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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour's aggressive cat

210 replies

mimblewimble · 06/11/2023 23:29

Our neighbours a few doors down have a very territorial and aggressive tom cat.

He was fighting with and injuring our cat so much that we had to speak to his owners. The owners are lovely so it's really awkward to bring up with them. The cats now don't go out at the same time any more - we have to coordinate with the owners on WhatsApp every day.

We also can't leave any doors or lower windows open if their is out, as he will enter our house, or fight our cat through the windows. Now this isn't ideal, but it's been workable.

However we now have the problem that he is attacking us. If he is in our back garden and we go out there he stalks and tries to attack us. DH, the kids and I are all scared to go out there on our own is we know he's out.

We have tried to shoo him from the garden, but he will either just stay put and stare, or if you get too close he turns on you. We have tried water pistols but he just moves slightly away and then returns.

It now seems to be getting even worse, as a couple of times recently he has actually chased me down the street. I have been scratched by him a couple of times, and he can't be scared off.

I'm worried he will cause one of us a serious injury, especially one of the kids.

How on earth do I go about raising this with the neighbours, and what can I reasonably expect them to do?

The cat is already neutered, and he's just a normal tabby as far as we know.

OP posts:
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Anetaaa · 07/11/2023 16:17

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Louise303 · 07/11/2023 16:26

He needs sorting he could hurt one of your children he sounds a nightmare if he is even chasing you. I went to school with a girl that had deep scars on her face after being attacked by a cat on the way home from school.

boong121 · 07/11/2023 16:30

I think there should be a law to keep domestic cats indoors, we have 3 coming to our garden pooping and marking, the stench and i have to go around with the poop scoop before one of my young children steps in the mess. (cat owner myself we have kept our cats indoors 100%, gone out for walks in our garden on lead for over 20yrs)

meganorks · 07/11/2023 16:37

We had a problem with cats shitting in the garden. We got a motion sensor sprayer and moved it about in the garden. It did do the trick. Maybe it will help? Although might be tricky with you having a cat too - you'll have to co-ordinate turning it off when your cat goes out.

You should definitely talk to the owners though. Their cat shouldn't be attacking you! Maybe they could get it some calming supplements or something (these are a thing for dogs so maybe there is similar for cat)

margotrose · 07/11/2023 16:42

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Have you ever seen a cat attack a person? They can put you in hospital. It's not childish to be scared of one that's constantly agressing towards you Hmm

catscatscurrantscurrants · 07/11/2023 16:43

I've had experience of an aggressive cat. As pp's have said, film the aggression, then speak to your neighbours with this in hand. If they can cat proof their garden with a 'catio', then that would be ideal and stops their cat roaming and being aggressive. Meanwhile, if you see the cat coming to attack, shield your legs with a coat or bag held in front and block the attack; try not to run as this can encourage them to chase and pursue even more, but back away while shielding yourself. Cat bites can be really nasty.

Aparecium · 07/11/2023 16:52

I can't carry a hose, a broom, or a super soaker whenever I go out the front door, so in the front I am undefended!

You certainly can. It may be inconvenient, but you need to make the effort for a few weeks.

Keep a broom and a supersoaker by each door. Go out armed every time. It's an investment in your safety and comfort.

Don't wait for the cat to attack you. Attack it every time you see it near you. You need to take the initiative. When I say attack, I mean spray it with the supersoaker or run at it, shouting and hissing and waving your 'weapon'. Personally, I could not hit it unless it was actually attacking me.

Put a little ammonia in the supersoaker water. Not enough to hurt your skin (or the cat's). Just enough to the water smell like wee. No cat likes urine on them.

Redcargidan · 07/11/2023 16:55

Have you actually managed to get him with a super soaker type water gun (not a small water pistol), not just spray it near by?

I would tell your neighbours what it is doing, they need to sort it or keep the cat inside.

The other alternative, which sounds awful, is kicking it when it's trying to attack your feet. Not hard but enough to get it away. I know it's not nice but if a cat was trying to attack my kids, I would do what I needed to get rid of it. Cat bites are very unhygienic and can make you really ill.

Redcargidan · 07/11/2023 16:56

Also agree with pps super soaker by each door and spray on sight, not when it approaches you.

Redcargidan · 07/11/2023 16:57

That’s fucking ridiculous a whole family being scared of a cat! Grow up

I know somebody that was bit by a cat and became so ill that they were put in to an induced coma.

