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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:
Fleurbs · 03/05/2015 20:39

I obviously don't watch him 24/7 but our cat has never brought anything back from hunting. He's a massive wuss and when I watch him in the garden he chases flies, spiders etc. I've never seen him even so much as glance at a bird but I guess it's possible he hunts them out of my sight. He was an indoor cat for his first year so maybe he didn't have the opportunity to hone his skills. Or maybe he doesn't run into anything worth hunting as he spends most of his time sitting on our window sills.

NoNameDame · 03/05/2015 20:41

There's a massive difference between a cat killing rodents and a dog killing a cat.

If my neighbour had an alligator in their garden who could get under a fence and I witnessed it killing any animal (a dog or a mouse) then I would report it as dangerous as the chances are it is strong enough to kill or injury a human. If my neighbour had a lizard that was killing insects/frogs/ mice etc the threat wouldn't be great enough to humans that I would be concerned.

When one animal is killing another the thing to consider is how dangerous is the violent animal not how weak is the one that has been killed.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 20:43

We have visiting foxes and I often wonder whether that makes a difference to the amount of stuff to hunt, also all bird food hangs on the feeder off the ground.

She must have got the slow worms from the fields on an energetic day.

NoNameDame · 03/05/2015 20:44

Actually killing a cat biting it to shreds until it is dead is not normal domestic dog behaviour.

If a dog is confronted, threatened, abused, sick then I can see this happening but it is a sign of the dog losing control and shows the dog as dangerous.

Can anyone honestly say that they worry about a cat being a violent danger to them after watching them kill a mouse?

JulyKit · 03/05/2015 20:44

You sound very, very confused, NoNoName.

And this thread has gone way, way off topic.

Evening all.

orangutanhihio · 03/05/2015 20:45

Report this dangerous dog. If she can't control it to stop it killing a cat, it could easily do it again or it could attack a child.

I don't think cats are natural prey for a dog, dogs are scavengers. Cats are hunters, so mice/birds/rabbits etc are natural prey. I would be very concerned about any dog who killed a cat.

JulyKit · 03/05/2015 20:47

Sorry, NoNoName, hadn't read your 20:44:43 post, which makes slightly more sense.

But I think you need to RTFT. It's not about OP worrying about the dog being 'a violent danger' to people.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 03/05/2015 20:49

Posters are being ridiculously over dramatic stating that this dog will mistake a child for a cat. Seriously? I would suggest that you really don't know much about dogs.

NoNameDame · 03/05/2015 20:50

I have read most I can't respond to everything as I have a few different opinions about things I've read on this thread and it would take me forever to respond to everything.

I'm sure I read that someone said the dog attacking didn't make it violent/dangerous and I just wanted to post my disagreement to that.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 20:51

I think it's time for me to bid farewell to this thread TBF. It has had many twists and turns but I think everything that can be said has been said.

I hope the OP manages to tell those poor owners.

TooOldForGlitter · 03/05/2015 20:57

I had the pizza, bloody lush, truffle oil and the lot, feel like a right bloater now!

TooOldForGlitter · 03/05/2015 21:00

Oh dear. Sorry Blush that was supposed to be a reply to a whatsapp message. Fat fingers, two wines and copy/paste have conspired to embarrass me.

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2015 21:04

Sounds great Glitter Grin this thread could do with a lighthearted post. Grin

TheRainInTheWoods · 03/05/2015 21:10

Yikes! This is still running...

... I think you're right Sparklingbrook it's all talked out now!

I'm off to The Doghouse for some canine appreciation. Grin

TooOldForGlitter am v jealous of your yummy dinner. I had toast; it was boring.

TooOldForGlitter · 03/05/2015 21:16

Grin note to self, stop trying to multi task after two wines and a fat pizza!

BreakfastAtStephanies · 03/05/2015 22:01

One of my neighbours owns an ex-racing hound. He walks it past my house. It stares and stares at my cat. It is always on the lead/leash. Cat used to be scared of it, then got fascinated by the eye contact and braver, and has followed it up the road, hiding in hedges and probably being goady.
Got chatting to the hound's owner one day, he said dog is let loose in the garden. Once it injured a cat that came into the garden. Didn't kill it, but the cat owner asked him to help with the vet bill ( he refused ). I think the racing hounds are programmed to chase, because of that fake rabbit thing they chase at the races. I hope my cat stays out of his garden !

