Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Whammyyammy · 08/07/2021 18:39

The cat came into your garden, tell him to suck it up and pay his own bet bill. Your dog was confined to his own territory.

RedBonnet · 08/07/2021 18:40

You are not to blame you don't owe them anything. Your dog was in your garden. You should be complaining to the police about harassment, abuse and being afraid to go out because of your bullying neighbour 🤬 or something along those lines

EarthSight · 08/07/2021 18:41

@Bluetoybear

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.
If you pay half, it could be seen like you are taking some kind of responsibility for what happened. It's not your fault their cat came into your garden and I think they're taking the piss by asking you to pay all of it. I think they're seeing how far they can get with you. I'm surprised if they won a case like this in court. The cat was on your property, and cat owners do risk accidental damage by allowing their cats to roam around.
Wrotten · 08/07/2021 18:41

Surely they should have insurance for this type of thing. If they don't then more fool them.

You're not responsible. The cat came into your dogs territory.

GreyhoundG1rl · 08/07/2021 18:41

Don't dream of muzzling your dog in it's own garden Hmm
Your neighbour needs to cat proof theirs.

RandomMess · 08/07/2021 18:42

As a dog and cat owner who has been through a dog on its leash killing our cat in our garden this is not your fault or problem.

If our beloved DCat has jumped into their garden we would have accepted it was our dumb cat and a genuine accident.

Your garden is in a secure private space.

Shambolical1 · 08/07/2021 18:42

Neither you nor your dog are responsible.

Tough on the cat (I have nothing against cats!), but that's the law.

For all those recommending contacting their insurer about third party liability insurance: with animals this doesn't work like car insurance. For the insurance company to pay out, liability has to be proven (likely via a court case). With this situation, there is no liability to be proven in law so no payment will be made.

The neighbour is understandably upset but it isn't your responsibility in any way so don't allow yourself to be intimidated.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 08/07/2021 18:42

Phone them. Most policies include 3rd party cover

OP would be generous even doing that much- I don’t see why her pet insurance premiums should go up because some eejit can’t accept his cat is his responsibility.

SunshineCake · 08/07/2021 18:42

My cat visits next door who have a dog. If their dog hurt my cat it would be 100% on me to pay the vets bill. Don't answer the door to bullying neighbour. Let's see how he is with your husband Hmm.

Hankunamatata · 08/07/2021 18:42

OP did u see the dog bite the cat? How do they know it was your dog

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 08/07/2021 18:43

Gosh the poor cat!

I'm with the neighbours OP you need to pay this Bill. Your dog shouldn't be attacking anyone not even animals. Be thankful they haven't demanded anything more severe

Original poster
Bluetoybear · 08/07/2021 18:43

Just to add.. I am an animal lover and I am so upset about the poor cat.. I wish it had never happened... I had cats when I lived at home as a child so know how much cats are loved.

OP posts:
TheGlassBlowersDaughter · 08/07/2021 18:44

If you're in the UK, there's not an expectation that cat owners keep their cats in or on their property. It can be different in the US.
If your neighbour comes back, just tell him that your DH is going to deal with him and that you don't want him to come back to your door. Don't repeat your offer to pay for half, your DH can discuss that when he returns. Let everything calm down a bit.
He might report your dog. iirc whether the police would do anything depends on whether there have been other reports about your dog.

GameSetMatch · 08/07/2021 18:44

They don’t have a leg to stand on, your dog was in your garden their cat ‘trespassed’ in to private property. Don’t worry, it sounds like your a good dog owner.

Aprilx · 08/07/2021 18:44

I agree that you are not liable based on what you have said, but not because the incident occurred in your garden as some posters have suggested.

The Dangerous Dogs Act applies even if the dog is in your own garden. It does not apply if there is an attack on another animal though, hence your neighbour is incorrect to spout about dangerous dog act. If however your neighbour had come into the garden to try and help their cat, but were unable to do so because of fear your dog would attack them, then it could be considered an offence under the act. However you have not indicated this is the case.

I think your offer to pay half is more than reasonable in the interest of good neighbourly relations.

21Bee · 08/07/2021 18:44

I also wouldn’t be paying, it would be different if it was in the park but you can’t be held liable when it came into your garden.

Your neighbour sounds like a bully, if he’s rude to you again I’d just close the door.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 08/07/2021 18:44

@sunshinesupermum

their cat should be insured and not in your garden

How do you prevent a cat entering a garden? Asking for a friend.

Sorry OP but I'm guessing the responsibility is all yours. [flowers}

And how is a car supposed to know their owners would be legally liable for any attacks that happen in that garden? Confused
Hankunamatata · 08/07/2021 18:45

Those who are saying op should pay. What happened if cat run in front of a car and was injured. Would u expect the driver to pay?

thereisnophalange · 08/07/2021 18:45

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Gosh the poor cat!

I'm with the neighbours OP you need to pay this Bill. Your dog shouldn't be attacking anyone not even animals. Be thankful they haven't demanded anything more severe

Erm no, she doesn't have to pay. OPs dog was on her property. Neighbours don't have a claim.
YouJustFoldItIn · 08/07/2021 18:45

What will happen if they report me and dog to authority's? sad

The cat came into your garden. I really wouldn't worry about it. Let them sort it out on their own insurance.That's what it's for.

seepingweeping · 08/07/2021 18:45

The cat entered at its own risk. Up to the owners to keep it in their garden.

nellieee · 08/07/2021 18:47

So sorry this has happened, OP. It's such a worry with pets. I would read your policy (and not call them). They might mark your policy and it could affect things going forward.

purplesequins · 08/07/2021 18:47

nice of you to offer half.
but I agree with the others. this is thr risk you take if you let your cat roam.
I also agree checking your dog's insurance.

noirchatsdeux · 08/07/2021 18:47

@summerfun12 I think dogs are vile, and if one seriously injured my cat, it wouldn't be biting anything ever again.

AramintaLee · 08/07/2021 18:48

I'm a cat owner and a cat lover (going as far as not liking dogs after being bitten by one as a child) however... I don't see how this is your responsibility. If your dog broke out of your garden and went into theirs and bit their cat then I would provably be expecting you to fork out the bill. However the cat came into your garden. As cat owners, we make a choice to let our animal roam should have insurance to cover all eventualities as a result. Sounds to me like they probably don't have full cover and so are trying to make a mug out of you.

Very generous of you to have offered half but I really don't think you owe anything other than maybe sympathy for what happened.