Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Caerulea · 21/11/2023 13:30

'Dear neighbours,

I've had a lengthy chat with my cats & have some concerning news. Although mine do not ever go outside they appear to have been talking through the window with some of the lower-standing moggies from the feline community. It would appear there are grumblings from within the various cat factions about newcomers & their attitude towards the established clan. I'm afraid they are referring to you.

I really shouldn't be telling you this, it could ruin my standing which is already damaged due to my kitties not being allowed out. However it's think it's important you know as It Seems To Have Started. The first rule of Cat Club is...well.. I'm sure I don't need to tell you, so please don't say this came from me.

The deceased bird is a message, a warning if you will. The only way to stop this escalating is for you to leave offerings, small treats. But right now I suggest you take a very un-suspicious wander outside saying, loudly, gosh it's peaceful out here without those pesky birds. The local cats are doing such a good job!

This will make it back to the cat clan leader & they can make a decision from there about what to do next.

Good luck! Hopefully this can be resolved in a timely manner.

Sincerely,
Neighbour'

Santaiswashinghissleigh · 21/11/2023 13:33

If they persist ask them to take photos if they see the culprit.. I guarantee they will take turns doing the night shift trying to catch your dcat on camera.. Will keep them occupied and too busy for the group chat. If they upload a pic you can send ones of your actual dcat indoors... Hopefully looking nothing like the poor puss caught out! Or scour charity shops for a fake tiger soft toy and hide it in your garden.

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/11/2023 13:34

Haven't they heard of bird flu?

takemeoutonight · 21/11/2023 13:34

Caerulea · 21/11/2023 13:30

'Dear neighbours,

I've had a lengthy chat with my cats & have some concerning news. Although mine do not ever go outside they appear to have been talking through the window with some of the lower-standing moggies from the feline community. It would appear there are grumblings from within the various cat factions about newcomers & their attitude towards the established clan. I'm afraid they are referring to you.

I really shouldn't be telling you this, it could ruin my standing which is already damaged due to my kitties not being allowed out. However it's think it's important you know as It Seems To Have Started. The first rule of Cat Club is...well.. I'm sure I don't need to tell you, so please don't say this came from me.

The deceased bird is a message, a warning if you will. The only way to stop this escalating is for you to leave offerings, small treats. But right now I suggest you take a very un-suspicious wander outside saying, loudly, gosh it's peaceful out here without those pesky birds. The local cats are doing such a good job!

This will make it back to the cat clan leader & they can make a decision from there about what to do next.

Good luck! Hopefully this can be resolved in a timely manner.

Sincerely,
Neighbour'

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Charlize43 · 21/11/2023 13:35

Send them a message saying that if they kill any more birds that you'll report them to the RSPCA.

It's obvious that they are trying to frame your indoor cats. From my experience people who don't like cats are generally unhinged. Keep a close eye on them.

CoffeeCantata · 21/11/2023 13:36

I like cats, but I like birds better. I don't have cats because I couldn't cope with them catching birds.

But I'm with you here - your cats are not a threat to wildlife since they don't go outside. All you can do is re-state this to your neighbour and then refuse to discuss it further.

TenderDandelions · 21/11/2023 13:40

I would text back:

"Three things:

a) Cats have a right to roam in this country (RSPCA link), so no matter what your opinion of them, cats will be allowed to go about their business;
b) The average roaming distance of a cat is up to 200m from their home. If you look on a map you'll see that there are X houses around us in this area; and
c) I have told you time and time again that my cats do not go out and have never gone out. These [insert pictures] are my cats - you'll not recognise them because they DO NOT GO OUT. Any cats you see in and around your garden are not mine.

Please stop repeatedly messaging me about cats or I will have no choice but to block you."

Nutters!

https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494939/7712578/CAT_adviceondeterringcats.pdf

therealcookiemonster · 21/11/2023 13:43

@PugginBaby respond saying how dare you, I had to have both of them put down "insert credible length of time" ago. that way they stop bothering you

TenderDandelions · 21/11/2023 13:45

I have two cats. They go outside. They don't catch birds (but I don't have a bird feeder, as that would just seem mean).

They do, however, do very well at dealing with local vermin. In the last two weeks we've had 3 dead rats and 7 or 8 mice brought in (mostly dead, but not all).

