mauled to death.

What can I do? Neighbour is a nice lady and I’m sure would be fine if I spoke to her about my concerns but realistically what can she do? I can’t ask her to rehome her pet, I can’t stop my cat venturing in their garden…(can I?) I’m just a bit pissed off that I’m having to worry about the unpredictably of this animal to be honest!

Any advice?

OP posts:
Laura95167 · 18/08/2025 23:02

You can make your cat a house cat. Or build one of those cat aviary things.

I think its frustrating but the dog is in its garden, and if your cat goes there because you let it out thats the risk you take. You'll only guarantee its safety if it says in (i say this as someone with 2 cats, one self imposed house cat and a cat who like yours is allowed out til bed time)

hadenoughnows · 18/08/2025 22:53

I wouldn't muzzle my dog in his garden. It's up to you to contain your cat somehow.

If the dog can jump the fence and that's a risk to your child, then that's something I'd take very seriously. If it can't jump the fence, I'm not sure there's much you can do but make sure your child knows not to climb the fence.

carly2803 · 18/08/2025 22:20

Get a catio for your cat.

Re-inforce/heighten your fences to protect your kids.

SusanChurchouse · 18/08/2025 22:19

My male cat actively avoids dogs and, as such, never sets foot in my next door neighbour’s garden as they have 2. Though he pisses them off royally (they’re quite reactive dogs) by walking on top of the adjoining fence and occasionally the shed roof. I’ve never seen him in a neighbour’s garden actually, he sticks to communal grounds (he toilets in a bush in the car park). There are loads of dogs here yet the only time he’s been injured is at the paws of another cat. He probably deserved it.

Original poster
Slowdownyouredoingfine · 18/08/2025 22:01

@Hoardasurass Its an Alsatian.

OP posts:
Hoardasurass · 18/08/2025 21:57

Sorry but its up to you to keep your cat out of your neighbours garden and you cant expect the dog to be muzzled in its own garden to keep your cat safe.
You can put up special anti cat roller things on your fence (they harmlessly dump the cat back in your garden when they try to jump up on them) or nets that lean over your garden.
As for the dog being aggressive towards you and your dc when you're in your own garden talk to your local dog warden and or environmental health about the noise nuisance. But if the dog doesn't have a recorded history of attacking people your unlikely to get any help.
What breed of dog is it

XenoBitch · 18/08/2025 21:56

Slowdownyouredoingfine · 18/08/2025 21:53

@XenoBitch I know I agree with you. I wouldn’t want to keep him indoors but it’s impossible to control where he goes when he’s out. I had thought about buying some cat deterrents for her to put in her garden maybe.

Edited

From experience, not much works. I used to have 3 cats, and one neighbour was rightfully annoyed about them pooing in his garden etc. He tried the ultrasonic sound things... they did not work. They actually put me off as I could hear them. He tried the spikey stuff on top the boundary wall. I saw one of my cats arch her back and still climb over them.

Original poster
Slowdownyouredoingfine · 18/08/2025 21:53

@XenoBitch I know I agree with you. I wouldn’t want to keep him indoors but it’s impossible to control where he goes when he’s out. I had thought about buying some cat deterrents for her to put in her garden maybe.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 18/08/2025 21:50

Lots of dogs attack cats. Prey driven breeds like greyhounds are what springs to mind. But you can not expect them to be muzzled in their own garden. If you allow your cat to roam, then you accept the risks of outside things like foxes, dogs and cars causing them harm.

Original poster
Slowdownyouredoingfine · 18/08/2025 21:49

@RentalWoesNotFun I agree I feel sorry for the dog too, I also feel sorry for the lady. She loves the dog and the dog seems fine with her but I think shes out of her depth in terms of controlling/training it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Slowdownyouredoingfine · 18/08/2025 21:48

@Nobumsonthetable This is the solution!! How had I not thought about a bloody muzzle?! 😂 I will speak to her, thank you!!

OP posts:
RentalWoesNotFun · 18/08/2025 21:48

I was going to say the same as the pp. muzzle when outside at all times. Poor dog has no life if it never leaves the garden.

Nobumsonthetable · 18/08/2025 21:43

Ask her to muzzle the dog? Better than the worst happening and the dog having to be destroyed.