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!

Pigeon proofing for the top of the fence?

I was present when my friend's cat dashed out of the back door in front of her greyhound. It was over in one pounce, he snapped the cat's spine. Greyhounds are bred to chase and kill small running things, it can't be trained out of them. The two had lived amicably together for some years, but that rapid movement triggered something in the dog that just took over.
I would muzzle my dog. I'd probably have a chat with the neighbour and see what we could do/pay for together to prevent the cat getting in the garden. (See cat proof fencing, not to difficult to think of a DIY equivalent).

Exactly

We have a schnauzer who loves to patrol the fence to ensure no enemy pigeons/cats/butterflies etc have the audacity to appear on said fence.
We are surrounded by neighbours with cats and they like to watch her from a safe distance. Next door's Persian has discovered he can sunbathe on our shed roof while she watches in a fit of barking rage from the dining room window.
The neighbours cat will be fine.

If your neighbors are willing to let their cat roam, they are assuming all risk for what happens to the cat. That includes being severely injured or even killed by a neighboring dog. If they cared about the cat, they would provide better supervision.

If you are worried, just make sure the neighbors are aware there is a nearby dog. Hopefully they will take measures to protect their cat.

I agree the cat will learn to stay away or at a safe distance, but am surprised how many people think it's OK to let the dog bark. What about the other neighbours?

Surely the cat will learn not to come your side

If the cat is tresspassing in your garden tell your neighbours you can't guarantee its safety

I have 2 cats and a spaniel - my neighbours have 3 dogs. I can assure you that unless the cat is particularly old or sick, it will keep itself out of harms way

I didn't know this about the rollers. I mean , I knew they exist, but I hadn't thought which way the cat would go .

OP. They moved next to you and your dog is there before the cat arrived.
As it is finding it's way about , now is a good time for your dog to establish it's relationship with the cat ( keep out of the garden and off the fence)
If you let it bark a bit then it'll know,

I don't think greyhound s are barky dogs in general but they are quick and prey driven.
As a cat owner myself, I'd hope your fences were good enough to keep your dog in.. cats are quick to learn if they knows what's out there and realise they don't go there.
Your dog might not bother after a while but I wouldn't take a chance on that 😉

I would definitely speak to neighbours about your adjoining fence and making it cat proof. Something like an anti-climb barrier on top of it so cat can’t get up there.

It’s not feasible for your dog never to be out in the garden, and the drive to chase a strange cat is very powerful for many dogs, not least greyhounds. My dog grew up with cats, was very much under their thumb in the house, shared a sofa with them happily, but if she sees a strange cat in the garden she will bark and chase it. The cats have learned this and generally don’t come in our garden!

Lots of greyhounds are trained with the Baskerville cage muzzles and tolerate them well. Mine are fine with them outside (they don’t like them inside).

regardless of the law or who’s to blame, I would be devastated if my greyhounds killed another persons pet, or even wildlife. So if I knew there was a new cat in the vicinity I would do a bit of muzzling until the cat learnt.

Years ago out car loved to lie along the 3ft wall between our house and the bungalow next door where there was an outdoor pen for the salukis they bred and because of the slope of the land the top of the wall was level with the wire roof of the pen and the salukis went mad. Neighbour complained about our cat but as he was on his own turf there was nothing to be done.

There are cats and dogs all over the country op. Most dogs will chase a cat. Most cats know to keep out of the way. I don't think you need to keep your dog in at all. If your new neighbours have asked that of you then they are our of order.

The occasional dog barking is normal neighbourhood noise. Same as children playing or crying, someone using a lawnmower, all that stuff. Incessant barking (same as incessant screaming or someone using heavy machinery for hours on end) is antisocial but a couple of woofs to scare off a cat is totally normal noise .

Thanks again for replies.

The fence is 6 foot, he couldn’t jump it, but naturally if he stands on his hind legs he would reach the top.

I’m not saying either party is wrong, we’re all absolutely entitled to have pets as we see fit, I just want to be able to protect both.

My dog is the most gentle boy in the world but his natural prey drive and years spent racing have led to him being reactive to cats. He will stand alert and stare on walks, but I’ve never let him get close enough to a cat to see if he’s all talk or not - it wouldn’t be fair on either him or the poor cat.

He has been muzzled before, and this could work short term, but I also want to be able to let him enjoy his garden without limitations.

I’ll chat to the neighbours today, I don’t think either party needs to take ‘ownership’ of this as a situation, but I’m sure we both want our pets to be happy and safe so a talk is needed. I’ll suggest humane fence spikes on the adjoining fence, and perhaps a water sprayer to spray in the cats direction (not on it) if they veto the spikes. Likewise, happy for them to give any suggestions too!

You don’t know cats do you 😂

I currently have three, and trust me; they love taunting dogs.

Cats are bastards.

One of mine used to sit on the stairs, preening himself innocently. DDog was always nervous of going past him. When she finally worked up the courage to go up or down, DCat would give her a swipe on the way past and make her yelp.

Hahahaha

Not a chance

Also to add - my garden is fully secure, my dog cannot escape.

He also, as is with most greys, not a barker so he’s unlikely to bark at it, more likely to chase and pounce! This is my biggest concern.

This. I have a cat-reactive Patterdale and our house is surrounded by cats. They run away, jump the fence or leap up onto the shed and make faces at her. Cats are quick and if they can get into your garden they can get out of it at speed.

I mean, just leave them to it.

I have two cats. The neighbours on both sides have dogs. My cats just keep out of their way!

On the contrary, your dog has every right to sunbathe in his own garden. Let your neighbour know, and ask her to train the cat.

I have cats and a dog. I agree that you don’t really have to do anything here.

Cat will either taunt dog then jump away, or will stay away from dog.