Feel awful but I really don't think it's my fault. TW pet death

[Pebbles16]

We've been away for a few days and the shed was closed but, during the storm the door opened.
It seems that a neighbouring cat found his way into the shed and then got stuck.
Came home, opened shed to get pegs etc... cat is dead.
Obviously we weren't here so have no idea what actually happened.
Have contacted the cat's owner (we have a great neighbourhood WA group) and they have really kicked off. Called me a murderer via DM rather than in group chat.
Refuses to come round.
I feel so bad that this happened in our garden, but I really don't think it's my fault. Despite that I am in floods and don't know what to do with the cat. It's hot and I can't just leave the poor thing there.

Thank you very kind cat owners/slaves.
I love the idea of cats, but the reality of them is not good for me physically (nor emotionally, because I get SO cross with them pooing, killing etc). DH loves cats and I won't tell him about this because he will be so sad.

I messaged the neighbour of the cat owner and she is coming round to pick the cat up. She thinks the neighbour is mad, but also thinks I am an absolute wimp to not be able to pick up to cat and "deal with it".

I was sorry to hear of your troubles OP. It is not fair to blame you. I have heard the same as another person on here that animals hide away if they realise they are likely to die. Your neighbour is not being a nice person. I hope you do get the situation dealt with. You did your best letting the neighbour know. I hope in time they apologise. The person is being very unfair to you.

Thank you. That is very kind

Obviously not your fault whatsoever, but if you’ve been shouting at the cat and get ‘so cross’ at them for doing cat things, it sounds like the neighbour is suspicious that you actually have done this intentionally hence calling you a murderer. If I thought you hated my cat and then it ended up dead in your garage and I believed you had a hand in it, I’d kick off too.

All you can do is reiterate that you weren’t there and it was a terrible accident. Do you have a Ring doorbell that would back up that you weren’t home when cat went missing?

Obviously not your fault whatsoever, but if you’ve been shouting at the cat and get ‘so cross’ at them for doing cat things, it sounds like the neighbour is suspicious that you actually have done this intentionally hence calling you a murderer.

i think most people would shout at someone else’s cat if they brought a half dead pigeon INTO THEIR HOME.

I get you can’t stop cats coming into your garden but surely your home should be safe?

Oh I'm sorry It is certainly not your fault
cat may have taken itself off to die as it was ill, they often do.
As you have a mutual friend, I would go through them
It's very off that they didn't come straight round to collect their cat

The OP absolutely doesn’t have to prove anything and is more than entitled to shout at a cat that is using her garden as a litter tray or bringing pigeons into her house .If they don’t want their cat shouted at they should have kept it at home and cat proofed their garden .

Hey, I’m not saying OP isn’t justified in hating cats or shouting at them when they’re little shits - I’m just pointing out this might have created a perception in her neighbour’s head that she’s done it intentionally.

Oh my goodness. Thank you all for your help. The irl situation has escalated somewhat.
The cat owner apparently reported a dead body in my house so I had two cars' worth of police on my doorstep.
Luckily I showed them my WA messages and even this thread. Took them to the shed, They retrieved the cat.
But my whole house has been turned upside down as well. Am feeling a bit weird and violated.
It is going to take major deep breaths to be able to sleep tonight. The police were very nice but have wreaked chaos.

They've turned your house upside down?!
What were they looking for? If they'd already seen the messages and the cat in the shed?

Jesus your neighbour is unhinged. I can see why the cat ran away to die.

Because they had to check there wasn't a human body I assume. It's been so crazy.

That's awful @Pebbles16 you must be seriously shook up after all that today. I hope the police have a stern word with your neighbour about wasting police time like that.
Echoing what others have said. It's not your fault that the cat got into your shed. You were kind getting the other neighbour to come for the cat too. Hopefully your neighbour will realise how unreasonable they've been about it.

So ….

Cops: Hi we’ve had a report you’ve got a body kicking about
You: do you mean the dead cat I can’t get rid of and was just on Mumsnet about?
Cops: Lol that makes more sense (closes notebook) let’s toss the place anyway lads

Seriously????

Owner sounds bonkers. At least you had the good grace to explain what happened, many people hit cats in vehicles and just drive off.
It’s very sad but if the owner wanted to protect their pet against accidents they should keep them inside. It’s a risk you take when they roam.
Hopefully they are just upset and will calm down. If not I would very calmly and rationally explain what happened on the Facebook group and what you plan to do with the cats body if it isn’t collected. Then don’t be drawn into any further discussion over it.

I think they went there before and after their visit to me.
Have no idea about the mood because I really don't want to say anything on WA.
The police were kind but had to rootle through wardrobes and other spaces. On the whole, my house is back to normal from an outside POV, I will have to clean like a mad person tomorrow. Not that they are dirty, just feels a bit invasive and I want to "reclaim" it, if that makes any sense.
Am not sure about how I feel about my bed.

Your neighbour has provided misleading information to the police, knowing full well they would of course assume it was a dead human body. I hope the neighbour faces consequences for wasting police time/resources & trashing your home.

Hope you’re okay, OP. It all sounds very unpleasant.

@namechangedforvalidreasons
Errr, not quite. And was really quite painful.

Gosh that escalated!

Did the police say they would be following up with the neighbour?

It'll be more than that. My small pug was £300 to get cremated.

@Ladyluckinred thank you
When I started the thread, I was
a- terrified of dealing with dead cat
b- upset about the neighbour not coming to pick cat up
c- cat died in my shed
I am a complete wuss and could not deal with the dead cat but put on my best face on the WA group to tried to get it sorted.
And then, it all went a bit mad
And I feel like I've been in a weird film/the land of crazy

It sounds as if the neighbour is mentally unwell. Alternatively they might just well be an absolute bellend. Either way though I think you need to set a boundary. Send a very formal letter tomorrow outlining that their conduct amounts to harassment and while you’re willing to let this occasion slide on the basis that they must be badly impacted by grief to find you responsible for the death of a cat while you were away from home, any further issues, however minor, will result in you contacting the police and considering legal action.

Well now you know who's your batshit crazy neighbour. Most of us have one.

Two police cars I bet you're the talk of the neighbour hood.

My friend had two police cars outside her house last week a friend phoned to ask if she was okay.

She hadn't even noticed but ran out to see. The officer asked if she was safe. Yes she was. The officer then told her to go back indoors.

She still has no Idea what it was about. Weird.

🫠 you poor soul. What a crap thing to happen especially when you’re there on your own as well.

it’s awful when someone else’s utter batshittery impacts on your life like that. I hope you’re ok.

Is that because you got the ashes back though? I think I paid about £200/250 for our old cat but that's because I wanted him done alone and wanted the ashes back. It would have been much cheaper if I'd let him go with several others and had nothing back.

@Pebbles16 I am sorry. The cat was probably very ill. It wasn't your fault. Our old boy died next to the cat flap and I couldn't pick him up - and nor could my DH. Luckily DS was here (grown up) and wrapped him in a towel so I could take him to the vet.