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!

I’m a cat person but I would do exactly this. Your neighbours are ridiculous. As pp’s have said, the cat is just being a cat - it will learn eventually, atm it’s just taunting your dog - part of cat behaviour.

It's a moot point, I think. It'd be a rare case if a lab could even catch the cat, let alone do more than bark at it. The cat has faster reactions and faster speeds and is more agile.

I am guessing what will actually happen is that you've just cured your cat shit problem. Either because the cat will no longer come in the garden or because the dog will eat it.

YANBU about their cat

YABU if you think your dog won’t mess up your garden more than their cat.

Whilst cats have the right to roam, owners do this at their own risk. To take someone to civil court for an animal causing injury to another animal you’d have to demonstrate irresponsibility of the owner. In your case the neighbour knows you have a dog and is still allowing their cat into your garden. You are being reasonable by having a quick scan for the cat. If your dog attacked their cat in your garden they’d not have a case. If their cat got hit by a car on the road would they argue that the car shouldn’t have been there?
they’re just annoyed you’ve got a dog. Also if they’re worried about vets bills tell them to get insurance!

I'll never cease to be amazed at the entitlement of cat owners.

I didn’t say the dog wouldn’t mess up the garden. I’m fully prepared that she might however there is far less crap to contend with. Because I pick the poo up straightaway it’s not being traipsed around on shoes and I’m not dealing with it when gardening. The dog also doesn’t scratch hell out of the kids toys 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I have two cats. Recently a dog gained access to our garden and terrified them. They simply shot inside but after a night being a bit wary they carried on as usual. This wasn't a neighbour's dog, so quite a shock to them!
Most cats are extremely fast moving and will not get caught by a dog. They will learn to avoid the dog when they hear it coming or hear the door open etc.

What about if your cat kills a bird?

There's a big difference between mess you choose to deal with and someone else's mess that they impose on you against your will.

This ^
and I’m a cat person 100%.
Their cat is not daft and will stop coming to your garden or will achieve a partial truce with your dog.
If a fox would come to her garden and hurt her cat to whom she would send the bill, King Charles?

nope. Its the other side of a cat having the right to roam. cats are protected by the same "deliberate cruelty" laws as any other animal. You can't shoot at them, use them for bait in dog fighting, poison them and so on BUT if they are out of their owner's property and are killed or injured then that's just too bad.

We don't have a dangerous cats act but we do have a dangerous dogs act. It is somewhat open to interpretation. Whilst a cat is regarded as property, if your dog is regarded as acting out of control (even on your own property) you can face a fine, prison sentence and be ordered to have the dog destroyed.

Not your problem! We’ve just moved house and there were a couple of cars in the garden the first couple of days, house was empty before so they prob got used to it. Not seen them for a week or so now as they’ve learnt my dogs are here. The cat will just learn not to go in your garden.

Also if the dog is in your garden and the cat comes in and gets hurt that’s on the neighbour not you. You have every right to let your dog out for a wee when they need it.

The definition of out of control involves harm to humans or service animals. Unless it’s a guide cat, the OP is safe from prosecution

I would love to see that complaint to the Council.
Cats aren't generally stupid and it will soon figure out that your garden is no longer safe. I have cats and love them to bits but I also have a dog and while he has no chance of ever catching a cat the local ones know our garden is off limits or they will get a thorough barking at.

Civil matters cost megabucks. It may be possible to take such a matter to court but you'd need to be both rich and prepared to lose.

My dog isn’t ’out of control’ because she chases the cat in the garden. She is in a secure garden from which she cannot escape.

My cat is a twat and torments the neighbours dogs in their garden. The fault if he gets injured is entirely his. He knows the dogs are there and he does it on purpose.

a dog is also regarded as property.....I don't see what your point is?

Whilst that is true, if OPs dog had previously killed a cat and the owner had evidence. The OPs dog then escaped and barked or growled at a person (or the neighbour claimed it did) this could be used as evidence of previous incidents with the dog.

This is why teaching recall is so important (which I believe the OP said they are doing)
Both of my dogs chase cats if ever they get into our garden (very rare), as they are protecting (I assume) their territory.

One of my dogs is a Gundog breed and I'm very aware of his breeding.
If he sees a squirrel or rabbit he gives chase, but he’s trained to come back when recalled, which he does. He has gone to chase a cat that ran out in front of us once, but turned around and came back to me when shouted.
The Cat in the garden is a different matter though, because it’s the dog’s garden they bark, the same way if someone entered the garden they didn’t know, they bark. They don’t bark at people on a walk so not all ‘garden reactive’ behaviour is copied outside. (Which is a pity as my dog walks beautifully on lead when training in the garden, but can be a bit of a twat outside on his lead 🤣)

Regardless of a dog’s prey drive, teaching recall is a must, but most dogs will give chase to a cat in their garden.

It's your garden Their cat their problem. The council won't accept their complaint.

In my experience labs are big babies that would bit know what to do if they caught a cat, and cats are more then a match for most dogs. A quick snack from a cat is usually more then enough to send the average dog running away. Your neighbours are being ridiculous. I say that as a cat and dog owner. My cat runs rings around my dogs! Obviously you wouldn't want a cat harmed (although I do think this is unlikely) but cats are not than capable of getting out of dogs way as well. They are your neighbours though so not good to fall out. I would be kind to them and say of course you will look to see if the cat is out but of course you can't check the whole garden.

If your dog killed an animal then it wasn't in your control at the point. It was out of control.

Why would the council be involved at all?