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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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 . 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?

OP posts:

sebsmummy1 · 03/05/2015 10:16

Sorry aren't cats protected by law as free roaming creatures or have I dreamt that?

sebsmummy1 · 03/05/2015 10:19

This is starting to remind me of the O2 adverts

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 10:20

Psipsina · 03/05/2015 10:21

But if a person decides to own a pet, any pet, then they should be 100% responsible for it and know where it is and what it's doing at all times.

That's absurd regarding cats.

The thing is though cats are unlikely to be killing other people's pets when they are out and about. Their roaming is passive. There's no reason to be aware of where they are.

The feeling against dogs is more that it is possible to train them and indeed, that appears to be a major factor in choosing them as a pet. So if they can be trained and cats can't, doesn't it appear more logical to train and control the dog?

I think cats and dogs ought to be moved to separate islands and never actually meet. But compromise is the only realistic answer.

sebsmummy1 · 03/05/2015 10:21

Accept of course if it was real life the dog would be dead with it's throat torn open and a dog owner somewhere would be furiously justifying it online.

sebsmummy1 · 03/05/2015 10:22

Dammit *cat obviously

forago · 03/05/2015 10:22

Please tell the neighbours when they get back. We had new neighbours move in last summer with 2 big, aggressive dogs that they let out in the garden unsupervised. We had to put up extra fencing to stop them coming into our garden as they go crazy when my children go out on their trampoline. They go crazy if cats or children are in our garden. Shortly afterwards one of our cats went missing and we have never seen him again, despite an extensive poster campaign etc and him being chipped. Whilst we cant prove anything, the neighbours were very shifty when we asked them if they'd seen him.

The children are still very upset by his disappearance and it is horrible not knowing what happened to the cat. I would much rather know for sure that he was dead. Please tell the neighbours.

Cheesypop · 03/05/2015 10:32

What a horrible experience, OP. Please let the neighbour know that her pet has died and if possible where to recover the body.

I would be devastated if one of our cats died in this way, and to know that the owner of the dog was so callous about it is heartbreaking. We live next to a large park with tons of dogs, the parkland was the reason we bought the house, for somewhere for the cats to roam freely that wasn't a road. I'm worrying we've done the wrong thing.

It sounds a bit daft but we are infertile and our cats have been our saviours over the last few years, given us something to love and cherish and look after and entertain us. Never underestimate how beloved a pet can be to someone.

Of course if one of our cats someone got someone's pet rabbit I would do everything I could to make it right for them. Neither of mine catch a thing though, daft buggers.

kat360 · 03/05/2015 10:32

My staffie loved cats and small furry animals, the only danger from him was getting licked until they were soaking wet! He was a rescue and scared of all other dogs ( except our collie cross) I hated the fact that people with kids would cross the road when i walked him, he was brilliant with all four of my small children.
We also had a cat that loved dogs, when our new ndn moved in with a terrier, he jumped the fence to say hello. Cur terrier running at him barking and the cat start purring and rubbing up said terrier. I have never seen a dog more confused in my life, poor dog didn't know what to do!
As for blaming the breed and saying they should be banned, its the owners fault. If you can't be bothered to train your dog, get it vaccinated, etc then you shouldn't own a dog. Staffies are used as status dogs, most aren't vaccinated because the owners are lazy. All dogs can be dangerous, they are animals after all.

VivienScott · 03/05/2015 10:35

Timri If a cat owner sees their cat in the attack position with something small and fluffy/furry in it's sight, most of them do something to scare either the cat or the potential prey. They would not just say, 'oh well, it's the sparrows fault'. That's how they stop it when they see it happening.

I own cats and dogs. I do not train my dogs to hunt though they are both hounds and bred for it. As a result, even though they are regularly walked in open countryside with plenty of their natural prey, rabbits, available the fluffiest thing they've ever caught is dandelion fluff. I appreciate it's not possible with all breeds, particularly greyhounds etc, but to say you can't train any dog not to hunt is pretty naive and lazy.

Cats are a different matter but I have stopped them in the past when I've seen them, collars with bells are pretty good hunting deterrent.

JulyKit · 03/05/2015 10:36

... And as for the comment about cats' "passive" roaming.

I used to be very fond of sparrows. I wish there were more of them around...

Reginafalangie · 03/05/2015 10:37

I think this is all bull tbh. I think the OP has made this up based on another thread a few weeks ago ( The OP of that was genuine).

Case of light blue touch paper and run

Psipsina · 03/05/2015 10:37

But July you can't get rid of the wild bird problem unless you get rid of cat ownership entirely. They will just continue to kill birds regardless (which is sad, I agree).

Dogs can be prevented from killing. Cats can't.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 10:38

I have seen OP on another AIBU thread this morning, I was hoping they would come back and update....

chickenpoxpanic · 03/05/2015 10:44

In some parts of Australia aren't cats required to be confined to the owners' property due to their killer instincts? It's possible if people want to do it.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 10:47

No idea about Australian cat ownership. I would imagine if that's true it might be to protect the cats from the wildlife?

AccidentalAnarchist · 03/05/2015 10:48

I'm afraid MonkeyFaceGrace is a notorious cat-hater and likes nothing more than shit stirring on these kids of threads, with her curiously aggressive manner

chickenpoxpanic · 03/05/2015 10:49

It's to protect the wildlife from cats Pet cats have had a massive negative impact on wildlife in Australia, even more so than here.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 10:51

No idea about that cpp, I think this thread has gone off on a really bizarre tangent TBH, and has little to do with the original OP.

Dog kills cat in the garden-let's discuss cat owning down under.

Unless this happened in Australia? Maybe it did?

tabulahrasa · 03/05/2015 10:54

Psipsina - dogs are trainable, but, it's not as straightforward as just training them not to chase cats.

They don't generalise, each behaviour you teach has to be practised in different circumstances and settings before it can be considered anything like solid.

You can have a nice solid leave for dropped food, rabbits on a walk...that doesn't mean that they'll also apply that command to a cat in their garden.

Not all dogs chase cats, not all dogs that chase cats would hurt them if they caught up with them, dogs benefit just as much as any other animal from time outside where they're not under close control...that is what dog owners use secure gardens for.

If you own a cat, let it out without putting up a pen or cat proof fencing you accept, sadly that there is a chance that they may be killed by a dog, a fox or far more likely a car.

I own cats an a dog, they don't need to be on separate islands.

None of that excuses a dog's owner from being uncaring if the worst happens and they absolutely should let the owner know.

monkeyfacegrace · 03/05/2015 10:58

Having an opinion does not equal shit stirrer you know. It's kinda the idea of a forum, open discussion. And I've been here almost a decade without a name change. If I'm recognised from another cat thread then that hardly makes me notorious!

And I like things moving from a cat in a garden to Australian cat laws. Its interesting.

charlestonchaplin · 03/05/2015 11:00

Let's just avoid uncomfortable truths about cats and the impact of cat ownership eh, sparklingbrook? You cat owners have not disappointed me with your utterly self-centred focus. Cat kills wildlife. Don't give a damn. Dog kills cat in its own garden. Let's hold a requiem mass.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 11:01

chickenpoxpanic · 03/05/2015 11:03

I'm afraid it is possible for discussions to develop Sparkling. It's not a very bizarre tangent after all - is it possible to keep cats safe on your property? Yes it is.

AccidentalAnarchist · 03/05/2015 11:03

You can have an opinion without being aggressive
And being here 10 years does not automatically render you a pleasant person
Clearly

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