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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog v Cat

125 replies

Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:06

Sorry if this is the wrong topic to post this in, but it’s for traffic. My apologies x

We have a very secure boundary - 6ft solid fences - because we have a big dog. He is as soft as anything, but has a high prey drive.

One of our neighbours has a new cat which keeps coming into our garden. Our dog has very nearly caught this cat on a few occasions. I hate to think what might happen if he does catch it 😢

Ive told this neighbour of our concerns, but she is adamant that we are responsible for anything that happens to her cat, even if it’s on our property and that she will claim compensation from us / seek legal advice, if anything happens.

Ive googled so much and found conflicting advice. Does anyone have any idea if we would be responsible? ☹️

OP posts:
GlitteringUnicorn · 04/12/2023 23:09

What would you propose is the solution?
(Your boundary isn't that secure if the cat can get in- so are you saying the cat should be confined inside for life?)

KnickerlessParsons · 04/12/2023 23:11

If the dog goes for the cat, presumably it'll go for any wildlife that gets into your garden too ☹️

Whoknowswhatanymore · 04/12/2023 23:11

I’m not sure tbh but I would be very surprised if a dog would outrun a cat, having had both over the years (at the same time) and seeing how fast and nimble a cat is compared to a dog. I would think the cat will stop coming into the garden if it thinks it is at risk.

Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:12

Our boundary is in place to keep our dog from getting out.

Am I supposed to confine him to the house?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:13

As a responsible dog owner, I would expect the cat owner to also be responsible.

OP posts:
steppemum · 04/12/2023 23:13

as I understand it, you are responsible for keeping your boundary secure for your dog.
It is up to her to keep hers secure for her pets.

But cats are always a problem becuase they are allowed to roam by law.

I think in your situation I would find out from a lawyer what the situation is, and send her a letter to that effect.

LisaD1 · 04/12/2023 23:13

have you tried training the dog to leave the cat? I have 2 dogs here who despise cats and squirrels but have been trained “off it” which means leave the damn thing alone. As long as I see it first they listen to the command, I scan the garden before they go out and it’s no longer an issue. Took about a month of consistent training.

Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:14

He’s part Lurcher, and is very fast.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:15

Why do I need to do this, when he is on private property? He is only ever off the lead when in a hired paddock.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 04/12/2023 23:15

Don’t let him out in the garden unattended?

RunningFromInsanity · 04/12/2023 23:16

If the cat is in your garden, it is very very unlikely you would be found liable.
I know of a few occasions where a dog has killed a cat in their garden and the police did not pursue it.

Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:16

No, he isn’t fussed about birds strangely, I think he realises he has no chance of flying 🤣

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2023 23:17

My dog only goes in the garden with one of us - I thought that was normal. Cats go out alone but ddog wants one of us with him. He won’t wee or poop out there so we walk him 3 times a day (very quick round the block morning and evening walks and a longer one at lunch). Are you just leaving your aggressive dog in the garden on its own?

Icepop79 · 04/12/2023 23:17

I get sick of cat owners feeling their pets are entitled to a risk-free existence whilst taking no responsibility to keep them safe themselves. If that cat is allowed to roam wherever it wants, its owner must understand that it’s at risk of being attacked by dogs or other cats, or eating something it shouldn’t, or countless other life-threatening risks on the streets. If it jumps a 6 foot fence and gets into your garden, it takes its own chances with your dog. I struggle to see that you would be liable for anything that happened to it while on your completely fenced in property.

pastaandpesto · 04/12/2023 23:17

Assuming that your boundary really is secure (which I have no reason to doubt) then I would say morally you are in the right here. Cat owners who allow their pets to roam cannot have it both ways - they can't claim zero responsibility their cat shits in someone else's garden, but then complain if a dog terrorises said cat in said garden.

I say that as a cat lover who is very meh about dogs.

Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:17

Wolfiefan · 04/12/2023 23:15

Don’t let him out in the garden unattended?

Why? It’s his private space?

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 04/12/2023 23:18

TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2023 23:17

My dog only goes in the garden with one of us - I thought that was normal. Cats go out alone but ddog wants one of us with him. He won’t wee or poop out there so we walk him 3 times a day (very quick round the block morning and evening walks and a longer one at lunch). Are you just leaving your aggressive dog in the garden on its own?

It’s really not normal to constantly supervise a dog in its own secure garden. That’s the whole point of having a private secure garden.

bozzabollix · 04/12/2023 23:19

The kindest thing to do would be to have a water pistol to discourage the cat from being in your garden. It won’t like it but will stop coming in and will be safe.

Wolfiefan · 04/12/2023 23:19

Why? Because I’m guessing you don’t want to be picking up pieces of dead cat to return to your neighbour.

TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2023 23:20

@Wineat5isfine it’s totally normal to supervise a dog in a garden. Maybe you could also train him? Your lack of concern that your dog has the potential to injure another animal is not okay. What about a squirrel? Would he go for that? Mine would but I trained him so now he follows my commands (With the help of Cheese and hotdogs).

Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:20

TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2023 23:17

My dog only goes in the garden with one of us - I thought that was normal. Cats go out alone but ddog wants one of us with him. He won’t wee or poop out there so we walk him 3 times a day (very quick round the block morning and evening walks and a longer one at lunch). Are you just leaving your aggressive dog in the garden on its own?

Yes of course - we are leaving our highly aggressive dog in the garden on his own ALLLL day long.

  1. he isn’t aggressive - he has a high prey drive. You obviously have no knowledge of dog breeds or behaviours.

  2. he gets 2 x walks per day.

  3. is there anything else that you would like to pointlessly judge me on?

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2023 23:22

@RunningFromInsanity maybe I just know some odd dogs but mine won’t go in the garden without a human (and all the dogs I know are the same). They usually want to be with their pack rather than alone in a garden.

pastaandpesto · 04/12/2023 23:23

TeenLifeMum · 04/12/2023 23:20

@Wineat5isfine it’s totally normal to supervise a dog in a garden. Maybe you could also train him? Your lack of concern that your dog has the potential to injure another animal is not okay. What about a squirrel? Would he go for that? Mine would but I trained him so now he follows my commands (With the help of Cheese and hotdogs).

Eh? What about cats?! The average cat must decimate x10 wild animals than the average pet dog.

Original poster
Wineat5isfine · 04/12/2023 23:23

Wolfiefan · 04/12/2023 23:19

Why? Because I’m guessing you don’t want to be picking up pieces of dead cat to return to your neighbour.

Shouldn’t the cat owner bear some responsibility?

OP posts:
Sonolanona · 04/12/2023 23:25

Cats are classed as wild animals. I have both, and while I would be very very upset if my cat was killed from wandering into a lurcher's garden I would not hold the dog owner responsible, and from what I can read, the cat owner would not get very far if she tried to sue... she has the option to keep her cat indoors only, and your garden is your property. Might be worth a lawyers letter to your neighbour to clarify!
It also might be worth putting plastic cat deterrents on your fence... or get a water pistol and squirt it whenever you see it... that puts most cats off!

My dog used to chase cats... then we got one, and it put her firmly in her place! Now she is very respectful towards all felines!!!