Whatamuckingfuddle · 05/05/2015 06:16

OP - is the owner back?
This thread had gone wildly off topic - although for what it's worth my dog regularly chases cats when he has the chance (secretly scared so never attempted to kill) and has NEVER run down the road after a small child, almost like he can tell the difference....he comes back for a slice of ham though

NorahDentressangle · 05/05/2015 06:34

Staffies are dangerous.

I've had dogs all my life, labs, collies, none have killed a cat. Or anything else I can think of. Those dogs are dangerous. They chase something that runs. Which could be a child climbing into the garden to collect a ball.

But obviously that is the child's fault for climbing into the garden Hmm

Jengnr · 05/05/2015 06:38

Seriously Breakfast? You know that the dog might attack a cat that ventures into its garden but you still let your cat outside? Shock

Double Shock at the poster from the beginning of the thread who knew her cat had killed lots of other people's pets but let it out anyway.

The dog owner sounds horrible for not letting the owners of the cat know that their pet has been killed and I really hope you do OP.

This is one of the many problems with the right to roam - if cats are allowed to run wild they are at risk of being hurt or hurting other animals. Obviously the responsible thing to do is for pet owners to keep their animals (whatever they happen to be) under control (whether in the house, garden or elsewhere) but I don't see this happening sadly.

ConfusedInBath · 05/05/2015 06:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ProvisionallyAnxious · 05/05/2015 06:53

Cats =/= dogs. Dogs have been bred to be social animals, to be around humans. There are dog breeds that it would be cruel to leave at home alone all day without human company. On the other hand, cats are by nature roaming, hunting animals who don't in general have any particular need for human company. Unless you have a particular breed of cat like a rag doll that has been bred to live indoors, I think it's actually quite unkind to contain their roaming. I certainly don't think it makes you an irresponsible cat "owner" - if you live somewhere appropriately rural with lots of fields, little traffic etc - to let your cat do what cats do, which is hunt for miles around their home territory. Yes you have to accept that there are risks in that but I would be very reluctant to constrict a healthy young cat to the indoors and a bloody wooden run.

As for the difference between a cat hunting and a dog killing a cat - well, from a human POV cats generally kill wild animals, whereas the cat in the OP "belonged" to someone and will be grieved for. There may indeed have been nothing the dog owner could do but they should tell the cat owners because it was their pet that the dog killed, not some random wild rabbit.

I have been putting ownership words r.e. cats in inverted commas because I think the issue of dog vs cat ownership is quite different. Yes, you love a cat, but I think your responsibility is to ensure they are fed and housed but also get the freedom to be a cat, which IMO involves roaming. Whereas giving a dog the freedom to be the happiest possible dog means giving them the human companionship they were bred for.

Balaboosta · 05/05/2015 07:38

Wtf! This is no way a safe dog and the owner can't control it. What happens when it meets a baby? Tell the police. This animal is a danger to the public. Children get killed by dogs like these. Can't believe everyone thinks this is okay!

chickenpoxpanic · 05/05/2015 07:44

A furry baby with a tail jumping over the fence would probably be in trouble...

NorahDentressangle · 05/05/2015 08:10

Cats attack mice and small birds - no dispute. All this bollox about cats killing animals is sidelining the fact that the dog is dangerous.

I can't believe people are so denying the risk. The babies and small children who have been mauled and in the news over the last few years were attacked by 'friendly' pet dogs.

D0oinMeCleanin · 05/05/2015 08:36

What happens when it meets a baby? Unless that baby is short, furry has four legs and a tail then it'll be fine and if it does have fur, four legs and tail the parents have a lot more to worry about than a dog, tbf.

My Dad's AmBull/Greyhound X hunts. He would given half the chance take out a cat or a fox and has killed several rabbits and rats (wild) With dd2 he is the sweetest thing. He lets her use him as a pillow. He lets her play doctors with him and cover him blankets while looking in his ears. With my sister's baby he is ambivalent. They're not old enough to love him and feed him so he ignores them. I understand canine behaviour very well and at no point has this dog ever indicated that he is at all unhappy with being dd2's patient or that he has any inclination to hunt her. That is because he can distniguish between prey and children just as easily as we can. You know awesome sense of smell people talk about when it comes to dogs? And their hearing? And their sight? They use that to indentify various animals and establish whether they are a threat, prey or friend.

I enjoy eating chickens, it doesn't make me any more likely to go and roast a baby for my sunday lunch, does it?