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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
PhilCornwall1 · 05/08/2021 18:12

It's on footage it's the cat. The owner should pay for the damage!

To want to throttle neighbour's cat and neighbour!!
MrsCatE · 05/08/2021 18:13

There is no way a cat could cause damage on a normal car !! Are you bonkers?! Just imagine, I casual meander near a hedge; FUCK ME; a hedgerow fucked my finish.

Onetraumaatatimeplease · 05/08/2021 18:14

@NoSquirrels I thought the same thing. I've only seen my cats get their claws out for specific reasons, scratching, anything with a rough texture, murdering, anything small it's fur, twating people, mainly me, and pretending to clean them while dead eyeing me. I can't see a cat using it's claws to jump on and then scratch metal paintwork.
As for all these posters recommending buckets of water, especially icy water, wtf is wrong with you.
Make a racket with pots and pans (that's how the resident cat at work learnt not to come into the kitchen) or use a water pistol. The cat will learn to stay away, they aren't stupid, just really full of their own self importance.

jaundicedoutlook · 05/08/2021 18:14
  1. The cat’s claws won’t be causing damage to the paintwork, unless you can show that it is actively deploying its claws and scratching the car vigorously. A cat jumping on/ off a car would be incapable of causing paintwork damage. Trust me - I also have an expensive car and a cat.
  1. You neighbour would not be liable for any damage, even if it could be proved the cat had caused it, unless he/she was somehow negligent in allowing the damage to be caused. Simply allowing a cat outside in the presence of parked cars is not sufficient. As such the neighbour / insurer would not pay.
  1. If you go out and spray the cat with a water pistol / fireman’s hose / whatever you will only teach the cat not to sit on your car when you are around. When you are not around, or not packing any water based weapon, the cat will go right ahead and sit on your car.
  1. Cat / dog / bramble scratches are not costing tens of thousands of damage to your car, unless you have an F1 car or some hyper bling mobile with a crazy bespoke paint job. Your car is not being rendered worthless by the scratches - a repair will cost hundreds and, per 2 above, will be for your own pocket.

Carry on.

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 18:16

@helpme20 why were you peering at their unpacked boxes? It's none of your business, and it's none if your concern wether they stay in the house or sell up ans move away.

It probably wasn't a problem in their last place because they had reasonable neighbours!

OldTinHat · 05/08/2021 18:17

Get a cover for the cars. And an water pistol for the cats.

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 18:19

@nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome if the scratch will come out with t cut what is the issue exactly? If I had a new car and this happened I wouldn't be expecting a grovelling apology over something so easily fixed.

Wolfiefan · 05/08/2021 18:20

I bet they’re hoping you move TBH.
Cover the car or rent a garage space (if you don’t have one) if you’re that worried.
I have NEVER seen a cat damage paint on a car (and one of ours loved to stomp over DH’s last car)

Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 18:22

I wish there was a like button for some of the comments
Wjy was I peering at the boxes... hmmm probably would have been rude to close my eyes whilst talking to the woman..
@jaundicedoutlook...Read my OP...the cars cost a lot not the damage!! Not that it makes it ok just because it may cost just a few grand!...geez the logic of some people

OP posts:
rustyspoon45 · 05/08/2021 18:24

Genuinely never heard of this happening. Not saying you're making it up but if this were a widespread problem I would have expected to hear about it by now given the amount of cats/cars about.

Yeah it's for you but what do you expect her to do about it?

She can cut the claws. Or you could use a deterrent around your car? She should pay but then again how can you prove it was her cat? It's annoying but any damage can occur to a car parked out in the open. My friends windscreen was once smashed by a humongous bird shit while it was parked on her drive. She couldn't very well sue the bird.

I do believe car owners should take responsibility for their pets but as they are legally allowed to roam it can be easier said than done. If she agrees that her cat did the damage then the decent thing would be to pay for it but if she doesn't then I'm not sure there's a lot you can do.

Alexdrake44 · 05/08/2021 18:24

@PhilCornwall1

🤣 😂

rustyspoon45 · 05/08/2021 18:24

Shit for you**

MrsCatE · 05/08/2021 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

jaundicedoutlook · 05/08/2021 18:26

@Helpme20

I wish there was a like button for some of the comments Wjy was I peering at the boxes... hmmm probably would have been rude to close my eyes whilst talking to the woman.. *@jaundicedoutlook*...Read my OP...the cars cost a lot not the damage!! Not that it makes it ok just because it may cost just a few grand!...geez the logic of some people
You didn’t mention the cost of the car in the OP. You later stated the cars cost tens of thousand. However, the repair would cost pretty much the same on most cars, the main differentiator being the brand and the paint finish. Wouldn’t cost much difference to repair the paint finish on a 7 year old Hyundai or a brand new BMW. But, hey, don’t let the facts get in the way of a nice gripe, and do enjoy sitting around in the garden with your water pistol waiting for cats!
HoobleDooble · 05/08/2021 18:28

