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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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
8
EddieVeddersfoxymop · 05/08/2021 15:38

I'm kind of with OP here because when a cat jumps onto something smooth, they absolutely do use their claws for grip. How do I know this? Because I had a cat who did exactly this to my husbands pride and joy Angry Oh, and covers are not a great idea outdoors as the wind moves them and they can dull your paint. Go on, ask me how I know that too?!

Only saving grace is that it was our cat, on our car. Shame the paint got more damaged from the cover rubbing in the wind than the claws but hey, you live and learn.

My NDN cat once tried to shimmy into my open conservatory windows and scratched all the UPVC. She saw it happen and immediately text me to offer payment for repairs. We didn't take her up on it but really appreciated the care.

PinkTonic · 05/08/2021 15:39

@Fandangoes

cats are a law unto themselves I'm not sure exactly what you expect your neighbour to do?
I think it’s reasonable to expect people not to keep cats if they can’t ensure that they don’t cause damage to other people’s property, foul gardens and decimate wildlife. It’s an unpopular view but they are an absolute bloody nuisance and the default ‘they are wild, what do you suppose can be done’ is enraging. They are your pets. You choose to keep them, but feel entitled to abdicate all responsibility for the damage and disgusting mess they create.
WhatsNext2021 · 05/08/2021 15:40

Also on a slippery non grippy surface cats use their pads not claws Hmm

WhoppingBigBackside · 05/08/2021 15:40

I've got a solution.

Build a two car garage without a catflap.

Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:41

It is actually quite hilarious that people are so bothered about the price of the 'absurdly expensive' car....

OP posts:
Jowak1 · 05/08/2021 15:42

I've had cats all my life and never known any ( or heard from anyone else) where cats have scratched cars. I know there is always a first time for everything but just double check first. I've offered to clean out my neighbours cat poo from their garden as I can't imagine it's very nice if you don't have a cat snd one poos in your garden.

chelle862 · 05/08/2021 15:42

If you threw a bucket of water at my cat, I'd throw a bucket of water over you. You sound a delight.

Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:44

@PinkTonic I could not have put it better!! You are absolutely spot on.

OP posts:
chesirecat99 · 05/08/2021 15:45

I will go speak to the neighbour and see how we can sort this - ask her to see to the claws

There is nothing she can do. Cats need their claws for defence and climbing. It's illegal to declaw cats in the UK and you shouldn't cut them.

As PPs have said, cats have retractable claws so it is unlikely the cat has scratched your car with its claws. It's far more likely the scratches are from a fox or a bird like a seagull. Unless the cat has a collar with a metal clasp or bell. Although the one thing that would make it likely to use its claws and scratch your car is spraying it with water or chasing it when it is trying to get traction to get away from you as fast as possible.

You have no legal recourse either so the only thing you can do is spray your car with a deterrent spray or get a cover. Or buy some T-cut.

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 15:47

@Helpme20

It is actually quite hilarious that people are so bothered about the price of the 'absurdly expensive' car....
Not bothered, more amused as it seems like a stealth boast, as another poster pointed out.

Your clearly preoccupied with how much you spent on the car, and yet don't want to take any action to prevent it getting damaged. You don't have grounds to be marching round to the neighbours getting all shitty with them if you won't do anything to protect your expensive possession that you store outside where anything can get at it

paddlingon · 05/08/2021 15:49

There is no legal recourse and no expectation that the cat is responsible for the damage.

All you can do is by tcut ( it is very easy to use) and buy a water pistol and perhaps a sonic deterrent.

Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:49

@chelle862

If you threw a bucket of water at my cat, I'd throw a bucket of water over you. You sound a delight.
You are one of those entitled cat owners who think other people should clean their shit ...anyone is allowed to throw water in their own garden or car - now if your cats wants to go onto other people's property, you only have yourself to blame.. Am definitely throwing a bucket of water next time i see it.
OP posts:
Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 15:51

@paddlingon

There is no legal recourse and no expectation that the cat is responsible for the damage.

All you can do is by tcut ( it is very easy to use) and buy a water pistol and perhaps a sonic deterrent.

4 Sonic deterrent ordered off Amazon last night :-)
OP posts:
steppemum · 05/08/2021 15:54

OK so let's just read the thread.

Several posters have said that YES a cat's claws can and do scratch cars. They have seen it, it has happened to them etc etc

But loads of posters still saying Oh no not possible.

Obviously it is possible.

I am a cat lover and have cats. But I would take responsibility for my cats actions. All this poor little darling should be allowed to do what it likes is crap.
Cats hate water, hosepipe etc really will not hurt, but will scare, and then they won't come back.
We had a cat who constantly came in through out cat flap (before the days of chip only flaps) and sprayed everywhere inside. I left a bucket of water outside the back door and dropped him in it.
No, it wasn't cruel, just very unpleasant for the cat. Who didn't come back. So it worked.

nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome · 05/08/2021 15:56

www.thecatgroup.org.uk/pdfs/Cats-law-web.pdf

I've had a quick google OP and you may actually have legal recourse to seek compensation for the damages.

