Ridiculous argument with neighbour

[KindleAndCake]

Maybe IABU. My dog only ever barks at cats, that's it. Never at other dogs or people.
So, new neighbours at the back recently moved in and have cats, they have them on leads and put them up against our fence.
When I let our dog out and he sees the cats through the fence he'll bark at them. I will then bring him in.
Neighbour saw me today and challenged me over the barking. He said it was annoying. I just said there wasn't much I could do, he's a dog and he barks at cats and I bring him in as soon as I hear him.
Neighbour then responds with, "but my cat doesn't make any noise". I just looked at him, and said, but he's a cat. He doesn't bark.
Neighbour then threatened to call the police if this carries on.
Am I really being unreasonable? I don't know what else I can do?

[jimbob1969]

He sounds like a mentalist. You should be calling the police on him!

[Evilcountspatula]

Loving the idea of calling the police about a dog barking at cats, I’m sure they’ll be all ears 👂

[StoneMap]

I would love him to call the police. Tell him that you will follow the police advice on this.

[L0stinCyberspace]

@StoneMap

I would love him to call the police. Tell him that you will follow the police advice on this.

I often read people saying "LOL at this" and think "yeah, of course u did...probably just smiled inside". But I did a snort of laughter at your post. I can just imagine the look on the face of the person with the police taking down details of THIS complaint 😂

[spotcheck]

@godmum56

to stop them leaving the garden. Its stupid and dangerous as its possible for cats to get tangled in their own or other cats' leads and be killed or injured.

Killed from a tangled lead?????

[Mamanyt]

Yes, this. A cat should NEVER be unattended on a lead.

[AnneElliott]

Your neighbour is bagshit. What are you expected to do other than bring him in each time? Hopefully your dog will get used to them.

My neighbour used to get annoyed at my cats - they asked if I could train them not to wash themselves in the garden as it drive their dog mad! I don't think they realised quite how cats work!

[annatwink]

godmum56 · 21/04/2022 15:38
PriamFarrl
Q "Why do they have cats on leads?"
A "to stop them leaving the garden. Its stupid and dangerous as its possible for cats to get tangled in their own or other cats' leads and be killed or injured."

No. There's a ridiculously high injury and death rate for cats on busy roads and in cities. It's often a question of not if, but when, your cat gets hit. Then they will crawl away and suffer alone - if they survive. Not to mention the number of native wild birds cats kill on the regular, it's a real massacre in some countries. Also people with pedigrees often have house cats. House cats often get exercise in their gardens on a lead. Having said that you shouldn't leave them unsupervised for the reasons you mention.

[Crystal30]

Are they for real 😳 I have 4 cats and 1 dog and the amount of times my neighbours have tried to have a go about my cats is unreal because they have cats also and sometimes they just don't get on, cats are cats and dogs are dogs you just have to get on the best you can.

[Menora]

My dog barks at cats too, and we have a cat. So it’s not like he’s not used to living with one and seeing it, he can’t help himself! We have a local cat who will sit on the wall staring at the dog while he’s losing his mind I also always bring him him. The dog is being territorial. I would reduce what he can see through the fence and bring him in. That’s all you can do. If anyone knows how to train a dog to stop barking at a cat that looks like it might invade their garden please let me know

[Spuffcat]

I’m probably repeating info here but I can assure you the police won’t be in the slightest bit interested. They have serious anti social behaviour incidents unfortunately, this wouldn’t be a priority, don’t worry.

YANBU

I like the water pistol idea, my cat hates it. Maybe a lawn sprinkler well positioned? 😂

[Velvian]

If you get a roll of willow screen @KindleAndCake , the cats would not be able to sit on top as it would be too sharp. It would be pricey though.

The neighbour could of course put up 6 foot fencing with an angled topper to keep the cats in their garden. It would be much better for the cats than being on leads. I bet they won't though.

Try not to worry about it. Just do what you're doing, stay polite and they will have to take some action if it bothers them so much.

My dog is much calmer around cats now since we started chucking treats at her every time she say a cat and didn't react (we had to get in quick at first😅😅). She is very greedy and easy to train with food though.

