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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My dog bit a cat 😪

982 replies

Bluetoybear · 08/07/2021 18:00

Please be kind as I am so stressed over this.. name changed for this SadI 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 legSad. 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.

OP posts:
VouisLuitton · 10/07/2021 16:55

As a cat owner I know there is a risk every time I let her out. There is no way I would expect a dog owner to pay for a vet bill if their dog injured my cat on their own property.

Glad your husband has withdrawn the offer of going halves. It was very generous of you in the first place and completely underserved considering the way they have dealt with you since.

LittleMissMe99 · 10/07/2021 17:19

@Thisisthemonth

their cat should be insured and not in your garden
The dog should be insured
Rainbowsparkle · 10/07/2021 17:21

It’s a sad situation for the cat owners, however if the cat has come into your garden your dog is protecting his territory, I wouldn’t be paying any of the cats vet bill. If they choose to let their cat free roam. That’s their choice and it’s a risk they have chosen to take.

Emj86 · 10/07/2021 17:28

I work in the legal department of a well known insurance company and I can assure you, that you cannot be held liable for this.

If your dog was in public and off the lead there may be a chance but as he was in your garden there is nothing they can report you for and you certainly can’t be held liable.

Cats free roam and this is something they as cat owners need to be insured for.

Please do not pay half as you really don’t need to.

Bebethany · 10/07/2021 17:35

Please try to stay calm and not worry? This cat owner is being unrealistic and a bully?

I have two cats whom I adore, they are my boys. One doesn’t go out much but the other jumps and climbs everywhere, I take the risk by letting him out. I can remember I time when I was looking after my end of life dad and I’d taken lock stock and cats to live with my daddy. A neighbours black lab chased my cat and bit him, I was very upset as it was out in my dads front garden. As a medic, I treated the cat myself but the dog owner was also a clinician, she just laughed and said ‘dogs will be dogs’!

Sameoldgirl · 10/07/2021 17:37

Hey OP I'm a cat owner and this is not your fault. It's not a nice situation but this was your garden. I hope the cat is okay and that you are too.

Itawapuddytat · 10/07/2021 17:38

Even if the dog is insured, the insurance won't pay for the cat's injuries as they happened in the dog's garden and the cat was trespassing. If the dog had escaped and attacked the cat in the neighbour's garden, house, maybe even in the street, yes, they would have covered the bill but as the dog was in his own garden and the cat wasn't, the dog's owner is not liable for the vet expenses.

Lolwhat · 10/07/2021 17:41

The cat came into your garden. Your dog was just protecting his territory, don’t pay a penny

munchkinman · 10/07/2021 17:41

I have two cats. One got bitten on the leg the other week. It wouldn’t occur to me to want money from the other owner. That’s what animals do xx

ERFFER · 10/07/2021 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShutUpaYourFace · 10/07/2021 17:44

@LittleMissMe99
The dog is insured. OP said earlier in the thread she would ring and check if she was covered. The overwhelming response on here is no don't as it's not her responsibility. The cat was in HER garden. The cat was trespassing and got bit by the residing dog. Did you read the thread?
If the cat owner is not insured he cannot bully the dog owner to pay. She originally offered half but he was a shit banging on her door and bullying her. Her husband then withdrew the offer. Fair enough. OP is not at fault.
Cat owner is an arse!

sunglassesonthetable · 10/07/2021 17:47

Thisisthemonth
their cat should be insured and not in your garden
The dog should be insured

Yep. And it is. 🤷‍♀️

. @LittleMissMe99

RottieMum80 · 10/07/2021 17:50

Nope not your fault at all. Your dog was in his own garden, legally you would have no responsibility or obligation whatsoever. Their cat - they should have insurance. It’s something that cat owners have to accept and suck up when owning an animal that roams wild - they get into scrapes (cat fights, rta’s, etc) as long as nothing is done to them on purpose of course.
Plus I’m a cat (and dog) owner and work in a vets. It’s kind of you to offer to pay half but you certainly don’t have to. Cats are not classed quite the same as dogs or other pets when it comes to the law. The cat came into YOUR garden. Harsh but true. So you shouldn’t worry OP x

NEVERENDINGST0RY · 10/07/2021 17:53

I am a (free roaming outdoor) cat owner and dont particularly like dogs.

Cats should be insured. It would be a lovely gesture of you to pay an excess fee to him (mine is £60). Secondly if my cat goes into your garden then thats its own problem. I would hate for it to happen but it shouldnt be there. Your dog should be free to roam its own garden and it sounds like youve been extremely sensible in dog care anyway.

