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Any ideas what I can do about neighbour's horrible cat?

41 replies

Desperatecatowner · 19/08/2025 18:46

Name changed in case my neighbour figures out that this is me.
I have two older female cats that stay mostly in our house and go occasionally into our garden, which is quite shrubby and woody. They do not hunt. They also stay in our garden and don't wander.

New neighbours moved in a couple of years ago and brought their cat. It's an African Savannah Cat, a category 5 wild animal, anything from category 4 and up should be caged (as far as I understand).
This cat has decimated the bird life in the area, which our neighbours are proud of. Their cat has also attacked other cats in our close, even leaving one so badly injured it needed surgery.

The neighbours' cat has been attacking our cats too, leading to vet visits etc with bites that need antibiotics. When we have spoken to the neighbours about it, they are dismissive. The law says you can't pursue cat owners for damages. They literally don't care.

My cat was attacked this afternoon by the neighbours cat and seriously injured. My husband witnessed the neighbour's cat attack mine. We have now run out of pet insurance owing to the previous attacks and are going to struggle with paying for more care.

Does anyone know what we can do to prevent the cats being hurt? It seems unfair to keep them inside when they don't hunt or hurt other creatures, but I will if I must. I'm just hoping others might have an idea of what we can do, please? Can I make the neighbour pay the vet fees? Help!

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 19/08/2025 20:08

We have a similar problem. But I don’t know who owns the cat that visits our garden. It has scratched my daughter’s leg when she tried to scrare off - it is not scared of anyone. If we leave our patio doors open, it comes into our house. A neighbour tells me she found it lying on her sofa last week. We absolutely hate this cat - and are normally animal lovers

NaeRolls · 19/08/2025 20:03

How awful for you and your cats, I'm sorry. The neighbours sound like horrible people.

I've had a similar situation. I locked my cats in at night. And if I saw the other cat during the day I sprayed it with the hose.

I wonder if their cat is neutered? I'd be tempted to hire a cat trap from the spca, trap it, and take it to the vet and pay for it to be neutered, then release it. They could never prove it was you!

But I know this is not really a good idea.

One can dream!

Astrak · 19/08/2025 19:54

Poor you and poor cat. I think that a catio would be a good idea.

Oreosareawful · 19/08/2025 19:48

You can only keep your own cats safe, so that means cat proofing your garden. It doesn’t have to cost the earth if you are or know someone that’s good at diy.
I have four housecats and have cat proofed two gardens with angled brackets and wire mesh.

FateAmenableToChange · 19/08/2025 19:40

Id get a super soaker and make sure it got very wet everytime it came into my garden - and I love cats! But that one sounds scary and a needs a good detterant to keep it out.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/08/2025 19:00

Would the rspca be interested in an animal hurting pets and killing so much wildlife?

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 19/08/2025 19:00

Sadly I think all you can do (since the neighbours clearly dont intend to do anything) is keep your cats inside and create a catio for them for when they go outside.

chattyness · 19/08/2025 18:57

Create a catio in your garden so your cats can still go outside but they can't be attacked

RedNine · 19/08/2025 18:56

To stop that cat from getting to yours, I mean.

RedNine · 19/08/2025 18:56

You'll have to cat proof your garden, so sorry.

tinyspiny · 19/08/2025 18:55

The only way to keep your cats safe is to keep your cats inside / in a catio , the neighbour is obviously going to do nothing . Hope your cat gets well soon .

Theunamedcat · 19/08/2025 18:55

Catio to protect your cats and major deterrent work on your garden to keep it out

Largestlegocollectionever · 19/08/2025 18:53

I’d try taking them to small claims court?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/08/2025 18:52

I would keep them inside, you know they aren’t safe, so irrespective of human arguments - keep your own cats safe of course.

Have you spoken to the RSPCA about whether you can get anyone to speak to the owners about correct ownership? If it’s roaming free illegally I wonder if they could remove the cat

Desperatecatowner · 19/08/2025 18:51

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/08/2025 18:47

If this cat should be caged, can you report them to the council, @Desperatecatowner?

It is a category 5, so it doesn't have to be caged (only categories 1-4 do). But it is much 'wilder' than a regular cat, if you know what I mean? Sorry I wasn't clearer.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/08/2025 18:47

If this cat should be caged, can you report them to the council, @Desperatecatowner?