Cat walking off lead

[Usedphone]

I've got two dogs, and a cat. So our dogs are used to cats, but one is an airedale terrier, that does like to chase squirrels but really loves the cat (they were raised together from babies).

So while I was walking my dogs in the field, we encountered a family walking their cat, off lead and without any way to safely contain it.

My dog got excited and went after it like she would have with a squirrel (it's a field after all with plenty of dog walkers and squirrels).

The family got annoyed with me as the cat was very distressed (poor kitty!)

It was a very bizarre encounter but I think they should.at least have had a plan B beyond cuddles to contain their kitty cat.

It would be absolutely unacceptable for any dog to kill a cat. In any circumstances. (And I have had Large and now small Sighthound.

If your dog does not have perfect recall, and I have never met one that does, you should be ready to put it on a lead when other people, wildlife, or pets are around.

You should teach the dog not to chases cats

If the cat was static in someone's arms, was the issue that the dog was leaping up at the person trying to get at the cat? What did the dog do when the cat was picked up?

OP, if your dog kills a cat, you could be held liable, not the cat owner. Even if they were "walking" it.

If your dog kills livestock, you could be held liable. And the farmer would have the right to shoot your dog.

If he doesn't have perfect recall, it's your responsibility to make sure he's on a lead if he could encounter small animals. End of story.

My dog would most likely act in the same way. She is pretty good but her recall goes out of the window if she spots a squirrel or similar. That's why she is kept on a lead.

Your dog never has a free run? Poor doggy. You can be a good dog owner and still let them have a run out in the fields. It’s what mine lives for!

Also, leaving the cat issue aside, if he chases squirrels he is going to come off worse one day. They can be vicious and carry disease.

One of my neighbour's cats decided to take on a squirrel, got a very nasty bite and ended up costing his owners three visits to the vet!

However, people don't take their cat for a walk. It may choose to accompany them.

I have a border terrier who would absolutely go for a cat if she had the chance. I have two cats who she is fine with because she has grown up with them but a strange cat.....she would 100% try to get it. Her recall is ok until she sees a squirrel, a fox, a cat etc and then she goes stone deaf. Hence she is always on a lead as despite doing all the training I do not trust her one inch. Lovely as she is, she can also be an absolute bellend.

You may regret that one day, see above.

I think any owner whose dog injures or kills an animal or human should be prosecuted.

I think both you and the cats owners need to be able to recall and control your pets, to keep them safe and other peoples pets safe. If you can’t do this then they both need to be on a lead. Plus also to get them away from any other hazards when out and about too!

let’s reverse the situation and say a large dog chased for your patterdale and the large dog couldn’t be recalled or prevented from chasing your dog. How would you feel? Do you think it’s reasonable if you were expected to have your dog on a lead or in a carrier because other people can’t recall their dog?

No I won’t. I am vigilant about checking surroundings for people/other dogs. What I won’t do is the same for voles.

Unless it's a big, aggressive dog, the cat is more likely to do the damage. Mine scratched strange dogs' faces all the time, got one in the eye once and caused a nasty infection.

Our cat used to go to the post box with me, this was one end of our road and across another, I had to carry her across, she always followed me. On quite regular basis she would wait somewhere along the road and wait for me to come back from school and we would walk home together.

One particular evening she decided to follow my and BF all the way up the road and out onto another major road. We had to stop at the phone box and ask my dad to come and fetch her

There are also plenty of videos on FB and YouTube of cats going hiking with their owners and also going to the beach and swimming in the sea

I know of someone else who takes their cat out on a lead as they live in a flat

It's not just dogs that go for walkies. Wonder when someone will take their cat into a pub or cafe😂

She is anything but a poor doggy! We have a very large and secure garden and she has the run of it and is totally safe there chasing (but never catching) squirrels. I have let her off in a remote field if there are no roads or railway lines nearby but I wouldn't dare if they were nearby. I know the limitations of her recall!

Are you on something?

Dogs are fully domesticated.

Cats aren't.

The law reflects this.

Bloomin' excellent cats, Maine Coons...

We've not had that breed, but some tippy-top rescue ones that take years to warm to you and then, wham, they are as much a part of you as your arms and legs.

No need.

If a cat likes a supermarket,shop or train station they just hang out there.

I met a cat with its owner at the top of great gabel in the lakes - it was having a great time and if it got tired it just went on top of its owners backpack and sat up there! It went to the pub afterwards too!

So it’s not the principle of wildlife at issue then, if it’s ok to chase them in your garden?

@MyPearlCrow Some dogs just can't be off lead. My girl can be reactive to some dogs (no pattern to it so cant predict when its going to happen) and if she sees a fox or a squirrel she is off. She is not safe to be off lead, it's a risk to her and other dogs so it is far better she is never off lead. For her and also for my sanity.

I've never in my life seen anyone walk a cat, with or without lead. They walk alone! Is this in England?

Their cat has just as much of a right to be "off lead" and if you can't control your dog with perfect recall, it should be on a lead at all times.

I used to have a cat that when I took the dogs for a walk she would follow us. She'd run ahead and hide behind a bush then would jump out at my dogs as we went by. She often comes walking with us. It wasn't anything I trained her to do she just did it. This same cat once locked my DS in his bedroom when I was on a cruise ship so couldn't let him out. My DS had the key in the outside of his door. The cat wanted to go in but he didn't open the door. The cat jumped at the door handle and somehow the key turned. Adult DS locked into his room. He texted us in a panic after being locked in for over 2 hours. DH had to tell him to smash the door down. He'd locked the front door as was there alone so he couldn't ring a friend to come in and unlock his door.