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Original poster

To want to throttle neighbour's cat and neighbour!!

239 replies

Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 14:24

My neighbour's cat spends her days on our cars. It has now left scratches on both our brand new cars - more mine than DH. I saw neighbour yesterday and mentioned about the cars and she just went 'oh naughty Simba'..and did a little laugh and walked off.
AIBU to say to her that she either keeps her cat away from my car or she can pay to sort out the scratched.

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 15:17

@HoobleDooble

One of my neighbours chucked a bucket of water over my nervous rescue cat for crossing his garden a couple of days after she'd plucked up the courage to venture out ... He didn't look quite so smug (or dry) after he answered my knock on his door and got the same back.

Good!

Some posters don't seem to get that there's a difference between giving a cat a quick squirt with a water pistol and chucking a bucket of water / hosing them.

I think some people take the opportunity to be cruel because they don't like cats under the guise of detterence.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 05/08/2021 15:17

I have cats - I'm happy for neighbours to water pistol them if they are doing anything anti-social on their property. Would suggest you do the same.

NoSquirrels · 05/08/2021 15:18

@ChristmasJumpers

I forgot to say, cats naturally have sharp claws. I'm not sure what you want your neighbour to do about that

They do, but they don’t use them to jump onto car bonnets, or use them whilst walking on car bonnets.

Unless they’re very unusual.

WhoppingBigBackside · 05/08/2021 15:19

is this a stealth boast about how you have two cars costing tens of thousands?

My cat was free and he's priceless. That's my stealth boast.

Soubriquet · 05/08/2021 15:20

I have a cat that is very nervous around strange people. She will not go near strangers

If she was found on a car, pooing in gardens (which she won’t) or other unsavoury behaviour, I have no problem with her being chased off by either you running at her, a quick squirt with a water gun, or a quick squirt with a hose. I wouldn’t be happy with a bucket chucked over her though.

A more brazen cat might need it, but most would be scared off by a small string of water anyway

ChristmasJumpers · 05/08/2021 15:20

@NoSquirrels I agree, I just don't know where the OP is going with asking their neighbour to deal with the cat's claws

My cats frequently sits on my car, but never left scratches

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 15:21

Maybe OP you could put a cover on your car before going over and demanding the cat gets its claws examined/trimmed. It's the simplest option

Suzi888 · 05/08/2021 15:22

[quote Helpme20]**@Fandangoes* @Chibbles* - so are you saying it is ok for cats to damage other people's things that costs tens of thousands of pounds? Surely there must be something they can do. I am not a cat owner so i have no idea - how about cutting their nails? or keeping her cat in her house![/quote]
YABU there. I agree it’s annoying, but there is no law, cats are allowed to roam. Trying to prove that a particular cat has caused scratches, even if she pays your car will just end up scratched again, no?
For those saying a cat can’t cause scratches. They can. My own cat scratches my car- admittedly superficial, but they were there.

Just the cover the bonnet OP.

Lipz · 05/08/2021 15:22

Oh I feel your pain. Our car is ruined from the cats next door, it's when they jump up on the bonnet that the scratches happen with ours. It cost a lot to get fixed. I tried the car cover but a nightmare when it rains as you are pulling the cover off and getting pools of water ontop of you. Our ndn didn't give a damn. They have the paintwork destroyed on our wall out the back from climbing back in to their garden. It's awful and very upsetting seeing things you worked hard for ruined.

Original poster

Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:23

@WhoppingBigBackside

is this a stealth boast about how you have two cars costing tens of thousands?

My cat was free and he's priceless. That's my stealth boast.

Nothing to boast about - most people with kids have got 2 cars these days - I only said it as another poster said I was being a tad dramatic saying it costs tens of thousands. Am glad your cat was free and priceless...hopefully it is not costing others money :-)

OP posts:

crazycatgal · 05/08/2021 15:25

Are you sure the cat is scratching the car?

When I lived at my previous address there was always a car climbing and sleeping on my car, it didn't leave a mark.

Original poster

Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:26

@Lipz

Totally agree - a pain to put and remove the cover 3/4 times when having to taxi the kids around to their clubs. ..we also have the poop in the flower pots. Even the gardener is complaining about the poop. I wish people with pets would take a bit more responsibility...of i wanted all these problems I would keep a pet myself!

