To expect my neighbour to take responsibility for his cat attacking mine?!!

[cleanasawhistle2195]

Back story: we live by a busy main road- cross the main road, and a family have just moved in about 5 weeks ago with their cat.

About two weeks ago- I had to chase their cat from our garden, it was just sat by the rockery. I knew it was theirs as I walk past their house and have seen it sat in the window. Not a problem- cats roam, I get that.

But now it's much more serious- the cat has attacked mine, leaving him with injuries which I've had to spend £60 (that I don't really have) to get sorted at the vets this morning. Not to mention whatever it will cost me when we have to go back in 10 days.

Went to knock today to have a word, and they have openly admitted their cat can be vicious- but aren't willing to leave it locked in as they have a toddler and the cat needs an escape. I asked them what they were going to do about the £60 it had cost me at the vet this morning, and they refuse to reimburse us. Quite frankly, I'm seething.

The cat has been in the garden again today- I went out with a water pistol but it scarpered before I got near. Went and spoke to our neighbour next door, and she told me she has had to chase the cat out of her garden as well.

Kitty now has to stay in for 10 days and is already driving me bonkers with his yowling to get out, not to mention the puddles and shit I've had to clean up today as he doesn't seem to be able to work out the litter tray is for him (fair enough I guess seeing as he hasn't come across one for 13 years!. Don't see why I should have to keep my cat in long term- we've never had any problems and he loves his independance, so to take that away from him now- well, I don't think it would be very fair.

Quite honestly, I'm thinking about reporting them. AIBU for that- and AIBU to think it's their responsibility?!

Yabu. People cannot control their cats. They fight for territory. Just spray it with water to get rid of it.

Ooops!! Hope your cat is still strong and kicking

Its a bloody cat. They do what cats do. Ditch kitty and get a dog.

You can't have it both ways as a cat owner. Either accept that cats need to roam and their behaviour whilst doing so is largely our of your control, or keep all cats inside.

sorry but you are the unreasonable one, worde still is the fact that you cannot see that.

ZOMBIE ALERT

Sorry, I've got three cats and all of them will fight when faced with a strange cat. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose - all three have been taken to the vet with various injuries. You can't train or control a cat in the same way you can a dog, it is just what they do.

Get pet insurance, and suck it up. That is really your only option here.

Maybe you should have learned about cat behaviour before getting a bloody cat!

On my local fb page, cat owners are often complaining that cars should drive slower than the speed limit, or be fined for hitting cats in their cars by accident, or pay for vet bills in any such eventualities.
They all want cats to have similar rights to dogs.
But cats are just left to roam as they see fit, with the owners not taking responsibility.

I think yabu.

Car body language is not for us to read, unfortunately. We don’t know that they weren’t throwing death threats both ways in all that howling and hissing, and one of them snapped and attacked.
Whenever a new cat joins a neighbourhood everything is up in arms while the new cat finds their own little bit of territory, and if there is none they’ll fight for a bit.
Things will settle. Keeping your cat in won’t help, them keeping their cat in won’t help.

Cat*

One of my cats was beaten up by another a few years ago and the eventual vet’s bill was £600. Cats fight, and a £60 bill is quite small in the scheme of things.

Hi all, this is a zombie thread so we'll close it now. Apologies to those whose time was wasted.