Or is my neighbour being ridiculous?!

[Lilianna123]

Always got on really well with our neighbours. They are very different to us but this has never been an issue. Have keys to eachothers houses for when we are away etc.

Woke up this morning to find a note through the letterbox from them, they are saying that our cat 'torments' and 'teases' their dog, by sitting our side of the fence and looking into their garden. They have also accused our cat of eating their hazelnuts off their trees. Now this could be our cat, but could more than likely be the squirrels we tend to have visit?!

Anyway, they are requesting we now try to keep our cat as an indoor cat, as it's not 'fair' on their dog and want us to replace their hazlenut trees next year. Am I being a unreasonable or are they just being completely bonkers?!

this made me laugh...

On a more serious note, do you live rurally? Is there any chance there's a pine marten raiding their garden? My friends have one that visits them and I guess without your glasses on its a bit catty looking.
Or an escaped ferret? Or other mustelid? Or are they obligate carnivores too?

Or maybe it's a giant squirrel with a balding tail?
Or maybe they're just insane,

Tell them you don't have a cat

Bonkers, pretend your locked out thus need keys.back. say hello when necessary to stop things descending into nastiness, otherwise cut them out. Can't win with nutters like that.

I don't think you're taking your obligations seriously. You have a cat who has clearly been identified as a hazelnut thief.

You need to buy him a black and white stripey jumper, an eyemask and a big bag with 'swag' written on it. Your cat depends on you to make sure he isn't identified during his criminal endeavours and I think you've let him down. What kind of front woman are you??

Change your locks!

Tell them you don't have a cat

Thanks very much moose, I've just snorted fizzy pop out of my nose after reading that!

If a cat can get in and bother the Guinea pigs, word will get out in fox land and the piggies will be toast.

Clearly the guinea pigs are getting out of their insecure cage every time nutty neighbours back is turned and binging on hazelnuts whilst taunting the dog. The cat have been doing it's best to supervise for months but it's a good job they have retired now and are around a bit more because quite frankly their pets are getting out of hand.

Sorry?! A cat eating hazelnuts? . And why would the hazelnuts being eaten mean that the trees have to be replaced next year? So,if she had picked and used the hazelnuts herself,as opposed to them being 'stolen',she would also have replaced them? She sounds a bit loony IMO.

Thank you. I have had a crap day, and this has just made me howl with laughter.

Your neighbors are beyond redonkulous, let alone unreasonable.

op. UANBU. Your neighbours obviously don't know that cats prefer mice and birds. As for winding up the dog - maybe they should keep him indoors? (Not really, but it's just as unreasonable)

If they've got Guinea pigs, they need to make sure that the cage is cat (and fox!) proof! We had a house rabbit, but she had a big outdoor run for during the day in the summer. The neighbour's cat used to prowl around and occasionally sit on it, but never got into it in over eight years - and she was a lethal, murderous kitty.

Get your keys back, or change your locks, they are clearly barmy! Things are never good when neighbours start writing letters, for one thing it means that the friendly terms you thought you had were not quite so friendly, as they were busily raging away behind your back for God knows how long about these 'issues'. They could keep their dog in if it is being annoyed by Cat, presumably Cat is not stationed there 24/7? It must spend some time indoors, spreading fur and grits around on your soft furnishings! You could point out to your neighbours that it would be physically impossible for Cat to consume their nuts, feline teeth are not at all the right design for cracking a shell......Squirrels can squirrel away an extraordinary amount of nuts, our neighbour swept out 5 black sacks full of my hazelnuts from his outside loo courtesy of our local squirrel ( which I have never even seen).

Are you sure the dog's not saying horrible things to your cat and your cat just looks down on it because it's beneath it to respond?

FWIW I think your neighbours are crackers and deffo have too much time on their hands.

Maybe missing the point but surely hazelnuts aren't ready yet? It's July!

Tell them there won't be a problem any more because you've hidden the nutcrackers from the cat.

Firstly, cats don't eat hazlenuts! (in the 36 years I've had cats, it's news to me)
Secondly, your neighbours appear to be:
a) on hallucinogenic drugs,
b) mentally ill, or
c) miserable bastards.

Get your keys back, give them theirs, and do NOT stop your cat from going outdoors. Perhaps put up very high fencing between you and them

Are your neighbours confusing your real cat with Top Cat? I'm not sure if he was keen on hazelnuts, but he was pretty tricksy, and certainly enjoyed winding up dogs/policemen. Possibly Guinea pigs too, I can't remember.

Neighbours are leave voters.

I remember a similar thread - is your cat also sitting on the fence provocatively?

Dear Neighbour,

I am glad you have raised the issue of the dog and hazelnuts as I have been meaning to have a word with you about both matters.

Your dog is terrifying my cat so much that I have had to seek treatment from a cat psychologist, I shall be sending the bill for this in due course.

I will also be sending a vet bill for the cost of your nuts poisoning my cat and the cost of a carpet cleaner (needed to clear up the cat mess caused by your hazelnut poison),

Kind regards,

Lilianna123

AnnoyedofNorwich, no, they're not ready in human terms but that doesn't stop the squirrels, mice (and cats apparently in some areas!!!) tucking in.

I bet the cats using the nuts to throw at the dog...

Tell them they can buy a wee electronic gizmo that will put out a high pitched noise that cats don't like, however I don't expect the dog or Guinea pig will like it either. Cats eat a lot of things (my cat eats scone) but I highly doubt they eat nuts of any kind, you will be right with your squirrel theory. As for the dog, maybe they need to train it better, plenty of time since they are both retired, or maybe even walk it so it's not just staring out the window! As another poster suggested they should definitely cat/fox proof their Guinea pig cage or bring it indoors. If I were you I'd be watching out for them trying to poison your cat. Either change your locks or get your keys back as well, as soon as possible

Cats do love to annoy dogs! My cat used to do the same thing to my neighbours dog. Perhaps you could suggest she keep her dog indoors from now on if it's frightened of a pussy cat, and as for the nuts, well that's just nuts!