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.

Another cat owner here. If our cat was attacked on our property by an out of control dog then I would expect the dog owner to pay. If she’s attacked while roaming in someone else’s garden then that’s on us. Don’t give them a penny op.

Why on earth should OP put up a penny? Surely the cat owners got insurance? And if they haven't maybe they'll sort some out now.

Not saying it's not awful for the poor cat and of course OPs bound to feel awful but as others have pointed out it's a risk you take with a free roaming animal.

[quote noirchatsdeux]@summerfun12 I think dogs are vile, and if one seriously injured my cat, it wouldn't be biting anything ever again.[/quote]
Hopefully you keep the bugger on your own premises, then?

@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

Have you actually read the first post? The dog was in its own secured garden. The neighbours cannot demand anything.

Cat owner too and definitely would not blame you as your dog was secure in own garden. Would only be your fault if dog escaped.

Your neighbour is unreasonable. As he has been through a tough experience I would be willing to forgive and forget his outburst. But do not pay any of the bill or feel guilty.

You are obviously a caring person as you feel sympathy for their cat and it is sad but it is nobody's fault.

@Bluetoybear

My dog is a small type dog.. Not a hugh dog.. He has never bit or went for anything/anybody ever before... He is so friendly. I have managed to get in touch with my husband who has been working away and he is so annoyed the male neighbour had a go at me and has told me if he comes back to tell him my husband will go straight round to see him when he gets back. Going to phone my dogs insurance place up first thing tomorrow.

So that’s 2 men, who had a go at you. Brilliant.

You could retract the offer and say you were intimidated into offering to get him to leave you alone. Any more and you could contact the police for harassment. Don’t forget this. You have a right to feel safe in your home.

Don't pay a penny! The cat came in to your secure garden , the whole world can't be cat proofed!

[quote noirchatsdeux]@summerfun12 I think dogs are vile, and if one seriously injured my cat, it wouldn't be biting anything ever again.[/quote]
And if you did anything to my dog because your cat had come into my garden, you wouldn’t be doing anything again either.

Agree with most of the other posters here. I have a cat and if she went into the neighbours garden and got bitten by a dog or into a fight with another cat, I would not expect them to pay. Same as if she got hit by a car - I don't have insurance but I have savings to cover the cost.

The cat was in your secure garden OP. I don’t think you’ve anything to worry about.

Ignore those who say you need to pay. They are wrong.

If the neighbour comes back tell him to go away. Shut the door.

:42Hankunamatata

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

No, I had been sat out in the garden having a cup of tea and sandwiches and when I took my cup inside I heard the commotion in the garden sadly my little dog did chase and bite the cat I think

I am a huge cat lover, I love dogs too.
This is not your fault or responsibility. I have 3 cats, all insured up to the eyeballs. If my cat entered somebody else’s property, which they do coz they’re cats, and got bitten by a dog then that is my responsibility to pay for the accident.

@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

Ahhh bless you OP. I think anyone would and I'm sure he is just upset and worried. Hopefully when he calms down he'll be. Ire reasonable.

Poor cat but it's not your fault

Don’t pay them a penny! And don’t bother phoning your insurance either. Their cat shouldn’t have been in your garden. Your dog was secure. It’s not your responsibility

Tell him to fuck off OP and to keep his cat out of your garden in future.

Btw how big is the vet bill? Did it really need treatment? It costs around £100 just for a consultation, clean up, antibiotics and painkillers.

Not your responsibility at all! Your dog was secure in your garden, the cat has been allowed by the owner to wander into your garden, tell the neighbours to do one

I have a cat and I love her dearly but if she goes into a dogs garden and gets bitten that is her fault and as I am responsible for her I foot any bill that comes with that unfortunately it's a fact of life. What if the cat had been attacked by a fox, or hit by a car, these things can happen unfortunately it is a risk you take when you have an outdoor cat. You sound lovely OP and your offer of paying half was extremely generous, please don't feel bad you are obviously a responsible dog owner but all animals can be territorial and cats and dogs aren't known for getting along well. You have done nothing wrong so don't let your neighbour make you feel bad.

You are not responsible for their cat, either they pay or claim through their insurance. I am sure your husband will sort this out. Hope kitty is ok. It sounds very upsetting for everyone.

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

I feel bad enough about the poor cat at the moment and my little dog isn't vile

@Summersun2020

For clarity, I’m a cat owner and love my cat. I really don’t think you’re responsible for this at all. Awful for everyone involved, but just one of those things. Cats will roam, dogs will chase them-cats are usually quick enough to get away. Don’t feel bad op I do hope the cat recovers.

This (I'm a cat owner too).

@JustCallMeBubblesDahling

I’m also a cat owner too with insurance for circumstances such as this and certainly would not expect any recompense.

This...

You dog cannot leave your garden unattended but their cat can enter your garden.

His problem not yours. He should have insurance

@cadburyegg You are 100% wrong in suggesting what you have-the dog was secured in a fenced backyard-it was 100% blameless in this story

I wouldn't be paying anything. The cat came onto your property!

@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

Er - why?