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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I’m not responsible for someone else’s cat, am I?

267 replies

PoppliosBubble · 25/04/2020 13:51

On Monday I was in the garden and heard a noise in the garage. I opened the garage and a cat shot out and disappeared up the road. I knew the garage hadn’t been opened since the previous Thursday so the cat had been stuck in there for 4 days without food or drink 🙁.

I posted the above on our local FB page with a brief description of the cat, asking if anyone had lost one. A lady replied saying her cat had turned up at hers incredibly weak, she’d taken it to the vet who had given fluids and was keeping it overnight. I messaged the lady my email and asked her to let me know how cat was doing, that I was really sorry and that it was only due to lockdown that the garage hadn’t been opened in so long etc.

This morning she emailed me to say cat was home, seemed much better but that she was keeping him in from now on. The cat had to stay at the vets for two days and the cost was nearly £800, vets bill attached to the email. I think this is a bit odd but reply ‘glad to hear cat is better. I’ll keep an eye out for him once he’s out and about again. Hopefully your insurance will cover the fees and you didn’t have to pay too much of an excess.’

She’s just replying say she doesn’t have insurance against someone locking her cat in their shed for nearly a week. She’s been furloughed and absolutely cannot afford to pay this bill at the moment. She thought that I’d offer to at least pay half of the bill after the harm I’d caused her cat but as I haven’t she’ll ask me outright or be posting my details on the local FB telling everyone what I’ve done. The same FB page that I posted on saying I’d found a cat in my garage in the first place.

This isn’t my fault is it? I have a cat and if someone accidentally shut it in a shed/ garage them I’d consider that my responsibility as I’m the one that allows my cat out. I’m just ignore the email as I’d quite like to see what she posts online.

OP posts:
artistformerlyknownas · 25/04/2020 14:52

I think cat owners should cat proof their gardens so they remain on their property at all times

Fixed it for you Grin

PoppliosBubble · 25/04/2020 14:52

Phew! Glad to hear IANBU. I don’t know whether the invoice is genuine or not, it’s certainly got the name and logo of our local vet on it and was dated last week. No details of what the bill was actually for though, just ladies name, cats name and total due.

I have absolutely no intention of giving her any money or replying to her email. I feel a bit daft for apologising. I guess I wasn’t really apologising for locking the cat in as such, just felt guilty that it had suffered and I hadn’t noticed for so long. There is definitely no water at all in the garage so I’m guessing that’s why the cat did need treatment rather than just TLC.

Ah well, I’ll let her get on with her FB ranting if she fancies it. She claims she put up some posters but she certainly didn’t put any in my road which is only2 roads over from her.

OP posts:
Tiredmum100 · 25/04/2020 14:53

No way should you pay anything. I'm a cat owner and would never expect anyone to pay for my cats vet bills.

Alsohuman · 25/04/2020 14:53

I’d love to know who voted that you were being unreasonable! Probably the cat’s owner.

fuckinghellthisshit · 25/04/2020 14:54

Message her back and say you've realised the cat has done £5000 damage to your bmw. Attach a handwritten invoice.

Chloemol · 25/04/2020 14:55

Ignore it. If she does post I would do a response along the lines if she was obviously not worried about her cat as she had not posted it missing on Facebook. Had she done so you would have looked earlier and she is a irresponsible pet owner

YinMnBlue · 25/04/2020 14:55

Ridiculous.

It probably is her cat but might not have been.
She might not have a cat at all.
Cat owners let their cats roam free. Where they shit, spray and kill birds in other people;'s gardens, and the garden owner had no control over this. If they lock themselves in other people's garages, well, that goes with the territory.

Cats getting locked in other people's property is an occupational hazard.
She shouldn't have a cat if she can't afford to pay its bills or insure it. The bill wouldn't be outside insurance because of how it became ill.
She is threatening you - and you could report her
She is ridiculous - if she posts on SM people will think her a fool.

HandfulOfFlowers · 25/04/2020 14:57

That's insane. I am a cat owner, I choose to let my cat outside therefore it is my risk and responsibility should anything happen to her.

fuckinghellthisshit · 25/04/2020 14:57

Ring the vet

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/04/2020 14:58

Post on Facebook first - under you original message

'That'll teach me to care about cats. The cat owner now want me to pay the vets bill as she isn't insured'

Toddlerteaplease · 25/04/2020 15:00

She's bonkers. Besides, £800 for two nights at the vet? That's a bit steep. One of mine recently spent 5 days there out of hours and the bill was £750. This is why you should have insurance!

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 25/04/2020 15:01

NO absolutely NO.
You are not responsible for her cat- they are classed by the government as "wild animals" because they go where they please. You are not legally or morally responsible for paying her vets bills.
If she is so broke then she should keep her cat inside where it can come to no harm

hesgotit · 25/04/2020 15:01

She's having a laugh! Give her nothing!

VanWinkle13 · 25/04/2020 15:03

My cat was hit by a car, was kept in for three days and had to have several X-rays and it cost half of this!

Mammatino · 25/04/2020 15:05

Absolute nonsense, she’s trying to extort money from you. Not your responsibility morally or legally.

krustykittens · 25/04/2020 15:06

She's scamming you, OP. We have a neighbour who does this, any real or perceived slight or damage to her or her property and she demands cash, there and then! Tell her to jog on and if she can't afford pet insurance then she needs to re-home her cat!

Herpesfreesince03 · 25/04/2020 15:07

@thecatneuterer cats can survive far longer than 3-4 days without water. I’ve had plenty of cases where cats have had no access to any water at all for 1-2, weeks. And some cases as long as 3 weeks.

Op can you show us the vets bill? I doubt it’s seen a vet at all, but if it has then I’m interested in wtf cost £180. My dogs registered at one of the most expensive vets in the city and had two emergency operations for a prolapse last month and was in for 4 days. That didn’t even come to £500

RandomMess · 25/04/2020 15:08

Cat owner here:

She's batshit, she hadn't bothered knocking on doors or even put posters up?

If my cats didn't turn up one evening then the next morning I would be out knocking on doors etc

Northernwarrior · 25/04/2020 15:08

Yep say of course. Then send her a bill for the cat renting your shed unauthorised for 4 days plus the cost of cleaning after the cat shit everywhere.

Roussette · 25/04/2020 15:09

It was £800 not £180!

Ignore her. She's trying it on

Do not engage

RagamuffinCat · 25/04/2020 15:09

I would be tempted to phone the vet, and say you are being asked to pay, and wanted to confirm that the bill was a direct result of the cat being left in the garage. I doubt the bill is for that reason.

I also don't think it is your responsibility regardless though.

billy1966 · 25/04/2020 15:10

Hilarious!

Sounds like both cat owner and vet are taking the piss.

Out of curiosity I'd be calling the vet.
She could be using his name to scam you, therefore slandering him and committing fraud.

Bigbrowproblems · 25/04/2020 15:11

@Rockbird

We had a policy from animal friends which we were paying a fiver for for a young cat.

No we've changed to another provider with a much higher level of cover and gives cashback every year and it's still under a tenner a month. £45 seems a lot. How many cats do you have?

I know quite a few other cat slaves who all pay less than a tenner a month for similar age cats and cover.

ilovedjerrymore · 25/04/2020 15:12

Have you looked up the logo? To find out if the vet is actually real? Also does the dates tally??

The cat could have been treated for anything, it could have darted out in front of car and got knocked down on its way home for all you know.

IHaveAMagicBean · 25/04/2020 15:12

email her back directly asking “Are you trying to extort money out of me

This is perfect.