Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs chasing my cats…

80 replies

FrenchFancie · 08/07/2021 04:43

I live in a small village / hamlet, maybe 50 houses tops and we know most people by sight, and good friends with some.
We have two cats, not particularly elderly or fragile, who tend to stay close to home.
For some reason lots of people own dogs, several of which are rescue dogs as one woman round the corner is big into rescuing strays and fostering and tries to get others in the hamlet to have these dogs.
Anyway, frequently (two or three times a week) different dogs get loose / are being walked off the lead and end up chasing our cats, sometimes the cats take shelter up a tree, sometimes they out run the dogs. Often enough this involves the dogs coming into our garden barking and running full tilt trying to get the cat.
When I speak to the owners it’s always ‘oh yes ha ha so funny that our dog chased your cats!’.
I bumped into one person at the shop who mused ‘oh yes it’s always your house I loose the dog at because your cats hide under your cat and he so loves to chase them!’

Ainu to think that this is unfair? My poor cats get frightened frequently, people need to keep their dogs under control!

We have a village Facebook group and I’m thinking of posting on there, as it’s not just one person but, as far as I can tell, about 3 or 4 different people who frequently walk their dogs off lead.

I’m not a dog person, but Aibu to be getting annoyed by this now?

OP posts:
lovethisjourneyforme · 08/07/2021 04:48

My god I'd lose my shit if someone's dog came into my garden. Is it not secure? I'd be taking pictures and shaming people online but I'm petty with too much time on my hands.

MoppaSprings · 08/07/2021 04:57

I would be annoyed with the dogs coming into my garden( same way as I’d be annoyed at random cats coming in my garden).

Do you have a fence/gate?

There are a few options, keep asking people to keep their dogs under control, build a fence/ gate to stop them coming in your garden or keep your cats inside.

Whaleandsnail6 · 08/07/2021 05:08

Yanbu. People should have their dog under control. A dog chasing a cat is not under control.

I know my dog could potentially catch and kill a cat (ex racing greyhound) therefore my garden is completely secure so the dog can't get out, I do a cat check before letting her out in case one has jumped in and she is always walked on a lead. It's responsible dog ownership.

Nyfluff · 08/07/2021 05:38

Other people and their dogs shouldn't be coming into your property. Surely they should be on a lead? My neighbour laughs when their dog barks at our cat as they walk past, I don't find it funny at all and neither does my terrified cat. It's rampaged through the garden and broken things/pooed and they didn't bother to fix it. I'm just glad the poor thing gets a walk occasionally. People are selfish.
I've noticed a lot of irresponsible dog owners lately, sorry you experience them too.

FangsForTheMemory · 08/07/2021 05:40

I’d be getting my garden fenced in asap. Your neighbours sound awful.

romdowa · 08/07/2021 05:43

Id be making it perfectly clear on the Facebook group that any dogs that chase your cats and subsequently get the face scratched off them .... shouldn't bother knocking on your door for vets bills.

bengalcat · 08/07/2021 05:47

Absolutely unacceptable and as for some of the owners attitudes I’m speechless . As others have said their dogs not being under control and trespassing onto your property is not on - can you put up a fence / barrier to keep the dogs out .
We have two cats whom my dog adores but outside any other cat is ‘ fair game ‘ so my dog is on a lead on the street and I tend to cross the road if a cat is there . Your cats need to feel safe on their own territory . Good luck .

Hothammock · 08/07/2021 05:48

Time to get a hose pipe ready and an electric fence

mowly77 · 08/07/2021 06:16

That’s awful and has got to stop. Dogs can potentially kill cats.

FizzyTango · 08/07/2021 07:03

Just to offer the other perspective, I don’t think you can expect a dog not to WANT to chase a cat if it is roaming around the village. My dog utterly hates cats despite me trying everything I can to prevent that.

BUT the dog should not be coming onto your property and the dog owners absolutely shouldn’t be allowing to dog to actively chase the cats even around the public areas. I don’t allow my dog to chase any animal, he might want to and try to, but I keep him on a leash for that reason. And if he’s off lead in a park and he spots a squirrel/bird I recall him before he has a chance to chase. It’s utterly irresponsible to allow your dog to chase any animal.

AnUnoriginalUsername · 08/07/2021 08:02

Yeah people should have their dogs under control, they shouldn't be walking dogs off lead knowing they'll chase a cat. Their dog could injure itself if nothing else. But you also let your cat wander and shit in people's gardens and kill wildlife so I can't get mad about it.

Husbandno5 · 08/07/2021 08:11

It’s not fair that their dogs are coming into your garden. I would ask them to stop that, rather than ask them to stop chasing your cat.
Dogs chase cats. That’s the normal order or life. You can’t ask them to control the dog any more than you can ask your cat to not chase and kill mice and birds. The only thing you could do is ask the owners not to bring dogs onto your property. If the dog is barking at them from the road, I think that’s fair game.
Have you tried to keep you cat inside OP? Or perhaps in your back garden?

Sciurus83 · 08/07/2021 08:36

Are the dogs coming onto your property?

Whoarethewho · 08/07/2021 08:39

The neighbors cat chases birds in my garden seems only fair the dog chases the cat elsewhere

girlmom21 · 08/07/2021 08:39

Oh my god people are dicks. YANBU at all. I'd be infuriated. Would they be laughing if their dog killed your cat? Or if your cat fought back and scratched their dogs eye?

Sciurus83 · 08/07/2021 08:40

Oh yes sorry I can see you've said they do, well that's not on at all! YANBU!

Lockheart · 08/07/2021 08:44

The dogs should be on leads / under control.

Your cats should be kept inside if you're worried.

Your garden should be secured.

MangoBiscuit · 08/07/2021 08:45

The one who mused that she did it on purpose, I would try to get that in writing if possible. Then point out that if their dog ever harms your cats, or damages any other property of yours, you will be suing and/or looking to press charges, seeing as it was intentional.

God, some people are such dickheads. I'd be furious. I totally accept that a roaming cat is at risk of being chased by a dog, it's one of the risks of them roaming. But to loose the dogs on purpose? To encourage it? That's horrid, and bloody stupid too. If they can't stop their dog running into your garden, they shouldn't be off the damn lead at all.

girlmom21 · 08/07/2021 08:45

@Lockheart

The dogs should be on leads / under control.

Your cats should be kept inside if you're worried.

Your garden should be secured.

Cats don't need to be kept inside because of irresponsible dog owners.
1940s · 08/07/2021 08:55

I'd tell them you're getting a pellet gun / air rifle and will shoot any dogs coming into your garden. they could harm you, your cats or other family members.

Lockheart · 08/07/2021 08:57

@1940s

I'd tell them you're getting a pellet gun / air rifle and will shoot any dogs coming into your garden. they could harm you, your cats or other family members.
You could, but then the police would probably want to talk to you...
1940s · 08/07/2021 08:59

Happily could talk to police and open up a conversation about how it's illegal to have a dangerous dog on my private property. That would stop their dogs being out of control

Greydog · 08/07/2021 09:07

Since my dog was attacked, and hurt for no reason whatsoever by someones big, fat cat, and we were clawed and bitten by this feral cat while it's owner cried "naughty puss, leave the doggie alone" and I have no redress in law because cats are cats, I wouldn't much care if she chased a cat. Especially our delightful neighbours "housecat" that spends all it's time shitting in everyones garden except hers. So, i have a certain amount of sympathy with dog owners who are happy to let their animals chase cats. But I wouldn't let mine off the lead to deliberately do it (she's too afraid now anyway)

Northofsomewhere · 08/07/2021 09:14

If the cats were in others gardens it would be completely different but in a public space the dogs should absolutely be under control either due to being on a lead or good recall. I don't understand how they think it's safe to allow their dogs off lead on a road and allow them to chase other animals. Can you put a secure gate on the garden they keep entering to give your cats chance to run in but possibly make a dog think twice (they may still jump a gate)?

If you're considering posting on your local Facebook group I'd approach it from the angle of dogs off lead on roads and the risk that poses. It less likely to get anyone's backs up and doesn't get into the debate of dogs chasing cats, clearly some people already think it's ok so best to avoid it.

Cats should be allowed to roam (I don't care if my neighbours cats crap in my garden) and dogs should be under control in public spaces (I'm a dog owner), particularly where they are at risk of hurting themselves (on the road or in strange gardens) or others (the cats).

emilyfrost · 08/07/2021 09:18

YABVU. You can’t claim your cats have right to roam and can go where they want when they want, shitting everywhere and being a nuisance for everyone around you, yet at the same time complain they’re being chased.

They’re either wild animals or pets. If they’re pets, keep them inside or in a catproof garden. If they’re wild animals, they have to take the wild as it goes.