[Onceuponatimeinalandfaraway]

Cats love to tease dogs so yes the cats probably are doing it on purpose, hence the sitting on the fence. They’d likely do the same even if they weren’t on leads.

they should have a garden run or cage (thinker bigger version or rabbit run) if the garden can’t be made safe. Leads that are lengthy and allow jumping onto fences are dangerous. Especially left unattended. Fine if the neighbour is sitting in the garden with the cats and supervising, as many pedigree cat owners do, but not left unattended. I wonder what the rspca would think? Remembering them being called to a dog repeatedly left on a long lead on the garden when I was a kid and they paid a visit and put a stop to it.

[Neverendingmindfuck]

I know someone who's cat hung itself on a lead and died.
Unless they are watching the cats all the time its not necessarily a great idea really.
But its your garden, you have a right to exercise your dog in your garden as they exercise their cats.
If your dog isn't constantly barking then I don't see any issues.
Ignore them.

[Stilsmiling]

Sorry what? Your neighbour has their cats on leads and tied to a fence?? Poor cats. Why have an animal and then restrain it from living how it instinctively wants to.

[Michellelovesizzy]

Like u said dogs bark not a lot u can do... u bring him in when u hear him barking. U sound very reasonable to me. What I find less reasonable is some1 that put cats on a lead wft really don’t get that. Y r they doing this ?

[bigyellowTpot]

perhaps they have the cats on the leads as they have just moved In and want to get the cats used to there new surroundings(incase they run off) before letting them off in a totally new area. But it's not your responsibility to cover your side of the fence let them put something up against their side so your dog can't see in. Your dog has been there much longer after all. my dog also barks at cats. It's great actually as I no longer have cat shit from neighbours cats all over my garden or Tom cats pissing everywhere.

[MyrtlethePurpleTurtle]

@Jalepenojello

Train your dog?

😂

[BrightOrangeOrange]

@bigyellowTpot

perhaps they have the cats on the leads as they have just moved In and want to get the cats used to there new surroundings(incase they run off) before letting them off in a totally new area. But it's not your responsibility to cover your side of the fence let them put something up against their side so your dog can't see in. Your dog has been there much longer after all. my dog also barks at cats. It's great actually as I no longer have cat shit from neighbours cats all over my garden or Tom cats pissing everywhere.

Definitely a bonus of having a dog.

[fuckoffImcounting]

My neighbour was cross with me because my cat went in through her cat flap and slept on her bed - did not bark though.

[Murdoch1949]

Your dog is not at fault, nor are you. The police will do nothing. Unless the dog is barking for hours, which it is not, nor will the RSPCA. Do the fence cover up things to try to alleviate the taunting of your dog, but he still may hear them! You're not at fault.

[Barney60]

I dislike cats intensely, am totally a dog lover, but ive read cats need to be on leads in new areas until they have smelt out and are familiar with new area. Usually for a few weeks before being let off leads.
OP did say new neighbours.

Id cover the fence and put those water squirters high up so each time a cat goes on the top of the fence it will get wet, it will train it to stay away.

[Junhug456]

The cats aren't taunting your dog.

Cover the fence and add anti cat spikes to the top so they can't jump up.

My nieghbours have a dog, it barks constantly, having a dog myself I understand dogs bark, but there's a difference between normal Barking and it becoming a nuisance.
Thankfully they try their best, they've put up screens, try and keep it in when it starts, but it got to the point our dog, kids and even us avoided using the garden. You can't open a window without it going off, can't leave the house, walk past and even the wind sets it off. So we put up an anti bark device and it worked, we can now sit in our garden, and they can to without shouting at their dog every 5 minutes.
So there's another suggestion.

[Maydaysoonenough]

If the dcats are tied up it isn't them aggravating your ddog is it?
Report them every time they leave dcats tied up unattended.. Rspca number takes calls for animals in imminent danger.
They are left like that.

[ilikemethewayiam]

Oh dear!

www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mum-rows-new-neighbour-demands-26780553