Neighbour's cat killed our guinea pig

[GuineaPiggie]

We had two guinea pigs - until Sunday; now we just have one :-(

Our next door neighbour got two cats a few weeks ago. They have been coming into our garden, and I have been trying to deter them with water pistols. I bought cat spikes and laid them around our guinea pig hutch. I thought I had successfully warned them off but it turns out they have been coming into our garden when we have been out.

On Saturday evening my neighbour said she had tried to knock on our door to tell us that their cats were scratching at the guinea pig hutch. We were not at home.

That evening, one of our guinea pigs stopped eating and was sat trembling, as if in shock. We didn't think much of it, since she was otherwise perfectly healthy and only 3 years old.

On Sunday we found her dead. Her sister seems okay, apart from being distressed at having lost her sister. We will get another guinea pig to keep her company, but obviously are absolutely devastated at this loss. My children are so so upset, as am I. It seems too much of a coincidence that she died just after the cat attack.

Any suggestions about what I can do about this, and how to broach this with my neighbour? I'm not the kind of person to march round and have a go at them, but I am angry and upset and am terrified of leaving the house in case the cats come again. It seems so unfair that my neighbours' pets are allowed to roam all over the place, terrorising (and now causing the death of) other people's pets (others on the street have complained about them too - they mentioned this on Saturday).

I understand that you can't prevent cats from roaming, but it seems so unjust that our neighbours disown any responsibility, having brought these cats into our life. It won't bring our piggie back, but I don't want this happening again. Their attitude is "cats will be cats". We have tried to cat-proof our garden but surely they should share some of the responsibility? Should they not have considered this before deciding to buy these cats?

It's sad that your guinea pig has died but you have no proof that it was because of the cats.

It's terribly sad but cats are not the only predators of small animals. There are foxes and hawks. It's your job to protect them. Id never leave my pigs or rats outside in a hutch unsupervised. They lived in the house and went outside in the run when I was home.

So the cat didn't actually touch the guinea pig just possibly scratched the hutch?

I don't think your neighbour can do anything about that. You need to protect the hutch/guineas from cats and foxes.

I love my guinea pigs, and I understand how upset you are. But your neighbour doesn't hold any blame here.

Guinea pigs are notorious for dropping dead with little to no previous indication they were unwell.

Even if it was the shock - there are many wild predators that could target a hutch: foxes, weasels, pole cats, hawks, buzzards etc

So sorry to hear about your guinea pig.
When we first bought ours, the neighbours cats did show quite a bit of interest, even sitting on the hutch!
The novelty soon wore off and they don't bother with them now. Likewise the guinea pigs got used to the cat and shows no distress when it's in the garden,
No consolation I know but they will probably ignore each other at some point.
In the meantime buy a water pistol and give them a squirt when they appear in the garden. They soon learn!

Foxes can do this to guinea pigs too OP.

I cant believe you knew cats were trying to get to your pigs and you just left them out there for one to be frightened to death by the sounds of it. Why bother even getting pigs if your going to force them to live outside. They are so vulnerable in many ways.

you saw your pig wasnt eating and was trembling but thought nothing of it ???? Wow PLEASE do not get any more guinea pigs you clearly dont give a shit about them. by sounds of things your remaining pig is still outside on its own if so PLEASE surrender it to a rescue so it can be properly looked after.

Your thread title is misleading. It sounds as though the guinea pig might have had an infection. If it looked as unwell as you say then it would have been sensible to get it checked by a vet. It is sad when pets die, but in this case it may not be connected with the cats.

Guinea pigs can’t live outside in cold weather, so you could just move your remaining pig to their indoor enclosure.

Any animal will scare a very nervous prey species, you also have no idea if the presence of a cat killed your guinea pig.

Our Guinea pigs were in hutch and I happened to look outside once and a cat was staring at them. They sat there awhile but finally left. We have some cats passing by our garden sometimes so we only let them on the grass under supervision.

I think it's awful OP, and sounds like the GP had a huge fright and later died from it - people on here will make a lot of excuses for cats though, and plenty of victim blaming to boot.

I find cat owners are extremely selfish with no thought to how their pets affect others so I doubt your neighbour will be interested in doing anything unfortunately.

I don't know what you can do really except move the cage so the cats can't get at it.

I think you are obviously upset at the loss of your Guinea pig so being a little bit misleading. The cat didn't actually attack the Guinea pig and kill it, it was pawing at the cage. The Guinea pig has died, it is highly unlikely that it dropped dead from fear of a cat when it was safe in its hutch. I suspect it is much more likely there was something wrong with the Guinea pig. They usually live 5 years but some die sooner and some live longer.

The OP said they have been using water pistols!

Ok, sorry I missed that.
Maybe a bigger one?! The supersoakers make a hideous noise when you pump them. We used to use one to deter a local tom who would harass our cats, eventually he would scarper when he heard the sound alone!!

This is MN so lots of single cat-loving women so you won’t get a fair hearing here. It’s highly likely it was the cat. No point confronting the neighbours, best you can do is consider added protection to the hutch and never let them run around unattended.

Lots of single cat loving women?! Jesus

If your GPs are outside it’s likely they get bothered by other cats and foxes , the death and the cat may be totally unrelated . The obvious answer is to bring your piggies indoors which is a much better place for them to be anyway .

If not mumsnet, where should the OP go to avoid the single cat-loving women?

I've had cats and Guinea pigs all my life and whilst cats to stalk and chase I've yet to meet the Guinea pig that doesn't stand up for him or herself!

They can handle themselves pretty well in a confrontation.

I'm very sorry about the loss of your darling piggy but you cannot prove it was the neighbours cat that causes the death.

Your GP was not killed by a cat, it sounds more likely that it was ill. It’s completely unreasonable to blame your neighbour.

So sorry, OP, it is terribly upsetting but you can’t be sure it was the cats.

One of my GPS died quite suddenly from a twisted gut. It was so quick from being immobile and shaking, to being dead (he died on the vet’s table), and he was only 2 yrs old.

It’s great to give them a run in the garden, but left alone outside piggies are vulnerable to all sorts, including birds of prey.

Am I correct that the cat (or other animal) didn't get inside the hutch or physically maul the GP?

If you have your pigs outside then they won't fare well, I would highly suggest you not go round to your neighbours who haven't done a thing wrong BTW and instead make a proper shed for your own pets or find a space inside for them.

You need to make sure their run has a lid so nothing can get in and out a barrier around the front of their cage so the cats can't get to the door . Do they have a hideaway to get away from the door ? If not get one . If it's not a car it could be a wild fox or rat etc so you need to keep them safe .

Your guinea pigs really should live inside. They are fragile animals and shouldn't be left outside in hutches.

Cats aren't the only danger they face outside.