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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cat scratching neighbours car?

95 replies

MotherofPoodles · 15/06/2021 22:27

We have 5 cats, not intentionally a stray gave birth and we got them all spayed and then kept them. I live in a farm so nearest neighbour is half a mile away. Neighbours daughter took a shine to one of the cats and we had a few reports of friends seeing her petting him etc. Contact was made with the neighbour by my husband as obviously initially we were worried he'd been lost. A few times we collected him but as they'd been having him in the house at this point we were fighting a losing battle.

Fast forward to now the cat has adopted this family and now won't leave. Tonight we've had a text to say this cat has now caused damage to their car on 2 occasions by scratching it, caught on camera. We haven't seen him for weeks despite looking.

Where do we stand? My husband I think should have been firmer and said if you don't want the cat visiting don't pet him/stroke/feed/take into your house. But he just apologised and went to collect him. We have photos of their daughter holding the cat in their house. Please advise if ibu to tell them to piss off? He's taking his care into the garage to be assessed.

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 15/06/2021 22:33

so the cretins kidnap your cat, but expect you to be responsible for his behaviour?

Original poster
MotherofPoodles · 15/06/2021 22:36

@ThinWomansBrain

so the cretins kidnap your cat, but expect you to be responsible for his behaviour?
Yep. Pretty much!
OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 15/06/2021 22:36

definitely tell him to piss off - and not to steal your cat again

JayAlfredPrufrock · 15/06/2021 22:36

Aren’t cats masters of their own destiny.

I’d laugh at them.

ChatterMonkey · 15/06/2021 22:39

Ive never heard of a cat scratching a car before...

I would send a laughing face back and say its a shame their cat had damaged their car

UrAWizHarry · 15/06/2021 22:39

Tell them to piss off.

Caradogthemouse · 15/06/2021 22:39

Not your fault at all, entirely their problem!! I don’t know how the law works but I imagine if they were to take it to court they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. If the cat has been sleeping at theirs and they have been feeding it, there is just as much evidence to suggest its theirs as much as its yours! And they have definitely been encouraging it. Don’t pay them anything!!

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 15/06/2021 22:40

I'd also tell them to piss off and stop kidnapping the cat

ChatterMonkey · 15/06/2021 22:40

How long between you accepting the cat had chosen new owners, and them getting in touch to say the car had been damaging?

delilahbucket · 15/06/2021 22:40

Never come across a cat scratching a car. It isn't exactly the type of material suitable for claw sharpening. Tell them they can sort their own cat out.

BeckyWithTheCurls · 15/06/2021 22:41

Where on the car has the cat scratched?

I’m at a loss to imagine a cat scratching a car?

Our ndn cat has scratched deep grooves into one of our gate posts but I haven’t said anything, annoying as it is.

negomi90 · 15/06/2021 22:41

Pretty sure cat damage counts as wild animal damage. You aren't supposed to be in control of them and so you aren't liable for the damage they do (not like a dog, who are supposed to manage in public)

Bargebill19 · 15/06/2021 22:41

Huh? Had cats all my life - never had a cat scratch a car. Is he talking about inside the car??? Either way, he’s a twat.

purpleme12 · 15/06/2021 22:44

Yes agree with others I'd be wary of the claim that the cat has scratched the car really
I can't imagine a cat scratching a car!
I can't imagine they can make you pay anyway

MaybeCrazy2 · 15/06/2021 22:44

I think that’s a lie. Cats don’t scratch cats.

Maybe a birds claws or a fox jumping over it?

I’d want to see the footage if I’m honest, as I just don’t believe it.

TableFlowerss · 15/06/2021 22:44

@ThinWomansBrain

so the cretins kidnap your cat, but expect you to be responsible for his behaviour?
Haha nailed it!
Averyyounggrandmaofsix · 15/06/2021 22:44

Is it a rag top convertible? That's the only way I can imagine this unless they put him inside the car.

FrangipaniBlue · 15/06/2021 22:47

My neighbours used to have a cat that took a shine to sunbathing on the bonnet of my car, I can assure posters that yes, cats can scratch car paintwork!

That said, in the OPs case the neighbours are CFs and I'd tell them to jog on.

Shmithecat2 · 15/06/2021 22:47

Cats can scratch cars, but not intentionally - when they jump on or off, they can leave very fine claw marks. I've got cats and they've done it recently to one of my cars...

Shmithecat2 · 15/06/2021 22:47

But yeah, tell them to sod off.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 15/06/2021 22:49

I've never heard of a cat scratched a car. Have you actually seen the footage??

ScottishNewbie · 15/06/2021 22:51

Cats don't scratch cars. Tell them you're reporting them for pet theft.

CoraPirbright · 15/06/2021 22:51

I would send them the photos of their dd cuddling the cat in their own house and say “you have purposely been feeding, petting and letting the cat into your home to the point that we have not seen him for weeks and we were very worried he was lost. You have lured him away and now he is yours and this goes for any damage you claim he has done. Cats sometime cause damage. If you didn’t want that, you shouldn’t have effectively stolen him”

grooovychick · 15/06/2021 22:54

Another one who's never witnessed a car scratching a car. They've scratched their car and are trying it on with you.

CrazyCatsAndKittens · 15/06/2021 22:54

My cat does sometimes try to scratch the tires and sometimes jumps up on the bonnet, so it is possible the cat scratched the paintwork.

Did your husband tell them you’d pay? If not, I’d take the stance that if they keep encouraging the cat in their house, they should buy a cover for their car as you aren’t liable for damage. We had a similar situation with one of my cats where a neighbor tried to adopt him and then returned him when he got sick. People can be such dicks! I ended up locking him in for a few months and he soon forgot the neighbors even though he wasn’t pleased about being kept in.