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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:
billyt · 21/11/2023 14:48

We have a Ragdoll who only goes into our enclosed garden for short periods (her choice). In her 19 years with us she has never, ever caught, or tried to catch, a bird. Birds don't tend to land in a garden where a cat is prowling.

I'd put a huge picture of a Ninja cat in a window facing your neighbours with the words underneath -

Any more stupid accusations, you're next.

Grin
Mummymummy89 · 21/11/2023 14:50

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.

Omg I just laughed out loud and nearly choked. They are stark raving.

Saving this thread to read to my dh, who likes to tease me about what a pet-hater I am... I could be so much worse! At least I understand that cats can't teleport through walls!

I'm petty so I'd just gossip about the newcomers to all the other neighbours so they get side-eyed by everyone hehe

Mummymummy89 · 21/11/2023 14:50

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.

Underrated suggestion, I love it

CatamaranViper · 21/11/2023 14:54

Tell them that the bird started it.

Or

Tell them the bird was stalking their house, clearly looking for trouble, so the cats intervened to try and be good neighbours. Turns out the bird was actually a mad axe bird-erer and had them down as his next victims. Cat actually saved their lives and is being recognised by the mayor next week in a small ceremony, which they are more than welcome to attend!

Mummymummy89 · 21/11/2023 14:58

On a boring note, we find dead and dying pigeons on and around our road fairly regularly. They're killed by foxes, crows, each other (I've seen pigeons fighting each other - even if not actually to the death, one might get weakened and die later).

It's just nature and we're fairly overrun with pigeons round here as it is. Circle of life innit.

Crows were pecking at a dead pigeon on the verge near my house the other day and I didn't realise in time to stop my 3yo from seeing it - she wasn't upset at all when I explained all animals have to die sometime, and I explained about crows being carrion birds so it's given them something to eat. She just accepted it and told dh about it later.

My 3yo has more wisdom than your raving neighbours.

Sparklyhat · 21/11/2023 15:02

I think I makes no difference if your cats go outside or not, that's not relevant. The main point is cats are allowed to go outside! Cats kill birds and mice sometimes! It happens and it's not a crime it's not frowned upon etc etc cats are allowed and in fact encouraged to be allowed to roam therefore there is nothing they can say or do about a cat killing a bird 🙄

They sound ridiculous what a shame you have to live next to them

TripleDaisySummer · 21/11/2023 15:04

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.

Probably best.

Though it's tempting to ask them if they believe the cats can teleport though the closed glass windows to hunt birds - and given one is blind and other has severe mobility problems how they think this would work - but doubt it would lead to any where good.

eggsandbaconeveryday · 21/11/2023 15:11

I would be inclined to ask for a description of the perpetrator's ! as they have never seen your cats they won't have a leg to stand on 😂

BatshitCrazyWoman · 21/11/2023 15:12

God OP, you can't reason with crazy!

I would mute/block them, and ignore them, to be honest.

ClawedButler · 21/11/2023 15:13

My cat would like to remind you that the Death Stare is effective even through windows.

ClawedButler · 21/11/2023 15:13

eggsandbaconeveryday · 21/11/2023 15:11

I would be inclined to ask for a description of the perpetrator's ! as they have never seen your cats they won't have a leg to stand on 😂

Or, indeed, 4 legs to stand on

VimtoVimto · 21/11/2023 15:34

I’d be tempted to say I was willing to get my cats DNA tested so they can be ruled out of the crime.

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 15:54

The thing that gets me about that last message is they could not have seen my cats "looking" out of the window. The front of my house has shutters and the back of my house is not visible from their house. So how could they have seen them on the windowsill?!

OP posts:
TripleDaisySummer · 21/11/2023 15:58

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 15:54

The thing that gets me about that last message is they could not have seen my cats "looking" out of the window. The front of my house has shutters and the back of my house is not visible from their house. So how could they have seen them on the windowsill?!

Well a question to pose to them if you do choose to engage further - but honestly they're already lying and accusing you of doing so - I really don't see how you progress anywhere useful.

If you do interact on street - quickly dismiss them and move on.

EvilElsa · 21/11/2023 15:59

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 15:54

The thing that gets me about that last message is they could not have seen my cats "looking" out of the window. The front of my house has shutters and the back of my house is not visible from their house. So how could they have seen them on the windowsill?!

Absolutely crackers.
I wouldn't engage any further, you won't win this one. You can't reason with stupid unfortunately, they will have a come back for everything you say.
Block. If they come and knock tell them you don't have cats and shut the door.

RosaMoline · 21/11/2023 16:06

….tell them to fuck off!

fearfuloffluff · 21/11/2023 16:09

They're being unreasonable but I'd just play nice for the sake of peace. It's unusual to have a couple who are both nuts, it's more often a single person isn't it?

You could try putting up bird tables and bug hotels etc in prominent place to appease them!

Deepwinternight · 21/11/2023 16:14

Terrible mad people. How dare they to say anything like this? Mental..

Mummymummy89 · 21/11/2023 16:16

fearfuloffluff · 21/11/2023 16:09

They're being unreasonable but I'd just play nice for the sake of peace. It's unusual to have a couple who are both nuts, it's more often a single person isn't it?

You could try putting up bird tables and bug hotels etc in prominent place to appease them!

This is nice...

But being bonkers, the neighbours would think op was doing this to lure more prey for her cats!

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 16:18

fearfuloffluff · 21/11/2023 16:09

They're being unreasonable but I'd just play nice for the sake of peace. It's unusual to have a couple who are both nuts, it's more often a single person isn't it?

You could try putting up bird tables and bug hotels etc in prominent place to appease them!

the messages have been from the woman but phrased as "we"

They told me when they first moved in that they were pleased to move away from their old place because they had horrible neighbours, now I'm thinking THEY were, in fact, the horrible neighbours!

OP posts:
Haydenn · 21/11/2023 16:19

If they never leave the house just tell them the cats have died and can they please stop mentioning it as you find it upsetting. They’ll never know either way.

PugginBaby · 21/11/2023 16:19

We do have a bird table and bird feeders in our garden! Maybe that's why they're so cross!!!!

OP posts:
RestingCatsArseFace · 21/11/2023 16:22

Send them a link to avian flu. The most recent one you can find.
And a link to indoor cat keeping.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/11/2023 16:25

I would just send a laughing face emoji.

CloverHilla · 21/11/2023 16:29

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/11/2023 16:25

I would just send a laughing face emoji.

😸 a laughing cat emoji!