AlwaysGinPlease · 07/11/2023 17:00

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 07/11/2023 01:21

I'd give it a really good hard kick if it approached me, clearly intending to hurt me.

I'd never deliberately hurt an animal that wasn't harming me or another human, but if it was actually trying to attack me or one of my family, I would consider that the vicious thing had left me no alternative but to defend myself from it by using my considerably greater body mass to my advantage.

You'd never hurt an animal yet you'd give a cat a " good hard kick" which would injure and possibly kill it?! Ffs! What is wrong with you? Sick.

HikingforScenery · 07/11/2023 17:07

So the person shouldn’t defend themselves? Or does the “intending to hurt me” bit not matter.

ilovesooty · 07/11/2023 17:13

The owner needs to rule out any medical reasons for the cat's behaviour and seriously consider keeping it inside.

I'm disgusted by the posts ( not by the OP) suggesting violence towards it though, but the regular cat haters are always attracted to threads like this.

Pickingmyselfup · 07/11/2023 17:31

It really isn't right that they are letting such an aggressive cat out to terrorise the neighbourhood. Cats do have a right to roam but when they are causing this much of an issue there should be something that can be done. Is it just your family or is it everybody he comes into contact with?

The only thing you can do is defend yourself however you see fit and if the owners don't like it they need to do something about it. If it were my cat I would either try keeping it in or sending it to go live as a barn cat or something away from people!

mapleriver · 07/11/2023 17:34

@ilovesooty If an animal is being aggressive to someone minding their own business the person has a right to be aggressive right back, what's the alternative? The owner won't take it to the vet and find out it's problem in the real world. Disagree with kicking because cats have such delicate stomachs but it 100% needs running at with a brush and a good smack with the end. OP has kids and they might get deep scratches from an animal that digs in shitty holes and kills animals, it'll be full of bacteria.

ilovesooty · 07/11/2023 17:36

mapleriver · 07/11/2023 17:34

@ilovesooty If an animal is being aggressive to someone minding their own business the person has a right to be aggressive right back, what's the alternative? The owner won't take it to the vet and find out it's problem in the real world. Disagree with kicking because cats have such delicate stomachs but it 100% needs running at with a brush and a good smack with the end. OP has kids and they might get deep scratches from an animal that digs in shitty holes and kills animals, it'll be full of bacteria.

I was objecting to the posts suggesting kicking it and rupturing its spleen or poisoning it.

mapleriver · 07/11/2023 17:39

Tbh I wouldn't blame someone for kicking it, if that cat was the human's size it'd do worse than chase you down the street

Atethehalloweenchocs · 07/11/2023 17:47

You need documentation of what it is doing. A few recordings would be best. My neighbours have a cat who terrorizes mine and who initially dismissed what I was telling them about what it was doing. But if you have video they cant deny it. It needs to be checked to see if it is ok - this kind of behaviour can be a result of health problems. Otherwise they need to keep it inside - yes, cats have the right to roam but not when they keep attacking others.

TeaAndTattoos · 07/11/2023 17:52

As someone who owns 5 cats who are all thankfully indoor only if this was one of my cats terrorising a neighbour like that I would want to know so I could do something about it and I would be giving you permission to do whatever you need to within reason to keep yourself safe from them but I would be trying very hard to keep them in because if they doing that to you how many other people is he trying to hurt.

Whichwhatnow · 07/11/2023 17:55

Could he be feral? Sorry if that's already been asked, I haven't read every post

When I was a kid my sister got a kitten from a pet shop and they neglected to tell her straight away that said kitten had been found in a hedge and was clearly feral. That cat was DANGEROUS. Not towards humans so much (although we were all scratched and bitten quite a few times) but our collie dog was terrified. The cat would launch itself onto our dog's head and cling on clawing and biting to the point we were scared some serious damage might be done to an eye or something.

I don't know what to suggest OP, just posting in solidarity. I'm an animal lover (we had other lovely cats and I've had dogs and other pets all my life) but that cat should never have been a family pet.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 07/11/2023 18:09

Does he look like this?
Asking for a friend...

Neighbour's aggressive cat
Original poster
mimblewimble · 07/11/2023 18:14

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 07/11/2023 18:09

Does he look like this?
Asking for a friend...

That's quite a good likeness tbh.

OP posts:
stealtheatingtunnocks · 07/11/2023 18:19

Is there something wrong with it? Maybe it’s in pain?

Jbrown76 · 07/11/2023 18:37

Contact your neighbours and tell them exactly their cat has been doing and has done, they should keep him in or get him fixed by a vet