To tell the neighbours the cat isn’t my problem

[Miniminxymoo]

We have neighbours who own a cat. The cat is a bit of a pain in the backside and continually came in our garden. Obviously, we couldn’t stop it and it treated our garden as its own causing some damage to toys and crapping in the flower beds.

We have recently got a lab from a rescue who, as we quickly discovered, doesn’t like cats. As soon as we brought our dog home and let it in the garden it immediately chased this cat down. The dog didn’t catch the cat and is likely never going to but likes to terrify the cat. Thankfully, the cat seems to be trying its luck a little less and our garden isn’t suffering so much mess and damage. Most of the other houses have had dogs for a fair while so cat hasn’t gone into the other gardens, ours was the only one it went into because of the dogs.

The neighbours have now complained that they are worried that my dog is going to harm their cat and possibly kill it. Now, as I’ve said, the dog is likely never to catch the cat and my garden is very secure so will never escape. The neighbours have said they will charge us for any vet bills if their cat gets injured and they will complain to the council.

neighbours have also said that if the cat is in my garden then I shouldn’t let the dog out for a pee. The issue is, I often don’t see the cat before I let her out.

My dog is pretty chilled, never any bother in any other way other than when the cat comes in.

AIBU to tell the neighbours that it isn’t my problem if their cat is scared. It’s my garden and my dog’s home and if they have an issue then they’re the ones who should keep their animal in? I’ve suggested for them to put rubber spikes or similar on their fence to hopefully prevent the cat, who is a twat, coming in but they have said the expense to do that should be on me and they don’t like to do things like that!

Cat will be fine. My lab chases our farm cats. She’s never caught them. And honestly they’ve gone right after her before and she’s run away scared herself.
Carry on as normal and ignore the neighbours.

Tell them to keep their cat in, take it out on a lead or cat proof their garden. Ignore them going forwards don’t enter into any further dispute or discussion. You won’t be checking for their pet on your property before letting your pet have use of your property. Yours wont be the only dog the cat comes across in their travels. The cat hopefully has more sense than your neighbours.

Honestly I don’t think they’d get very far with a small claim. They’d have to demonstrate negligence on your part and dog in secure garden won’t count. It amazes me that cat owners want it both ways. Cats are free to roam and poo/ scratch wherever as essentially wild animals but if harmed are property and would like compensation.

My dog is also a lab and would definitely chase off a strange cat in the garden. I wouldn’t say she is reactive but she has killed a few rabbits( I put chicken wire fence up to keep them out) and the odd grouse that have appeared in the garden. Absolutely fine with chickens, children, other dogs, cats when out and about are given a hard stare but she knows not to chase.

Is it orange? Orange (ginger) cats seem to only have one collective brain cell between them. I'm sure it'll be his turn soon enough to have it and he'll learn!

YANBU though and I say that as a cat owner. Our neighbour has a loud barky german shepherd that would tear the cats to shreds if it got the chance. Our cats either go nowhere near it, or sit on top of a shed staring down at it to terrorise it.

I'd make a noise when you open the door and perhaps call the dogs name, the cat will get the hint that the hound is out and about.
I have a dog and 3 cats, and the cats avoid our own dog in the garden as she loves the chase game!
Tell them to ensure they insure their cat though if they're worried about vet bills

The cat will get the message and go somewhere else . Continue as you are

It's very simple. Their cat, their responsibility to keep it safe.

I would tell them that. Your responsibility ends with ensuring that your dog stays on your own property. If they don't want to go to the expense of escape-proofing their own bloody garden, they keep their own bloody cat inside the house. If they want their cat to have the privilege of crapping in your flower beds, they need to accept the risk that comes with it.

And they ought to have the means to pay for their own bloody vets bills too, via insurance if necessary. It might sound all high and mighty and intimidating to say that they'd sue you for vet bills but small claims court would take 12 weeks plus, involve expense to them, and have no guarantee - their vets will want paying before then.

