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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My cat and next door neighbours dog

28 replies

MotherOfChickens · 10/07/2014 11:22

I was just wondering what others peoples views are about this situation.

I have an elderly cat, most days she totters out of my back door and finds a comfy spot to sleep in a few feet away from the house in my back garden.

NDN has a dog. It's a lovely dog with which I have no problems with however because of how our houses are set out out it is constantly coming into our back garden to chase our cat. The problem being that our shared driveway crosses the back of their house and their garden is beyond this so if they let the dog out of their back door it can either cross the driveway to go into their garden or continue down the driveway into ours. Now that the dog has figured out that there is usually a cat to chase if it goes into ours guess which way it goes?

NDN is aware that this happens and avoids us for days until they think it has blown over. Am IBU about this or should I just accept that dogs will chase cats?

OP posts:

Numanoid · 10/07/2014 11:26

YANBU. Your cat should be able to sleep in peace in her own back garden, especially if she is accustomed to doing so. Although it is unfortunate that it's just the nature of dogs that will make him want to chase your cat.

I would mention it to your neighbour. The fact they are avoiding you shows that they know it's an issue. Maybe if you approach them in a friendly way, letting them know you have no issues with the dog, but you're unhappy about your elderly cat constantly being chased, you could work something out?

HarrietSchulenberg · 10/07/2014 11:35

YANBU. I have a dog that chases anything furry, so I make damned sure he never goes near next door's back garden as they have a rabbit. We have a gate between our gardens that I make sure is always locked.

They need to prevent their dog from going into your garden, or from going into anyone else's garden regardless of whether there's a cat in there or not.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 10/07/2014 11:47

Surely if the dog is out on the driveway it also has the potential to get out on the road and be run over and cause an accident? They sound like great owners.

salsmum · 10/07/2014 11:51

I think if you see the dog in your garden just give him a lil water spay with a plant sprayer, I use this spray when my terrier 'over guards' the side gate and it does work! please avoid the dogs eyes or ears but just give a spray with a firm NO and very quickly the dog will learn that your garden is NOT a place where he/she can 'peacefully' annoy your cat. I own rescue dogs and cats and this has proved to be a harmless,effective means of training...which of course doesn't hurt but does let the dog know that this is not acceptable behaviour.

Ratbagcatbag · 10/07/2014 11:55

Hmmmmm, I'd mention it every time it happened and then if it kept happening, I'd ring the dog warden and report it as a loose animal. Maybe after they've had to pay a few times to get it back they will be more careful.

mousmous · 10/07/2014 11:55

yanbu
the dogs owners must make sure the dog can't escape.
if I were mean I would contact the dog warden about a stray...

Original poster

MotherOfChickens · 10/07/2014 11:56

Thanks for your replies, before I said anything I just wanted to make sure that IWBU. I keep chickens too and I'm terrified that one day he'll realise that they're there (luckily they are very secure).

The neighbours are very aware that this happens as they make a great big song and dance about putting his lead on when we are outside, it's when we are not visible that it happens.
Ilovemydog thankfully the driveway is long so quite away from the road but yes the potential is there. There are other issues about lack of walks and being at home all day while they both work (although one of them does come home at lunchtime to let him out to do his business) that concern me too.

OP posts:

Ratbagcatbag · 10/07/2014 11:57

They need to walk it down to their section of the garden and stop being just lazy and opening the door. Argh. This makes me so cross, why is your cat considered less worthy by your neighbours when it's in it's own garden.

Original poster

MotherOfChickens · 10/07/2014 12:01

Ratbagcatbag you've hit the nail on the head - it is laziness. The same reason why he rarely gets taken on a proper walk, instead they just throw the ball into the back garden to play fetch a few times each day.

OP posts:

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/07/2014 12:01

YANBU - your cat should be able to relax in her garden, and your neighbour is being a total arse if she allows her dog to roam around at will. She needs to contain it. We have a neighbour whose dog was constantly "breaking into" our garden, annoying the rabbits and cats. I got a bit cross about it, and had to constantly catch him and take him home (back-to-back garden, so they live in the next street). They appear to have finally got the message, and we haven't seen him here for a while. Lovely dog, but I didn't want him in my garden pestering my animals.

taxi4ballet · 10/07/2014 12:03

Perhaps your NDN isn't aware of just how old and doddery your cat is. Maybe if you explain that the cat isn't really fit enough to run from a dog, and you are worried they might hurt 'each other'?

