Neighbour argument

[Flowerlane]

Name changed🤪

Excuse the length of the post and also any errors as using my phone.

2 neighbours are currently having a argument over a incident that happened this morning.

Neighbour A let her children and her dog out to play this morning in to her own garden neighbour B’s cat was in their garden and got spooked by the kids and the dog. The cat has tried to climb the tree to get over the fence but somehow has managed to get caught. Cat stuck in tree with dog at the bottom barking madly at it. Neighbour A and B have both run out to garden as the noise from the cat and the dog were both very loud. B manages to get the cat untangled by leaning over fence on a chair. Cat obviously has injured its leg and was rushed to the emergency vets.

Now B has knocked on A’s door and said that the cats leg may be broken and its having x rays this afternoon etc she is waiting for a phone call from the vet she then said how would A be paying the bill? Would she pay her or go direct to the vet and pay the bill?
A has stated that she is sorry that the cat has injured itself but she will not be paying as it was a accident and she can not see how she is at fault and has to pay for it.

B has gone mad and said her cat was spooked by her children and dog thats why he got stuck and was struggling to get away from a mad dog so it’s obvious she needs to pay!!

B said she will be back once the vet has phoned to let her know the amount and that if she isn’t prepared to pay she will be taking it to small claims court as it’s A’s fault her cat is injured.

A has asked my opinion as we are friends and whether she is being unreasonable. I think she is in the right and is not being unreasonable at all.

So why I sit and curtain twitchWhat do Mumsnet think is A being unreasonable by not paying the bill?

@Boxtroll

I would say cat lady is BU. I have a cat and they do go in to other people's garden to play. You can't control them.

This reminds me of when I was a child and we had a pet dog. The NDN had just gotten a new kitten and it used to come in to our garden sometimes.
One day I let my dog in to the garden without realising the kitten was in the garden. Our dog killed it! :( I still feel guilty about it and it was over 20 years ago.

Oh goodness, @Boxtroll, that's very sad however I really don't think it was your fault. This sort of scenario (and the risk of traffic, etc.) is the reason I've never allowed young cats outside until they're large enough and (somewhat) streetwise enough to handle it. Letting kittens out is very risky and I would say foolish.

Neighbour B is bonkers. If she carries on insisting A is responsible, A should just tell B she's suing her cat for trespass

B is not only B for bonkers but also CDEF (cheeky deluded eejit fucker)

Cat owner will have to pay their own bill. The dogs and children were in their own garden.

Another cat owner who thinks B is ridiculous. It’s a risk you take with cats which you mitigate with insurance. I love my cat dearly but I am aware others don’t. I am also fine with people spraying my cat with a hose if it ventures into their garden.

If B wants to ensure her cat is not injured then she should keep it indoors. Outside cats can be injured in many ways at any time. Its a chance you take when you allow them to wander.

Absolutely no way should A pay the vet bill. B is being very juvenile and petty.

As a a cat owner you have to accept that they will roam, and that any accident or misfortune befalling the cat on someone else’s property does not make them liable. The cat was on A’s property. She let her kids and dog out into her OWN garden.

Good luck with B taking it to small claims court - they will be liable for any costs if they lose (I think anyway).

Also if B is that bothered about the bloody cat why isn’t it insured?

Send cat owner a link to this thread OP 😉

If A wants to strengthen her own position (not that she needs to but B sounds very unreasonable) she could tell her she checked with her own pet insurance who have told her she is not liable and B needs to claim.

B chose to have a cat, that roams. If B doesn’t want her cat to be hurt she needs to keep it indoors. She has chosen not to there accepts the risk and responsibility or vet fees

If I was A I would say ok sue, I will sue you for the distress caused to me a s my kids from the episode started by your cat being in my garden

My cat and my neighbours cat fell through her shed roof cocking around mock fighting and they dropped through bringing the roof down her neighbour was all for her asking me to "contribute" as my cat helped do the damage fortunately she said no I know my cats a dick and he probably started it

@justanotherneighinparadise

If A’s dog had broken into B’s garden and caused her cat to panic and get injured trying to escape then I’d agree that B should probably pay. As it was B’s cat was in A’s garden and A let her dog and child out to play. Unfortunately B’s cat was also in A’s garden and panicked and hurt itself trying to escape.

That’s just bad luck. Noones fault.

This!

I am a dog and cat owner and I agree that the dog owner is not liable.

Dogs can be controlled, cats can't.

I am sorry that pussy got hurt.

The cat owner is crazy! No way is A liable.

Unfortunately the cat owner injured their own cat by untangling it leaning over the fence on a chair. They should have given at least some time for the cat to come down of its own accord. Hope the cat is OK.

I would like to be a fly on the wall if this were taken to small claims!

B’s cat was injured whilst trespassing on A’s property. B was aware that children and dog lived at A’s property and could have taken reasonable steps to prevent her pet being at risk. A is not responsible for a trespasser getting injured on her property.

B is a fucking chancer. Show her this thread.

That is why Neighbour B should have insurance for unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunate and sad incident but Neighbour A is not liable.

I watch Judge Rinder. He often has cases like this. He says you can't sue someone for their pet doing something you would expect that pet to do. Cats wander. Dogs chase Cats. Cat got stuck. Cat owner shouldn't let cat wander if cat might injure its self. Dog didn't hurt cat. Cat is stupid for going into a garden with a dog.

B should have insurance, if she doesn’t she shouldn’t expect A to pay.

I'm a cat owner and have cat proofed my garden to keep her in. Huge reason for this was so she doesn't get out and injure herself - obviously cats roaming free are at higher risk of getting into scrapes.

No way on God's green earth should A pay.

As a cat owner I can say that I think B is off her trolly. Let her waste money taking it to the small claims court, she'll lose.

I have two females both neutered as I’m a responsible cat owner. She should have pet insurance to cover her pet cat. Your friend is not responsible for a cat roaming inside a garden with a dog, I always thought if a cat smelt signs of a dog they avoid that area/garden.

Cat owner needs to be handed a grip. Shes a CF