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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:
LaurieFairyCake · 15/06/2021 23:50

His cat, your cat - doesn't matter

No one is responsible for CAT damage to random cars

Cats are deemed wild animals (unless you're walking them on a lead and you trip someone up 🤷‍♀️)

Rainbowsew · 15/06/2021 23:51

You can't control a cat!

I wouldn't be entertaining any idea of paying for their car scratches, I doubt a cat could damage a car that much anyway.

They shouldn't have encouraged him to stay there in the first place!

Rainbowsew · 15/06/2021 23:55

That picture is of a dirty car!! 🤣

Crunchymum · 15/06/2021 23:59

Tell Justin to fuck off

AdoptedBumpkin · 15/06/2021 23:59

If they've stolen the cat, they can't blame you for the damage.

Womendohavevaginasnick · 16/06/2021 00:14

Oh wow. Just wow.

Ignore the idiot. If you can

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 16/06/2021 07:27

Tell Justin you'll buy him a new bucket and sponge to be neighbourly and he can consider himself lucky. His car looks dirty. Unless he can show you a video of your cat using the side of his car as a scratching post (which doesn't even seem possible) he's taking the piss!

gamerchick · 16/06/2021 07:32

OP this person is going to be a knob. Stop being agreeable and nice and get assertive. He's going to hit you with a bill. Just no.

TheQueef · 16/06/2021 07:37

Gotta ask (after seeing the Ross Kemp thing) when you say cat you do mean a domestic moggy?
I mean cat scratches car sounds bonkers.
Unless it's a fucking tiger.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 16/06/2021 07:40

Hi ndn, I suggest you give your dcat a good telling off!!
Regards ndn.
And block.
And never pay a penny to the cf!

30degreesandmeltinghere · 16/06/2021 07:41

Tell Justin to pack his spotty bag and fuck off..

SticksAndStoned · 16/06/2021 07:48

You missed a trick.

You should have asked for the footage first. Then if it appeared, you should have replied.

'sorry, that's not our cat. It does look like one we used to own, but we think someone else has taken it in as we haven't seen it for a long time'

lazee · 16/06/2021 07:49

@Crunchymum

Tell Justin to fuck off
😂😂😂
Veterinari · 16/06/2021 07:52

It's impossible to see what are possibly scratches and what is dirt.

You aren't legally responsible.
Tell Justin that as they've fed, housed and encouraged Xcat to their house for the past 2 months, you cannot be held responsible for his behaviour whilst he's there and it's up to them to discourage him if they do not want him in their property

tenlittlecygnets · 16/06/2021 07:55

It's impossible to see what's scratches and what's dirt! I'd be very firm: it's now your cat. You've fed him and looked after him for x weeks. Not my problem. Plus, I've never heard of a cat scratching a car...

SoupDragon · 16/06/2021 08:00

I think I can see what scratches he means and it looks like the cat has put both front paws up on the car, maybe had a stretch, and then dragged them down. However, it could easily be reflections and/or mud!

Anyway, legally you are not responsible for what the cats do.

I bet one of the "respray on your drive" companies would fix it cheaper than a paint shop though.

SoupDragon · 16/06/2021 08:01

@SticksAndStoned

You missed a trick.

You should have asked for the footage first. Then if it appeared, you should have replied.

'sorry, that's not our cat. It does look like one we used to own, but we think someone else has taken it in as we haven't seen it for a long time'

This! 😂😂
Singlebutmarried · 16/06/2021 08:01

I see muddy paws and some possible light scratches which will polish out with standard car polish.

If he’s that thick he’s going to get rinsed by the body shop.

MrsBertBibby · 16/06/2021 08:02

Contrary to popular belief, cat owners have a duty to take reasonable care to prevent their animals causing damage or injury. That is a heavier duty for dogs because the law recognises a) dogs can be trained better, b) dogs are much more like to cause problems. But the duty exists for cats, and they certainly are not wild animals, unlike, for instance, honey bees, which are wild animals, and which cease to belong to a beekeeper as soon as they move of his/her land.

However, in this case,

  1. He has prevented you from exerting reasonable control by luring the cat away
  2. There's not much you can reasonably do to prevent a cat getting on a car left out half a mile away.
  3. Bird shit and sunshine also harm car paintwork, if he's that bothered, he should garage the car, or buy it a cover.

So, he can jog on.

MrsBertBibby · 16/06/2021 08:03

Also, that car photo won't cut it in court! LOL.

Hoppinggreen · 16/06/2021 08:06

#fuckyoujustin

RandomLondoner · 16/06/2021 08:08

I believe no-one is legally required to fix the damage caused by a cat. If the car owner wants his car fixed, he needs to pay for it. It's irrelevant who owns the cat.

Bananapuppy · 16/06/2021 08:13

My neighbours’ cat scratches my car bonnet. It has a sunbathe on the car then scratches- no idea why! It’s a nice shiny red car with lots of little cat scratches on it. Grin
I’m not a huge cat fan, have never petted it and the only time it has been in my house is when it came to steal some fish from my shopping bag...

I’ve never asked (and never will ask) the neighbours to fix my car! What the heck were they meant to do about it? It’s not like they’ve intentionally damaged it. Just one of those things. I was a bit miffed the first time but now I just laugh at the crazy cat and go and try and shoo it away.

Clearly these people have adopted/catnapped your cat anyway and are now trying to be CF. They want the joys of your cat without any of the financial responsibility/ material consequences Hmm.

TheRebelle · 16/06/2021 08:34

I wouldn’t pay for it because he’ll start sending you the bill every time he fancies a respray. It’s a cat, you can’t prevent it jumping on cars, what would he do if a deer had damaged it or a bird?

rslsys · 16/06/2021 08:34

Looks like Justin drives an Audi, tosser by default from the off.