New neighbours have a cat - I have a greyhound. Help??

[acrispyguinness]

As per the title, we have new neighbours. They have a cat which they have now started letting outside. Their cat likes to scale the fences and walk along the tops and over my shed - ordinarily not a problem, I like cats. My senior greyhound however does not. He’s very reactive to them and honestly I’m not sure what he would do if he were presented with the opportunity.

How can I deter their cat from strolling the fences? I’m having to keep my poor boy inside as I can’t supervise 24/7 so he’s no longer able to sunbathe in the garden as I work. He was sunbathing by the back door this morning and their cat appeared at the top of the fence about 2m from him, luckily he didn’t see and I quickly ushered him indoors and shooed the cat but I can’t do this every time it scales the fence. Help!

You need to train him to ignore the cat, your neighbours have the right to let their cat outside without it being barked at.

Let your dog in the garden whenever you like and remind the neighbours their cat will be seen as prey in your garden.

They need to change their behaviour not you.

Do you think he can reach the cat on top of the fences and shed? If he can't reach the cat to injure it, can't you just ignore it?

Otherwise, is it just barking (I didn't think greyhounds bark much but I've only really known quiet lurchers)

Let him in the garden. The cat will either learn to keep its distance or it'll taunt the dog from a safe spot 😂 .

Cats aren't daft, it'll stay safe.

No cat comes near my garden any more for the same reason.

Hahaha no.

I have cats, not dogs, but I recognise if my cat goes into a dog's garden it will be his fault if he gets barked at it chased.

Cats aren't stupid. They know to avoid dangerous places.

Charming! I'm giving my opinion.

The cat won’t come close enough to the dog, they are usually smart enough to stay away, however just being high enough to tease the dog will be their satisfaction.

And why does the dog not have the right to be in his own garden without being teased by a cat?

Act 1 of the "people should be able to let their pets outside in peace" passed in parliament in 1273.
Don't be ridiculous. The cat isn't even going in her garden. She either needs to train her dog or not let him outside unsupervised.

Make sure your dog can't escape the garden.
Cats aren't your responsibility.

Honestly, I'd let him bark. Why should he not be able to go into his garden because a cat is on the fence?

It's not fair on him to suffer just because your neighbours have an outdoor cat.

The cat isn't teasing him, the cat is just walking along the fence.
Op can't control other people and what they do.

As long as your dog is secure in its own garden and can’t escape or get hold of the cat, the cat will soon learn there are safer places to roam. Let your dog bark at it.

I have greyhounds, and cats. I imagine it’s not barking the OP is worrying about, it’s killing. Even a senior greyhound can be quick when they want to be. And if they have a high prey drive, it’s not possible to train them out of it at that age. One of mine has no prey drive for cats (squirrels are another matter), the other one did but we got her young and spent six solid months training her before we could leave her alone with our cats. And I still wouldn’t leave her alone with someone else’s cat.

Can you muzzle for a bit in the garden until the cat realises they need to give a wide birth? Mine tolerate the Baskerville muzzles they were trained with if outside.

How many greyhounds have you owned? If its a retired greyhound they are literally raised to chase small furry running things they never forget

I would muzzle and let the neighbours know give them the opportunity to cat proof the fence (not with roller bars the cat can be thrown in to your garden)

Why should anyone muzzle their own dog in their own garden to prevent harm to an animal allowed to roam when the new neighbours know you have a greyhound. Bloody ridiculous.

This. It’s up to the neighbours to solve. If they care for the cat they won’t want it mauled/killed by a neighbouring animal in its own space, so they will act accordingly.

To prevent harm to another animal you literally said it in your rant

I get people hate cats and cat owners but why you would be vile and wish harm on an animal is beyond belief

If you spot the cat, shoo it off but don't make the poor dog come in too.

Don't muzzle the dog either, poor thing.

Maybe some spikes on top of the fence if you don't want the cat walking across it. As they're new neighbours, I'd probably let them know you're doing it otherwise they might read it as quite passive aggressive.

I don't think she's worried about barking!

My cat jumped onto the fence and then into next door's garden when he was younger - not realising they had a dog (I think it was a visitor) - he came flying back over the fence 30 seconds later, and didn't go in there again.

And my cat is a complete idiot.

Let your greyhound sunbathe - as long as it's not going to injure the greyhound, part of being let out to wander means cats have to look after themselves if they wander somewhere with dogs.

Don’t keep your poor dog cooped up inside! Your neighbours can keep their cat on their own property to protect it from harm.

There are things the neighbours can get to attach to the fences to prevent the cat from getting to the rope or over them, and that’s what they need to do.

It would be kind of you to talk to them and find out when they plan to do this so you can compromise and keep your dog in temporarily, but ultimately keeping their cat safe is their problem, not yours.