Under the Common Law Duty of Care your neighbour has to take steps to ensure that the cat does not cause damage to another's property.

If you get it on film and send it to her she has to take some measure to stop it from doing it, if not she may be liable for a breach of duty of care and you thus entitled to some compensation.

Have you had a quote to fix the scratches? If it's a sizeable amount see if it's financially viable to contact a solicitor.

Whinge · 05/08/2021 15:56

Am definitely throwing a bucket of water next time i see it.

If you throw water on the cat when it's sat on your car then you'll cause a heck of a lot more scratches, as it will try and grip the surface as it scrambles to get away.

hamsterchump · 05/08/2021 15:57

Cats aren't legally considered property (which is why you don't legally have to report it if you hit one with your car unlike a dog for example) so she isn't liable legally for any damage the cat does. Of course she might not know this as most on here don't and so might be intimidated into paying but legally she won't have to.

imnotsure1 · 05/08/2021 16:03

You need water to spray them when you see them and then see if you can position a noise deterrent in a good spot. I have indoor cats so I don't hate cats but I do think it's awful they can damage property with no consequences.

nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome · 05/08/2021 16:04

@hamsterchump

Cats aren't legally considered property (which is why you don't legally have to report it if you hit one with your car unlike a dog for example) so she isn't liable legally for any damage the cat does. Of course she might not know this as most on here don't and so might be intimidated into paying but legally she won't have to.
They are, all animals are regarded as property. There are different laws relating to cats rather than dogs.

Cats are free to roam, dogs aren't which is why you don't have to report them. Dogs are required to wear identification and when you hit them it's to establish whether the owner has any damage liability.

Because dogs are bigger they are regarded as more likely to lead to damage, so if you hit an Alsatian in the road there's a high chance you could damage your car/sustain injuries whereas if you hit a cat you probably won't.

It's not to do with animal welfare but simply an outdated RTA. The owner still has a responsibility to look after her property if a cat or a dog.

Purplepeople12 · 05/08/2021 16:08

Cat lover here, unfortunately you can't keep them off, same as you can't keep them off you kitchen sides if they want to be on there, believe me, water sprays, smells they aren't supposed to like etc, nothing works. I'd find it hard to see how their claws can scratch paint though I have to say. Mine are always laying all over mine in the sun but they've never scratched it and I've had cats all my life (not disputing that it's happened though)

Try sending her the bill, but I don't know how far you'd get with it, if I were your neighbour I'd definitely want to see proof first as their claws aren't that sharp generally.

Have you got video footage of it happening?

CheshireChat · 05/08/2021 16:10

Cats are free roaming which means that if they get hurt while out (unless malicious) then it's up to the owners to pay for the treatment. Conversely, the owner isn't liable for damage the cat causes.
You can be liable of you hurt a dog, but so is the owner if you get hurt by the dog, hence dog insurances have third party liability included.

There's no need to be cruel to the cat (though it sounds like that's exactly whatyouintend...), just shoo her with water guns everytime it gets close. But for everyone's sake, don't do it while the cat is on your car, that's really the fastest way to get it scratched as it'll scramble away startled and try and grip with it's claws.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 05/08/2021 16:12

Her laughing would have fucked me right off!
I'd be showing her the bill even though yeah ok you can't make her pay but I'd want to wipe the smirk off her face!

Purplepeople12 · 05/08/2021 16:12

My neighbour bought a sonic deterrent, I was pretty embarrassed because my bloody cat walked up to it and rubbed all round it! She's old and doesn't stray too far anymore and actually comes in to use her litter tray so I knew she wasn't the reason she'd bought it, she told me she'd done it because her other neighbours cats were using her lawn as their toilet. Sadly cats aren't really trainable in where they will or won't roam

paddlingon · 05/08/2021 16:12

@nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome I'm not convinced that this cat is covered by that law.
The cat isn't behaving in an unusually destructive or aggressive way. It is sitting on cars, not uncommon cat behavior and something which rarely results in damage.

It isn't causing destruction through aggression.

There is nothing extreme or unreasonable in a cat sitting on car.

It seems that law is to prevent significant predictable damage caused by cats like Bengals. Damage caused by aggressive behavior which is outside standard cat behaviors.

Leftbutcameback · 05/08/2021 16:14

My cat scratched my car, but it did polish out with t-cut. It was on the bonnet when they scrambled up I think. A bit like when you brush past a bush on a country road. I would ask the neighbour to pay for your car to be cleaned and waxed. And then keep a spray bottle of water handy. It’s not just the water but the noise too - fairly effective in keeping my two out of the kitchen.