I've seen one of my cats really lay into NDN's poodle when cornered by it and unable to escape.

Cue one yelping dog running away with a tail between its legs (chuckles at memory!) - but it could have been a lot more serious for my cat if it had been a bigger dog.

TweedleDi · 10/07/2014 12:04

Is there any way you could block off access to your garden from the drive?

OwlCapone · 10/07/2014 12:04

I can't quite work out the layout but wouldn't a gate sort this out?

Not that you should have to put up a gate to stop their dog.

DogCalledRudis · 10/07/2014 12:04

I would not want anybody's dog in my garden except my own (or my guests), if it was one-off, i'd maybe forget, but its certainly unacceptable. Maybe install a garden gate or something?

Littlebluesock · 10/07/2014 12:07

YANBU my ndn has just got a dog and is im tje process of training it without a lead in their back garden, wouldn't have a problem with this but we have no proper fencing between the gardens and both houses are just off a busy road! plus they have no gate on their garden either. we also have a dog but keep him on the lead in the garden due to this. we also have a rabbit that our dog is fine with but have worries that ndn's wont be okay with the rabbit and could easily get through to the pen! when I mentioned this to them they were very flippant about it so not sure what to do now. it is rented accommodation and our landlord will not let us put a fence up.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/07/2014 12:09

We were selling a car once, and some people travelled a long way to view it. They brought their dog, unannounced and just let it loose in our garden, without even asking. The dog proceeded to torment our pets to terrified stage, so I asked the owners to please restrain it

"Oh, but he's been sitting in the car for hours".

Sorry, not my problem, I didn't ask you to bring your hound with you. Take him for a walk in the park before you embark upon your long journey home.

Some people are just thoughtless, unfortunately.

FunkyBoldRibena · 10/07/2014 12:09

Consider a fence and gate, or every time it happens ask them to keep their dog out of your garden please.

Original poster

MotherOfChickens · 10/07/2014 12:18

A gate would be an option although as it's a double width drive onto our property it's going to be costly, it would also make it awkward for them to reverse out of their parking area if we were gated off

OP posts:

higherhill · 10/07/2014 12:26

I think I'd be finding the money for a gate, even if it's just a cheap one, especially if it inconveniences your neighbours when reversing. They've had their chance to keep it under control but now carry on regardless. Up the ante. this sort of inconsiderate neighbourly stuff vexes me too. Some people just don't get it. get the gate!!

OnlyLovers · 10/07/2014 12:30

I'd find or save the money for a gate too, but before I put it in I'd explain to them and make sure they knew the reason (their dog trespassing/chasing your cat) and the consequences (ie that it'd make it hard for them to reverse).

They might then make a decision as to whether they want to curtail the dog or deal with difficult reversing.

I feel sorry for their dog.

WaywardOn3 · 10/07/2014 12:39

Report it to your local dog warden if their dog keeps getting out of their garden and into yours. Regardless of having a shared drive any dog owner is responsible for ensuring that their dog can't get out and cause others problems

Original poster

MotherOfChickens · 10/07/2014 12:41

Thanks for all of your advice, now that I know that it's not unreasonable I shall call round tonight and ask if they could be a bit more vigilant about letting the dog out and explain about the age of our cat etc.

Putting a gate up is the solution and something we had considered it's just that due to the width we had put it off as the cost was £££'s and we didn't want to upset the neighbours
Right off to get some quotes.....

OP posts:

PeterParkerSays · 10/07/2014 12:50

Make a big thing of getting a company in to quote for gates whilst they're in ear shot, "next door's dog keeps running into our garden. It's ruining the plants and the hens have stopped laying so we've really got to do something...." then wait a couple of weeks before going ahead to see what happens.

OnlyLovers · 10/07/2014 12:53

That's a bit passive aggressive, no? Better to discuss it with them openly, surely. That approach would only cause more bad feeling.

Salmotrutta · 10/07/2014 12:57

They don't sound like the care much about their dog really do they?

Even if they were caring dog owners they shouldn't just be letting it out of the door when it can access your garden.

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