OP posts:

CharlieB93 · 05/08/2021 15:27

This has happened to my car too OP, we lived on an estate and this cat is HUGE, it belongs to next door but one. It scratched my roof to bits and the bonnet when climbing on/off it, I had enough one morning and kind of did a weird fast run towards it and the cat just stood it’s ground and reared up😂 I was shocking terrified!!
Now I know it’s just not worth it, cat does what cat wants 😂
It only does it when the suns out (and the cars warm)

CharlieB93 · 05/08/2021 15:28

Also get some t-cut, I use it every so often to get rid of the scratches

toocold54 · 05/08/2021 15:29

Unless it’s the only cat within a 100mile radius then you can’t blame the cat owner as there’s probably lots of cats that sit on your car at night. I have scratches all over mine too. Luckily it’s only a cheap car as I wouldn’t risk getting an expensive car without a garage.

Original poster

Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:29

@CharlieB93

This has happened to my car too OP, we lived on an estate and this cat is HUGE, it belongs to next door but one. It scratched my roof to bits and the bonnet when climbing on/off it, I had enough one morning and kind of did a weird fast run towards it and the cat just stood it’s ground and reared up😂 I was shocking terrified!! Now I know it’s just not worth it, cat does what cat wants 😂 It only does it when the suns out (and the cars warm)

YES THIS - it is not scared..... just stares back at me with huge evil eyes. I am gonna get the kids to get the water pistols out now, just need to catch it and get them out on time!..to be honest, the cat is overweight so am sure we will get it

OP posts:

Seaoftroubles · 05/08/2021 15:30

Cats wouldn't usually have their claws out when jumping onto a smooth, shiny surface like a car bonnet as they retract their claws and land on their pads to cushion impact. However if you want to deter them then spray the area with something lemony as cats hate citrus.

Ritascornershop · 05/08/2021 15:31

What kind of crap paintwork do you have that a cat can scratch it? This makes no sense. As people have said, they have retractable claws. Claws extend when; kneading soft things like a lap or a blanket; when killing mice etc; when scratching items that will help them sharpen their claws, like a tree or a scratching post. Your bonnet is none of these. How would the cat’s claws scratch your car? They wouldn’t.

My neighbours have a posh soft top. Our cats sit on it all the time and they’re fine with it. The cats (and previous cats extending over decades) have never scratched the car. Left muddy paw prints, yes. Scratches, no. Not possible.

Original poster

Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:31

@CharlieB93

Also get some t-cut, I use it every so often to get rid of the scratches

Thanks - will see if someone can do this for us.

OP posts:

MrsCatE · 05/08/2021 15:31

I think the people that agree with the OP that a cat can scratch a new car are unhinged.

Why don’t you approach your dealer and complain about the poor paint job.

nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome · 05/08/2021 15:33

I'd get cameras and then email her the footage, surely this is a matter for insurance? Her property has damaged your car!

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 15:35

Your obviously not THAT upset with the scratches if its too much effort to take a cover on and off. You're just enjoying feeling all indignant about a cat scratching your absurdly expensive car because it reminds you that you have an absurdly expensive car.

I am enjoying this thread though. It reminds me of a neighbour dispute I witnessed where someone was enraged because the neighbours cat had been scrunching his soft top convertible roof, and had taken and printed off a folder of 'evidence' photos of the cats sitting in the car looking innocent, which he was planning to go to the police with

Original poster

Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:36

@MrsCatE

I think the people that agree with the OP that a cat can scratch a new car are unhinged.

Why don’t you approach your dealer and complain about the poor paint job.

To think that people who think cats are innocent little creatures that do no damage are definitely unhinged - being a cat owner should not make you be in denial

OP posts:

Whinge · 05/08/2021 15:37

Another one here who is confused by the scratches. It must be a pretty poor paint job, considering they have retractable claws. I think if the scratches are bothering you that much then you need to get a cover or park in a garage, rather than blaming a cat which is very unlikely to be to blame.

WhatsNext2021 · 05/08/2021 15:37

Ffs get a life you can't police where an outdoor cat goes for God's sake YABVU.

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