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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

or is cat hating new neighbour batshit crazy?

206 replies

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 12:22

NC as obviously this is totally outing. New neighbours (a married couple, no kids) moved in a couple of months back and seemed perfectly OK and normal at first, went round to say hello and welcome them to the street and so on. Then I mentioned in passing I had two cats, at which point one of them started going on about how dreadful cats are for local birds. My cats are indoor cats so pose no threat whatsoever to wildlife - even if they escaped (which they have never done in over eight years of owning them), one of them is blind and the other one is so graceless and daft he can barely jump onto a chair, let alone catch a bird. I said this and then a few hours later the male neighbour sent me a whatsapp with links to several articles about cats damaging the local wildlife. Again I politely said, thanks very much, but this is irrelevant to me as my cats do not go outside and never have.

Anyway I thought they were weirdos but left it at that, until the other day when I received a very angry message saying there was a dead bird in their front garden and it was obvious that one of my cats had done it. They couldn't have done it as, again, they don't leave the house and they had not escaped. We live in a neighbourhood with plenty of other cats that do roam, plus foxes, so I daresay it was the work of a fox or one of the other neighbourhood cats. But my neighbour insists it must have been my cats because they are nearest, and that they must have escaped without me knowing (they didn't).

Anyway I think they are absolutely bonkers insane and the correct response is to ignore them but DH thinks we don't want to annoy them too much as they live next door. Surely - SURELY - I am not BU?

OP posts:
Alargeoneplease89 · 21/11/2023 12:51

Maybe you should send them links to the damaging effects on the environment from humans😂. Everytime there is too much rain, curse them for farting too much.

Keepinmovin · 21/11/2023 12:51

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 12:46

I am tempted to do this 😂

Please do ! It's genius

VenusClapTrap · 21/11/2023 12:54

I definitely agree with out-crazying them.

Ihatethenewlook · 21/11/2023 12:55

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 21/11/2023 12:41

I think you should try and out crazy them tbh.

Text them saying "It couldn't possibly have been my cat's as I've been with them constantly for the last 72 hours. Clearly this is the work of your outdoor cat. You should really keep it indoors as they're dreadful for local birds, here's some useful links."

When they inevitably reply and deny even having a cat you can raise the crazy even further and tell them you know they're lying as you've seen the cat coming and going from their house.

That should be enough to make them find another target for their cat rage.

I was going to suggest full on winding them up. As in ‘oh I know they’re an absolute nightmare, they’ve had 3 robins, a field mouse and a baby squirrel this weekend alone. But what can you do, eh’? I like your idea better though 😂

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 12:56

My sister has just said I should take round two toy cats and introduce them to my neighbours as "my indoor cats".

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scoobydoo1971 · 21/11/2023 12:58

This won't end a cat-rage. They are trouble and best dealt with now. I had a nut case neighbour a few years ago and had to bite back to deal with him. I would reply asking them to refrain from contacting you again as it is unwanted, and further messages could be construed as harassment which will be reported to the police.

Horrace · 21/11/2023 12:58

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 21/11/2023 12:41

I think you should try and out crazy them tbh.

Text them saying "It couldn't possibly have been my cat's as I've been with them constantly for the last 72 hours. Clearly this is the work of your outdoor cat. You should really keep it indoors as they're dreadful for local birds, here's some useful links."

When they inevitably reply and deny even having a cat you can raise the crazy even further and tell them you know they're lying as you've seen the cat coming and going from their house.

That should be enough to make them find another target for their cat rage.

This for sure.
You must out crazy them. It will infuriate them and you can sit back and enjoy the fun.
And of course, report back to us.

GasPanic · 21/11/2023 12:58

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 12:46

They don't even know what my cats look like, they've never seen either of them!

They wouldn't have to know what your cats look like to make the incorrect assumption that some random cat they see in the garden belongs to you.

It's the kind of failure of logical reasoning that you see on here in pretty much every thread.

The woman next door has cats. There is a cat in my garden. It therefore must be from the woman next door.

scoobydoo1971 · 21/11/2023 12:59

a cat rage...at cat rage. Typing one fingered as just had cancer op. on hand.

Princessbananahamock · 21/11/2023 13:05

I would reply with could it have been the blind one ? Neighbour did you happen to see a cat with a white stick? Then put sun glasses and a white stick on said cat send them the pic with, Is this the cat?

SkySecret · 21/11/2023 13:06

They’re bonkers.

And from a bird keeper, thanks for being a responsible cat owner 😊👍🏻

Alargeoneplease89 · 21/11/2023 13:07

Take a picture of your cats in cat jail 😆

SingingSands · 21/11/2023 13:10

Reply with "that bird's not dead, it's just sleeping".

Fight crazy with crazy 😜

ilovesooty · 21/11/2023 13:11

Just reiterate that your cats don't leave the house and tell them to stop contacting you.

TicTacNicNak · 21/11/2023 13:12

I like the idea of out-crazying them. Tell them it was their cat that did it and when they deny having one you can say they must have as you saw one sitting in their garden licking its bum. I'd actually keep a look out for a neighbourhood cat in their garden so I could photograph it and present it as "proof" of their cat ('cause I'm petty like that 🤣)

Once you've had a bit of fun, block them. They don't need to have your phone number.

Whiskeypowers · 21/11/2023 13:12

Buy a kitten

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 13:13

It's honestly one of the strangest interactions I've ever had in my life, I don't think they can be well mentally

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funbags3 · 21/11/2023 13:13

You can't fix this level of crazy. I'd avoid any contact whatsoever.

Pugdays · 21/11/2023 13:13

Why On earth did u give strangers your phone number for them to harass u
I've lived in my house over 20 years and the conversation of swapping phone numbers has never once come up .

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 13:15

Pugdays · 21/11/2023 13:13

Why On earth did u give strangers your phone number for them to harass u
I've lived in my house over 20 years and the conversation of swapping phone numbers has never once come up .

We have a street whatsapp group (which up until now has always been lovely, for the past 5 years of having it!) so they will have got it from there.

OP posts:
ginasevern · 21/11/2023 13:16

Send another message stating quite clearly and unemotionally that your cats are indoor cats and never leave the house and you therefore assume this is the end of the matter. If they continue to message or confront you, I'm pretty sure this would be considered harrassment. In which case I would tell them you will be consulting a solicitor. I know this will lead to unfriendly relations but quite frankly from what you've said I doubt they're going to be nice neighbours anyway.

Inkypot · 21/11/2023 13:20

I'd start sending them every cute cat meme I could find, all day long. All sent with the hashtag #catsarethebest

Obviously I wouldn't actually do this but I would be tempted.

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 21/11/2023 13:25

There are some brilliantly amusing suggestions on here but don't use them.

Just a factual response to remind them your cats don't leave your house and leave it at that.

You don't want to escalate matters.

HappyHamsters · 21/11/2023 13:27

You can block them on wattsapp or keep any further messages if they send them and like pp said, if this continues I would seek legally advice.

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 13:27

I've just responded saying "as I've said before, my cats do not leave the house and therefore pose no threat to birds or other wildlife. have a good day."

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