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Original poster

Neighbours dog killed cat :(

268 replies

spudholes · 02/05/2015 21:02

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 Sad. 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 Sad Neighbour says she's not going to tell them what happened when they get back.

Should I tell them?

OP posts:
AnulTheMagnificent · 02/05/2015 23:02

I think I would put a note through the door so that the sister knows what has happened and can then decide whether to go and try to retrieve the remains of the cat which is likely to have been dumped in a bin, poor cat.

Whether you would want to put your name on the note is your choice.Either way they need to know what happened.

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2015 23:02

I'm out. This thread is moments from someone starting about cat poo in gardens and how the cat probably deserved it anyway or some such.

Thruaglassdarkly · 03/05/2015 02:55

Yes, call the police and RSPCA. Get the dog put down - it's dangerous.

Thruaglassdarkly · 03/05/2015 02:58

Seriously not sure why you are deliberating here. I have two cats and if a dog killed either of them there would be hell to pay. Cats are family to most people, just as much as dogs.

Floralnomad · 03/05/2015 03:15

I don't think the problem here is the dog it's the owners response. My dog would kill a cat but if he caught one whilst I was in the garden I would obviously intervene ( which I have done in the past) . That said if I was not in the garden and he killed a cat I would not blame him in any way - I would do my best to find the cat owner and I'd apologise but that's it because the bottom line is some dogs chase and kill small furry things and if he is in my garden when he does so he is not dangerous or out of control .

LunaMay · 03/05/2015 03:53

Really Thruaglassdarkly Get the dog put down for killing a cat in its own yard? If your cat is like family be responsible and keep it where you can bloody see it.

KoalaDownUnder · 03/05/2015 04:55

I absolutely hate the way these threads always move on from the original scenario (in which the dog owner was despicable for not wanting to confess), and turn into cat people vs dog people.

I love all animals, including cats AND dogs. It's horrible that the poor cat was killed, but a dog that is in its own secure yard is under control, by definition. Throwing poison over the fence to cause another animal a painful death is a vile suggestion, and as a human, you don't even have the excuse of instinct - shame on you.

BadLad · 03/05/2015 05:54

I would be throwing a steak heavily laced with rat poison over the fence the first chance I got.

Then you are a moron.

Lovemylittlebear · 03/05/2015 05:56

Oh gosh poor you that sounds really traumatising. To be honest her attitude is appalling. I would tell her and make it clear to the neighbour I was not going to lie about anything. To be honest that sounds like horrific behaviour and I'm really upset for you having to witness that id be so upset too xxx

monkeyfacegrace · 03/05/2015 06:08

Oh look, here are the moronic staffie haters.

My dog is trained to a hugely high standard.

But she is a whippet. If a cat was stupid enough to come into my garden, it would be dead before I could shout the command. To be honest, recalling would probably be worse for the cat as my dogs would drop and retreat immediately, but I hate to think the state the small furry would be left in.

And it's laughable that some would class her as a dangerous dog! Dog/dog, dog/human, and prey drive are ENTIRELY different things. Those who don't know that need to research before wading in with ridiculous opinions.

I will not take the prey drive out of my dog. She uses it a few times a week when providing herself with a meal.

The staff can NOT be described as bloody dangerous for what it did. The neighbour, however, is a twat for not being honest about it. Although, with the staffs reputation being so tainted, I can see why she wouldn't want to.

sykadelic · 03/05/2015 06:10

If it was my animal I would want to know where the body is and have the chance to bury it myself. I would ask the neighbour who's dog had it, where the cat's body now is. I would post a note on the neighbours door asking for the sister to pop around so you can tell her what happened and so she can figure out what to do with the body for her sister.

As to "what happened". I would probably err on the side of caution about dropping the other neighbour and her dog in it. Some people (as seen from this thread) get irrational and you wouldn't want to be in the middle of a neighbour dispute.

While the killing itself is horrible and something I too would be haunted by, her blase approach is the part that would bother me most... and why I would be wary of dropping her in it (because she sounds strangely heartless).

Yes I prefer dogs to cats but I still couldn't be so cold about something like that :S

Snugglepiggy · 03/05/2015 06:18

I'm a dog and a cat owner.In the past my cat has gone missing for a few days and I was beside myself wondering where he was.And yes I would rather he took his chances out there, than be an indoor cat staring out of they window.He's the kind that would go stir crazy.I just wanted to know what had happened to him rather than be forever wondering.
In fact if I see a cat that's been knocked down I have towels in my van - I'm a dog walker - and I wrap it up and take it to my vets .They know me well ! And they scan to see if there a chip so at least the owner can be informed,or if they ring the vets because it's missing be told it's there.
So I would tell the cats owner.But first I would suggest to my neighbour that she should do so,and point out as diplomatically as possible that if her dog had somehow got out of the garden and went missing would she not want to know what had happened to him?
As to the suggestion of throwing poisoned meat.Words fail me.

GratefulHead · 03/05/2015 06:28

Do you not feed your dog Monkey? Why does she need to provide herself with a meal?

