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!

Please tell me you're joking 😂

The cat will learn to stay away. Let your dog out and try not to take responsibility for your neighbours pet.

@Duchoftheterrace What you witnessed was basic animal behaviour - just as cats will kill mice and birds, some dogs will go after cats. They don't understand that the cat is someone's much loved pet and therefore shouldn't be killed - it's up to the cat's owner to protect it, just as dog owners take steps to protect their dog by not letting it wander the neighbourhood. Ultimately we're all responsible for the safety and welfare of our own pets.

A dog won’t be put down for killing a cat in the dog owner’s garden anymore than a cat would be put down for killing a bird.

If they’re ex racing greyhounds, they’re trained in a muzzle, as they have to wear them on the track.

No self respecting cat is going to be caught by a dog in a back garden. Ignore it.

Obviously your are under no obligation to do so but in your shoes I would probably pop a muzzle on him for a week or so and hope they have a run in that puts the cat well and truly off your garden. Agree with what you say about greyhounds not being big barkers and that being the problem - that he might spring on the cat with horrible outcome.

I'd just let them know I have a dog which is reactive to cats but there isn't much else you can do about it. I'd guess your dog isn't out there a lot and isn't left on her own outside for long periods.

We have a greyhound and a cat but dog might chase other cats if they come in the garden. They seem to know she is as daft as a brush though and doesn't see them half the time, and come right up to the patio door. Cats are actually pretty nippy and can get out of the way usually as they are more nimble than greyhounds. Also my cat gives her a good slap if she gets a bit close. They sleep together happily in the kitchen most of the time and keep one another company.

Before we had our dog our next door neighbours had lurchers the son hunted rabbits with and would almost certainly kill a cat if they had the chance. The cats would walk on the fence and make the dogs bark but never went in the garden, they are not stupid.

My cats are indoor cats but if I did have an outdoor cat and you were my neighbour I'd suggest that we do a controlled introduction where you are in the garden with your dog on a lead (so the dog cannot get to the cat) which should hopefully reinforce to the cat that your garden is not safe.

I do sympathise though. My two cats are indoors and one is currently toileting on the floor because a new cat has started coming into the garden and she doesn't like it. So utterly infuriating but I can do nothing about it as cats have the right to roam.

Your dog is secure and contained in your garden, there’s nothing else you need to do.

My concern is that my dog could injure their cat. He is the most gentle boy, friendly with people and dogs but I honestly worry he would attack a cat if he were given the opportunity and that’s what I want to avoid.

he’s never in the garden unattended as such, I work from the sun room and he sleeps outside by the back door; but I wouldn’t always see the cat before it was too late, so I’m just feeling very on edge right now about it all. He’s sunbathed in my office today so it’s been ok, but I have purposely kept him in today as the cat appeared twice this morning and I wanted to see if I could get some advice first.

If he has been used to being muzzled why don’t you do that for a few days to see how he reacts to the cat?

Do your NDN know you have the greyhound? As they're quieter the6 might not have heard him. And they have the 0-40 Couch Potato status. The6 might not be aware that many dogs will chase a cat , but a greyhound can catch one .

If you lived next door to me ( and I'd brought my cats) as long as I knew your fences were good enough that your dog wasn't going to get in my garden and you weren't going to set your dog on my cats then I'd accept they need to be at their own risk .

Go and talk to them , let them know . Then you've done your bit .
Keep a close eye on your fences. Maybe a quick look that the coast is clea4 of cats before he goes out .
And don't encourage the cat. ( I told my NDN to chase mine out if they wandered, not everyone wants cats in the garden)

I'm nice as a NDN but if your dog got into my garden or your encouraged my cats or you sent you dog out with " cats Floyd . Kill" ..which I'm sure you wouldn't ever do .
But if these happened we'd have Words 🤔

The cat appeared twice because there is no dog outside

I know, I agree with you. I'm trying to point out that a lot of the suggestions (like introduce the dog to the cat... Let the cat learn by getting chased...) stupidly fail to take the nature of greyhounds into account.

as long as the dog is in a secure garden it’s the cat owner’s responsibility (and liability if your dog was to tragically kill their cat). I have a Sighthound so understand the stress though. I do find it kind of wild how people manage the stress of having free roaming outdoor cats though.. aren’t they just constantly worrying about them being killed or injured?! That might just be my nervous disposition 😂

The cat won't come into your garden while the dog is there. If the cat is in your garden when you let your dog out, then unless you've got a garden where the cat is 20 metres from the fence, there's not a chance the dog will get up enough speed to catch the cat before the cat scales the fence. Cats have a great sense of smell, it will smell your dog before he's even out of the door.

I'm a cat lover, forget the cat, it knows exactly what it's doing with your dog! Please don't muzzle the dog.

By keeping your dog in you are risking making the cat feel your garden is safe. Much better to leave your dog there and the cat will learn instantly. Took my cats only one go to realise they should never go next door.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha - comment of the day goes to @aliasfrog

Thanks 😊

this. A cat has a right to roam but no right to safety while it does so. Humans are not allowed to sic dogs (or other animals) on to attack. If a dog is in its own secure garden and it kills another animal, then there is no action that can be taken against the dog or the owner.

It said many times on here and other places "oh I am prepared to take the risk" Its all fine and dandy until the cat doesn't return home or someone brings them a body.

My aunt muzzled her greyhound after a particular incident involving a squirrel in the park he would not let it go no matter what poor thing died "only a grey squirrel vermin" etc etc but still distressing enough she decided to muzzle him in parks from then on

For those who say the cat wont go near a dog thats not technically true some cats are not scared of dogs and they should be

Muzzle until you find out what kind of cat your dealing with

why "pop a muzzle" on the dog? Its not his fault or the owner's responsibility. I get that dogs can be taught to accept a muzzle but why do it if its not needful?

nope. Dog in public place, fine. Dog in its own garden, no way.