Oh, I am a great neighbour, there's over 100 houses on our street, I'll move their bins and watch their houses when they're on holiday, I'll lend, give or help them with things when they're stuck. I generally get on with everyone ... except for him, he's been an a**ehole to everyone for years, hardly anyone spares him the time of day. Maybe he should have spoken to me about my cat before ruining all the work I'd put in trying to build her confidence by being a nasty git, it was only a matter of time until he pushed that final button. He runs inside his house when he sees me now so I class it as a win. 😁

Fancymice · 05/08/2021 18:42

@Helpme20

I wish there was a like button for some of the comments Wjy was I peering at the boxes... hmmm probably would have been rude to close my eyes whilst talking to the woman.. *@jaundicedoutlook*...Read my OP...the cars cost a lot not the damage!! Not that it makes it ok just because it may cost just a few grand!...geez the logic of some people
Why post it on here then? It's irrelevant.

I'm actually wondering now if this is a reverse 🤣

Christmasfairy2020 · 05/08/2021 18:47

So I love cats. But my mil hates cats so she has a cat alarm near car (which hurts my ears) but no one else seems to hear it. Oh and apparently they hate snakes so she has a plastic snake on drivewayConfused

HoobleDooble · 05/08/2021 18:48

I imagine you're more the type to let someone repeatedly kick their arse without retaliation, sit and moan on and on but never do anything? There's only much I take from someone, I generally turn a blind eye if it's just me but upset my kids, friends or pets and I will bite back.

toocold54 · 05/08/2021 18:54

'Try throwing a bucket of water on her, it may work'.

As PPs have said if you do that the cat will scratch the car even worse and won’t actually deter it from coming back during the night. Sounds like the neighbour is well aware it will cause it to do more damage! Shock

ItWasAgathaAllAlong · 05/08/2021 18:54

Not sure if this counts as a stealth boast, or a horrible admission of shame... but: I have two brand new cars sitting on my drive. I also have several cats who have always enjoyed sitting on, and jumping onto the garage room from, my cars. Old cars were a shabby old Ford of about 22 years old, the other a slightly less shabby soft top convertible, but still over 15 years old (the cats are attracted to the warmth of a black soft top!)

But none of my old car, or my new cars, have been damaged by my cats. Well, not unless you count leaving hairs on the old soft-top. My big girl even used to jump down from the garage roof onto the roof of my old Ford, and never once left a dent!

So, as both a cat lover/owner and car lover/owner, I can't say I've ever had any of the issues the OP has had. And my two new cars are worth a far bit (one is still a convertible).

Cats really can't cause that much damage to cars. Unless I've been misled horribly, and rendered blind, by my feline tribe for the last 25 years or so Grin

Fandangoes · 05/08/2021 18:57

Out of interest - how do you wash your cars?

ObviousNameChage · 05/08/2021 19:00

Arsehole cat did scratch OH's car. Very visibly too.Grin But, our car,our mess,our cat. He just stopped parking right in front of our garden.

If a neighbour complained, of course I would apologise. Offer to contribute/pay to fix it too or for car covers. Then organise a tag teaming mission between the two of us, to make the car unappealing (sprays,water guns ,shooing away) and distractions (treats).

I definitely wouldn't suggest buckets of water or pretend it's not my problem. Arsehole cat will always be my problem.

DizzySquirrel90 · 05/08/2021 19:00

Sounds more like a very minor polish scratch, something that would probably polish off. Cats claws are no way sharp enough to physically scratch through a cars paintwork unless they are using it as a scratch post? A picture would help.

Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 19:01

@Fandangoes

Out of interest - how do you wash your cars?
Take to the hand car wash
OP posts:
Original poster
Helpme20 · 05/08/2021 19:02

@ObviousNameChage

Arsehole cat did scratch OH's car. Very visibly too.Grin But, our car,our mess,our cat. He just stopped parking right in front of our garden.

If a neighbour complained, of course I would apologise. Offer to contribute/pay to fix it too or for car covers. Then organise a tag teaming mission between the two of us, to make the car unappealing (sprays,water guns ,shooing away) and distractions (treats).

I definitely wouldn't suggest buckets of water or pretend it's not my problem. Arsehole cat will always be my problem.

Yes..I won't do that. I will put the sonic and get some cat deterrent spray as well
OP posts: