My dog bit a cat 😪

[Bluetoybear]

Please be kind as I am so stressed over this.. name changed for this I have a 7 year old dog which is only walked on a lead 3 times a day in local park and let out in my back garden throughout the day for a wee etc. My back garden has a 6 foot fence around it so my dog can't get out. Yesterday the neighbours cat jumped into my garden and my dog ran after it and bit it on its leg. My neighbour has taken the poor cat to the vets and has had a big vets bill for it and neighbours husband has came round at tea time demanding I pay it all. He was very vocal about it and said if I don't pay it he will 'sue/take me to court/get in touch with authority's saying my dog is dangerous etc. I am so worried as the cat has awful injuries. I have offered to pay half out of goodwill but neighbours telling me I need to pay all of the bill which I can't afford.

I am a cat lover and have 2 little burmese boys. This is not your fault and you need to understand that. If the cat had not been in your garden, then none of this would have happened. You are being very generous and although I really feel for the cats owner, its up to them to sort it.

It's not your fault!
Yes it's a shame for the cat but cats roam and can get themselves into all kinds of trouble
I would think the cat owners will calm down and realise its not your problem

I love cats and I like dogs - ndn is trying it on - he should be using his own pet insurance which he was too tight to buy
Sod paying half: you have now changed your offer to the price of sweet fanny adams.

You are NOT responsible. The cat came in your garden, you can't do anything about that.

I would definitely pay as the alternative might be your dog being put to sleep if considered to be a dangerous dog.

You're confusing cats with sheep, @emilylily. Easy mistake to make ...

That man is being horrible to you. If he continues to bang on your door call the police. They should have insurance for their cat! This is awful for their cat but for gods sake they have let the cat roam free. I own a cat and a dog and completely understand that animals are just animals we can’t be in control of them 100% of the time, your dog was protecting his territory. I hope this resolved itself soon for you OP, what a stressful thing for you. Completely not your fault x

@ChargingBuck yes confusing cat with sheeo and the owner;s own garden with a farm. Apart from that.......

I am a cat owner . I would not expect someone else to pay for them if they got bit while in someone else's garden . It's not your responsibility .

Definitely not your responsibility OP.

Their cat should not be roaming into a garden where there is a dog, and he should not have been vocal with you.

The dog was under control, in an enclosed and private space owned by yourself.

@Kakey1294129

I may be slated for this but the cat entered your garden and your dog bit. He shouldn't have bir but the dog was in their own secure garden. I wouldn't pay.

I hate this convo years ago with a friend . Their cat was bit after entering a garden with a dog. My friend demanded that the dog owner paid everything. But I was too scared to say to her I didn't agree!

Don't pay op! It's the risk of having a cat that roams around!

You're not going to get slated for saying the same as 98% of posters

OP. He is a CF and if he continues to intimidate you call the police.

Cat owners can't have it all ways.

I'm sorry you are upset. Sadly it's a risk owners take when cats roam free. It's the best thing for cats but inevitably they are risks. My cat was bitten by a fox. Luckily I had pet insurance which covered most of the vet bills.

Do not pay these people a single penny. They should have insured their cat. These isn't your responsibility.

I have both dogs and cats.

Your dog was in your garden. It’s not your fault and it’s not your responsibility to pay their bill for their pet.

I quite understand your neighbour’s distress and I quite understand you avoiding them. Take care OP.

Poor cat but the fault is with its owners who let it roam not you

@ArcherDog

Dog warden specialising in dog law - cat was in your garden, not your responsibility. Paying half is a nice gesture but you are not legally responsible for it.

I was going to say them same... except not the dog warden bit!

Spent 15 years working for the police dealing with people like your neighbour all the time. He doesnt have a leg to stand on. Police wouldn't touch it. Private enclosed space, animal on animal. You are very kind to even offer to pay anything. He should have insurance. Sending you

God, don’t give them a penny. This is not your responsibility. I would have told him to piss off.

I own two cats both my cats are indoor cats, I also own a guard dog your neighbours cat is allowed to free roam what do they expect would happen, your dog was outside in his own garden, dogs chase cats while I hate to think of any animal getting bitten, not your dogs fault not yours! Don’t worry about the neighbours, I wouldn’t be paying any vet bill

Have only read the op's posts but don't pay!
We have 2 cats and a cat proof fence - for exactly this reason (and the busy road). If you let cats roam free you have to accept the risks

He has stopped knocking now.. I have my bedroom window open as it's so warm tonight and he had been knocking and saying to his wife who was outside 'I know she is in there!' my husband was fuming on the phone and is going to come home a couple of hours earlier from work tomorrow to go straight round and see him! I have had surgery on my shoulder so was resting in bed with a book as it's still very sore. Little dog was barking and was no help whatsoever

@Bluetoybear

I am in tears, as my husbands working away and I have been unable to reach him yet, and the neighbours husband has had a right go at me.. I feel awful about the poor cat

I'd have called the police for harassment and intimidation.

Do not pay half. Do not answer the door to them. Do call the police if they try it on again.

Sorry, haven't read the full thread. But you're dog is not responsible. Cats have very few protections in law because of their wandering nature.

For peace of mind you can join the Dog's Trust for about £25/year and get third party liability cover for your dog included with the membership. If you have pet insurance it almost certainly includes this already though.

So the dh had a go at you and you're willing to pay? OP you've got this all the wrong way round.
I don't know the 'rules' around a cat going into your property but no way of agree to pay until I'd found them out in these circumstances. Don't pay, say you've had advice and realised it's actually their liability and you only offered as you thought it was on your insurance but it's not. Obviously find out who is liable first though. I cannot see how any of this is your fault though.

If he knocks again I'd call the police for intimidating you!

How lovely that you offered to pay half...

BUT i wouldn't, your dog was on your own property. IMO thats the risk you take when you own a cat that is allowed to roam.

Do not call your insurance this is nothing to do with you

If he wants to keep his car safe he needs to make it a indoor cat

And I would be telling him to make sure he keeps it out your garden from now on