Cats are cats and will wander, I'd be horrified if I owned a dog that would kill a cat though. Dogs can be trained, cats cannot.

My sister owns a staffie, she would not and has not ever killed a cat or anything else. It's down to poor owners who cannot train their dogs rather than the dog itself.

Booboostoo · 03/05/2015 07:10

There is absolutely no correlation between dogs that hunt furry creatures and dogs who are aggressive to humans (or those who are aggressive to other dogs). This is basic knowledge about dogs and our responsibility to be informed about it.

Some breeds have a high chase drive and some have a high chase and kill drive - we bred it into them because we needed dogs to kill rats and other pests. That means they are naturally driven to kill anything small and furry that runs. Some dogs can be trained out of this and some cannot, it's training not miracle work.

Cats also kill prolifically as do other animals. Bullocks can attack dogs, as can horses (I've heard of at least one dog killed by a horse).

The cat's owner should be told. It was a terrible thing to happen to the cat and they should know what happened, but sadly it was an accident.

VivienScott · 03/05/2015 07:35

Tell the neighbour and tell the police and the RSPCA (it is animal cruelty to allow one animal to attack another). They most likely can't/won't do anything this time but the dog is obviously predisposed to this sort of behaviour with owners who have done nothing to rectify it and if others do or have complained it evidences persistent behaviour problem they will be able to act on. You can't have a dog routinely killing neighbourhood pets or any other animal that might stray onto its path.

LST · 03/05/2015 07:44

Someone should have told my beautiful old staffie that he should have been dangerous... He must have forgotten.. Hmm

DidoTheDodo · 03/05/2015 07:56

I'm a self confessed cat person, but I used to like dogs. Until I read this thread with the majority of dog owners saying their dog would happily kill any cat that came within its sight line.
From now on I don't think I shall ever trust a dog - any dog - again.

TheRainInTheWoods · 03/05/2015 08:16

The neighbour's an arse. Of course the cat's owner must be told.

We take rescue greyhounds. Their prey drive is incredible. It's natural and does not make them dangerous to humans. With humans of all ages all of mine have been gentle, affectionate and loyal and it makes me so sad to hear dogs like them written off.

My current hound's prey drive is impossible to train out of him. It is innate and has been enhanced and strengthened by his track training - should he be put down? We take all precautions possible. A secure garden, muzzling him when off lead in a secure area etc but it only takes the dcs to leave the back door open one day and he wanders out.

If cats wander wild, the owner lets them take their chances. We can try our best to prevent horrible things happening but it's not always possible.

Branleuse · 03/05/2015 08:18

well of course you cant trust most dogs completely with cats or small animals it doesn't know. Thats why cats are usually fast and good climbers.

chickenpoxpanic · 03/05/2015 08:18

Vivien - an awful lot of cat owners should be in trouble for animal cruelty then. Lots of people keep cats specificially so they will attack other animals.

Obviously for cat people like you Dido cat lives are the only ones that matter, rabbits, mice, birds are all worthless?

lougle · 03/05/2015 08:22

Do people think that the food chain that has enabled the whole of the animal world to survive to the point when humans decided to take animals on as pets just evaporated at that point?

Leopards/hyenas, etc., kill dogs. Dogs kill cats/small furries. Cats kill squirrels/birds/mice/voles/frogs....anything that moves fast enough to get the cat's interest and slow enough that it doesn't outrun the cat.

It's nature.

Humans can train dogs and may succeed, but the nature will always be there in the background.

Branleuse · 03/05/2015 08:32

and humans kill more than any of them

WaywardOn3 · 03/05/2015 08:32

Do not be a thick shit and poison that dog for being under control (aka in a secure garden not roaming the streets)

By all means report the dog if it kills a cat in the street or in a neighbours garden as that would mean the dog was out of control.

Unfortunately the death of your cat is a risk you take when you allow them to roam freely. I'd tell the owner but I'd also know there's no legal come back for them.

Oh and to the idiots who claim the dog will now attack children do jog on and take your pathetic staffy hateing drivel with you Angry

Timri · 03/05/2015 08:37

I guess all cats are dangerous then.
Show me one cat that's never killed anything...

The neighbours attitude is worrying.
But that's not the dogs fault!

MewlingQuim · 03/05/2015 08:39

To those who say that cats don't kill other people's pets I give you my mum's next door neighbour yelling 'your goldfish are on my lawn again!' Hmm

My XPs rabbit was torn to shreds by his ndn's cats Sad

My terrier chases cats that come into our garden, she goes nuts barking at them. No idea what she would do if she actually caught one though, run away whimpering probably, but who knows? It's her territory and she guards it from intruders, that is one of the reasons for keeping a dog. I do think more cat owners need to think about restricting their pets to their own property rather than letting them roam freely. I know it isn't easy but it would be safer, not just from dogs but mostly from traffic.

OPs neighbour is a cunt for not feeling bad and telling the poor cat's owner Angry