However as for the legalities I have no idea, just wanted to reassure you that you werent in the wrong IMO.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 10/07/2021 17:54

I spoke to my dog owning neighbour when the moved in and we agreed Id put the cat on a lead and look over the fence while he let his dogs out. They went nuts. The cat has never ventured near their garden since. She avoids it like the plague.
My view won't be popular but you can't expect a dog owner to keep their dogs in the house all day because you have a cat that roams there.
He is entitled to let his dogs out and shouldn't be responsible for the bills if your cat gets hurt.
Your cat should be insured as the cat is free roaming. Its not like the dogs invaded your garden.
Having said that I hope your cat gets better soon.

pam290358 · 10/07/2021 17:56

You are not responsible for ANY of the vet’s bill. Cats are classed as wild animals as owners cannot control where they roam - if your neighbour was a responsible owner then they would have pet insurance to cover the bill. Cat owners can’t expect others to stump up for injuries caused by roaming. Two choices, either keep your cat indoors or have it properly insured for vets bills. There is no third choice of coming round to threaten neighbours with legal action because THEIR animal has come into a private garden and been injured as a result. Tell them to jog on.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 10/07/2021 17:56

Ah sorry you are the dog owner sorry. No you should not have to pay its ridiculous.

TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish · 10/07/2021 17:57

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I spoke to my dog owning neighbour when the moved in and we agreed Id put the cat on a lead and look over the fence while he let his dogs out. They went nuts. The cat has never ventured near their garden since. She avoids it like the plague. My view won't be popular but you can't expect a dog owner to keep their dogs in the house all day because you have a cat that roams there. He is entitled to let his dogs out and shouldn't be responsible for the bills if your cat gets hurt. Your cat should be insured as the cat is free roaming. Its not like the dogs invaded your garden. Having said that I hope your cat gets better soon.
Stick. wrong . end. @Shehasadiamondinthesky

RTF

NEVERENDINGST0RY · 10/07/2021 17:57

OP, i just read the updates. i would keep an eye on your dog when its outside and give the garden a quick check for treats or random objects as this guy sounds like a twat who may tit for tat you on vets bills. Flowers

Harls1969 · 10/07/2021 17:59

For those saying that the can't shouldn't be in your garden... do you actually know anything about cats? Law unto themselves, but usually sensible enough not to go into a garden where there's a dog and usually pretty good at getting away. I think your dog got off lightly!
Obviously you feel bad, nobody wants an animal to get hurt, but it was on your property and the dog was defending it. You shouldn't be expected to pay the full bill (I think offering half as a gesture of goodwill is generous). The cat owner should realise that's part of owning a cat. I do!

ExpatAl · 10/07/2021 18:04

You say I hope your cat recovers fast and that your insurance covers treatment. I will not pay anything. My dog was secure in his own garden. Don’t answer the door to them again after that and wait until your husband’s home for moral support.

I have two cats that roam and a dog. It’s the risk you take when you let cats outside.

Confusedandshaken · 10/07/2021 18:14

I'm sorry you were so intimidated and glad your husband cleared this up OP. Your neighbours were very wrong on many levels. I hope this encourages you to be more confident and assertive in the future.

Calmyertits · 10/07/2021 18:17

My dog lives with 2 indoor cats perfectly fine. But next door have two cats and they know damm well i do everything i can to keep them out and shoo them out if i catch them (my indoor cat stripped herself bald when NDN got their cats from stress) but they torment the hell out of the dog and still run through the garden even if shes in there and theres been a few close calls. Shes a tiny 3.5kg but her prey drive is very high and she will catch the younger cat one day if it doesn't learn. I wont be paying the vet bill when she does because its in my garden and ive done all i can to keep them out. If the neighbours dont care enough to do the same then thats on them.

OhRene · 10/07/2021 18:19

@NEVERENDINGST0RY

OP, i just read the updates. i would keep an eye on your dog when its outside and give the garden a quick check for treats or random objects as this guy sounds like a twat who may tit for tat you on vets bills. Flowers
Oh shit, good point. He sounds angry and aggressive.

Keep an eye on your dog now for its safety against retaliation.

NeedNewKnees · 10/07/2021 18:21

I'm glad your husband dealt with your horrible neighbour.

I have cats. If a dog got into my garden and hurt my cats I'd pursue them to the full extent of the law.
If my cats get injured in the garden of a dog owner, I would take them to the vets and be glad I'm a responsible pet owner with insurance for any treatment needed. You can't blame a dog for defending its territory.