@AlertCat why did you post this at 7:58 and again at 12:35 ?
And did you really mean that "it's an offence to stop if you run over a dog but not a cat" surely it's not an offence to stop for either situation, but is an offence to not stop if you run over a dog.
I wouldn't have noticed the duplicate post if not for the strange duplicate mistake.

Allowing cats to freely roam isn't considered responsible cat owning?

Probably would be reasonable to try to train dog not to chase because might make walking your dog more difficult if he thinks it's ok, might mistake a small dog for fair game.
Personally I would not be happy if my dog were to kill a cat, not at all. It would really upset me actually.

Not letting cats outside seems to be a usa thing, like declawing so that they can't cat.

If you fear for your cat's life because your cat is going into your neighbour's garden, it should be a wherever-in-the-world-you-are, thing.

Not so long ago it was much more culturally normal in the UK for dogs to be allowed to roam. Now it isn't, and we do our best to meet their needs in other ways. Same can be true for changing the culture and norm around free roaming cats.Better an indoor cat than a paralysed in pain or dead cat.

yup, doesn't work either.

They don't have to be indoor cats, There are now several options for allowing cats access to outdoors without letting them roam beyond your own garden. Google "catio" yes they cost money but maybe if someone can't afford it then owning a cat is not for them?

I'd be more worried about my dog hurting himself. We have cats walking along our back fence and my dog hurls himself at the fence in a complete frenzy. I worry he's going to damage his back (because I've heard of this happening) and cost me a small fortune. Not much I can do though - it's just life.

Tell them you'll bill them for the damage to your garden from the cat. That'll learn 'em

lol, I’d tell them to jog on, in the nicest possible way!

Your garden, your dogs garden. Their cat, their responsibility…….

@OuchyEars you’re right, it should say “an offence NOT to stop if you run over a dog.”

I reposted because lots of people seemed to be saying that the OP is liable for someone else’s cat’s safety in her garden, and that’s not the case. If you let your cat roam you’re accepting it can do whatever and go wherever it likes, but nobody else is responsible for keeping it safe.

FWIW my 12 week old kitten got out and into my next door neighbour’s garden and promptly had its leg bitten off (or mangled, needing £3k worth of surgery to amputate, pre me sorting the insurance) by their dog.

The dog was this awful, aggressive, neurotic, Romanian rescue that the neighbours would earnestly try to socialise with my very young kids to try and address its behaviour - but that horse had sadly bolted and the poor dog was fucked.

The whole situation was absolutely horrible BUT at no point did I feel entitled to ask for vet bills or ask the neighbours to moderate the dog’s movements in their own garden. The dog was being a dog and was on its own territory and my cat took a chance and lucked out. He lives very happily on three legs and is pals with the dog we now have, three years on.

Your neighbours are bellends. The end.

Tell the entitled cat owners to fuck off.

Your dog is secured in your garden. The law couldn't care less if your dog kills a wandering cat.

I say this as an owner of 2 cats who roam outdoors - tell the cat neighbours to F off! Your dog will likely never ever catch that cat - they’re too quick - and you should be able to enjoy your garden in peace! Good for you OP - and so pleased you’re giving a rescue a good home ❤️

My mum has an ex racing greyhound who will chase down any cats that come into his garden. If he catches one, he will kill it.
If you let your cats roam, then you accept that they might get caught by a dog or hit by a car. The owners have no right to demand vet bills from you, and reporting your dog to the council will just be a waste of their time.

I hope you are enjoying your new canine friend.

Not your issue, OP. Your neighbours are idiots - you are not responsible for what happens to their cat on your property. I say this as someone who has two outdoor cats and loves them beyond all reason. Absolutely their responsibility to either put up measures to discourage it going into your garden or accept what might happen if it does.

They are being ridiculous, we have a dog and several cats come into our garden or sit on the fence with the sole purpose of winding him up! He’s a pretty fast little terrier but has never managed to catch one !

I have cats and dogs my dogs ignore the resident cats but any other is fair game! The cat will learn to stay out of the garden eventually as it has with others that have dogs .
Neighbours cannot hold you liable for any injury on your property only if your dog got loose