Here's hoping the neighbour has a vermin infestation one day and you can kindly offer them your cat! 😂

verdantverdure · 21/11/2023 14:00

They are batshit

Their “logic” will not make sense to the non-batshit.

What they want from you will not be reasonable.

Try not to give them your headspace.

Sunshinesky1981 · 21/11/2023 14:07

Go to a hobby supply shop, buy feathers. Crouch outside on their lawn surrounded by feathers. Wait for them to come out to see what's going on. Stand up look directly into their eyes while wiping stray feather from corner of mouth. run away cackling. They will never contact you again.

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 14:10

Received message straight back

"we find that very difficult to believe as we have seen your cats watching birds from the window".

Don't think I will engage further.

OP posts:
LudicrousDickbiscuit · 21/11/2023 14:13

Staring at birds is pretty amazing for a blind cat.

CatchHimDerry · 21/11/2023 14:17

😂 omg I can’t believe people like this exist! Seen it watching birds from the window!

WhichEllie · 21/11/2023 14:21

I would say “They don’t actually watch anything because they are both blind.”

Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, they won’t know the difference anyway and I’d want to see what kind of batshittery they’d come up with to counter that. I mean if someone is going to inflict their lunacy upon me I at least want to be entertained by it. 😂

Probably better to just block/mute them though.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 21/11/2023 14:22

LudicrousDickbiscuit · 21/11/2023 14:13

Staring at birds is pretty amazing for a blind cat.

Edited

OP I think you should make it abundantly clear your cat is blind by insisting he wear sunglasses and use a 🦯 to navigate the windowsills 😂 perhaps then the neighbours will get the gist.

funbags3 · 21/11/2023 14:22

If you engage even further, you'll be making a rod for your own back.

Tessasanderson · 21/11/2023 14:29

Unfortunately you cant choose your neighbours and if you pander to these crazies you will be forever trying to deal with them. Personally i dont put too much value on friendships with neighbours. Its polite and friendly but at arms length. You have already pointed out why you think it wasnt your cats. Now just ignore them.

They are batshit crazy, its not as if you are ever going to have a genuine friendship with them anyhow. IGNORE

GoingOffOnATangent · 21/11/2023 14:31

Reply 'an accusation of lying, nice. I retract my welcome to the neighborhood. You do realise other cats and foxes reside in this neighborhood you numpty' 😁

Alargeoneplease89 · 21/11/2023 14:36

I would respond that my cat only eats gnomes.

or is cat hating new neighbour batshit crazy?
meeplesmarples · 21/11/2023 14:36

I would totally try and out-crazy them at this point. I'd be using Photoshop (or getting someone to do it for me) and sending them photos of a cat peering out from THEIR window and demanding to know why they think it's your cat and not theirs? Maybe even a photo of "their" cat with a dead bird on their lawn, again accompanied by a message asking why they're allowing their cat to murder local wildlife etc, and including some oh-so-helpful links...(yes, I am petty AF when it comes to unreasonable people.)

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 21/11/2023 14:37

I would get a couple of outdoor cats. Hung for a sheep and all that

SmudgeButt · 21/11/2023 14:41

Years back I had the most wonderful laid back and greedy and huge cat imaginable. I knew he was trouble when I heard a noise from a neighbour's house one Sunday and my cat came flying in through the window with a nicely roasted chicken leg. Apparently the neighbour had just take the chicken out of the oven and left it on the counter for a couple of minutes before serving.

Another time I got a call from another neighbour very upset demanding I ensure my cat never left my place. The reason was that my cat had started going into this neighbour's house, terrorising his (little yappy) dog and eating all the dog's food.

I understand these people getting upset. But your neighbours are complete whack cases.

HighywayToHell · 21/11/2023 14:42

"Fuck off you weirdo and dont message me again" should just about cover it OP

EvilElsa · 21/11/2023 14:42

I'm not a cat fan (thanks to neighbours one that uses my drive at a toilet!) but you are obviously not being unreasonable here considering it is impossible that your cats did anything.
I'd bluntly reply one more time that it is impossible that your cats have done anything as one is blind and both don't ever go outside and then block. I couldn't be bothered with back and forwards bullshit with a pair of idiots.

Swipe left for the next trending thread