Neighbours dog killed cat :(

[spudholes]

Our next door neighbour has a staffie dog. I was talking to her over the fence and a cat came into the garden and the dog flew at it and killed it . I was very upset and neighbour said it was the cats fault for coming into her garden.

I have found out that the ower of said cat is away on holiday Neighbour says she's not going to tell them what happened when they get back.

Should I tell them?

I'd never heard of people building fences to keep their cats in their gardens til this thread - it must be very uncommon surely? Lots of cats round here and they all roam around - seems to be the norm generally.

Now that I think about it, I could have fenced in my DCat. She might have lived twice as long as she did. Or she might have died slowly from boredom and depression.

Just a thought.

I would tell he neighbour and the RSPCA. If it was my cat I would fight to get the dog destroyed.
It is a dangerous dog whose owner can't control it. Her attitude demonstrates She should not have a dog. Cats are free to roam and do not deserve to be killed in the process.

You would be fighting for a long time Bodicea a dog will not be destroyed for killing a cat.

The cat was in the dogs garden. Why should the dog die when it was doing something that was instinct? The cat didn't deserve to die but neither does the dog.

Fencing is quite common in USA where being a responsible cat owner means either keeping it in, or keeping it fenced in the garden. Possibly more serious over there where there are coyotes and all things that can kill cats.

Dogs prey drive is completely different to aggression to humans.
Good luck trying to get the dog destroyed because it was in its own garden. What're you supposed to do if you have a dog with a strong prey instinct, not let it in the garden ever?

If you let your cat free roam then it's one of the risks you have to accept.

bodicea well you'd have to keep your cat locked up then. Why should the birds be killed by cats? Why should pet rabbits?

kalli110 Ill just tell them not to leave the house shall i.....

Cat owners are entitled to allow their cats to roam freely, including in other's back gardens. Many cats capture, and some kill, small creatures. It's a fact of life.

Dog owners are entitled to allow their dog to roam freely in their own back garden. Dogs like to chase smaller animals, like squirrels. Some dogs like to chase cats. Some of those may injure or even kill a cat if they catch it. Most cats are quick enough to evade capture. Sometimes they can't. It's a fact of life.

Cat owners are entitled to allow their cats to roam freely, including in other's back gardens. Many cats capture, and some kill, small creatures. It's a fact of life.

Dog owners are entitled to allow their dog to roam freely in their own back garden. Dogs like to chase smaller animals, like squirrels. Some dogs like to chase cats. Some of those may injure or even kill a cat if they catch it. Most cats are quick enough to evade capture. Sometimes they can't. It's a fact of life.

A sane post!

Thank you!!

Spudholes, that is truly awful. Is the owner back from holiday and, if so, have you managed to speak to them?

Definitely tell her and I would report the neighbour to someone, rspca perhaps as it could attack a child next. Not sure they could do much but i would report it anyway. Poor you, I would have been v upset too. Also would no longer be friendly with that neighbour.

I posted the note but haven't seen or heard from them. I just don't want to cause problems between me and the neighbour because she's the type to make your life hell.

Excellent post from collaborate

I don't think it's necessarily the owner's fault (nir the dog's) if she did try to call the dog back but she definitely is in the wrong in planning not to tell the neighbour. Why wouldn't you?

My friends have an ex-greyhound. He is soft as butter with people, nervous around other dogs (spent all his life in kennels up til this year) and would chase and kill a cat/rabbit/other small furry mammal in a second if they strayed into his garden. Doesn't make him dangerous to humans.

There is a lot of hysteria on this thread. Collaborate sums up the position very well.

Agree with collaborate.

Our garden is fenced to 6ft and my elderly cat can't scale them anymore. However it is not unusual for a young cat to scale a vertical fence of some height. They amaze me how they do it. We has a stray teenage cat who adopted us a couple of years ago. We worried about her road sense so only let her out the back but 5 mins later she would be stood on the front window sil meowing at us! We lost her to the road after a few months. If the same thing had happened with a dog in its own garden I would have been equally devestated but wouldn't have blame the dog or owner anymore than Ai blamed the driver (although it woukd have been nice if he stopped).I would expect to be told though (and for them to be upset too).

Sorry about the typos!

Good on you spudholes. That took courage. I would be out of my mind if one of my mine went missing. Though my actual one spends 22 hours on my bed or eating.
Two of them do not hunt little animals either.
As i posted earlier, rabbiys, birds, mice and hedgehogs terrify them.
Theyre also way to lazy( or spoilt).