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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dogs killed a cat :(

216 replies

habibihabibi · 26/02/2016 15:55

I have come home to find my two small poodle cross breed dogs have just torn a small cat apart in our (walled) back garden . I feel sick , they normally take a beating from rowling Tom's whose path them cross on walks on lead.

There is no collar on the poor thing and though we have many strays in the area it looks fancy . Do I have to go door knocking round the neighbourhood ?
Am I liable for anything ?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2016 14:19

Are your dogs injured at all? I would imagine the cat would have put up a fight and bitten/scratched etc if it could.

By 'fancy' do you think a pedigree?

MuttonCadet · 27/02/2016 14:28

Hennifers argument is ridiculous. My dogs are on a lead outside our walled garden, and one is also muzzled, but it's our garden, so if another animal enters it my dogs consider it fair game. I would hate them to injure another animal, but I wouldn't blame them.
I think she needs to keep her cat in the house or on lead - you can get cat harnesses.

HumptyDumptyBumpty · 27/02/2016 14:28

I'm with hennifer.

Basically the dog people's argument goes: 'they can't help it, it's natural, why should I take any measures to prevent them killing?'
But apparently cat owners should take measures to prevent the cat being allowed out. talk about victim blaming

So, the happiness of the dog (being allowed 'natural' behaviour, not prevented from killing) takes precedence over the cat's happiness (being allowed to roam).

If your dog is capable of killing a sizeable animal like a cat, I hope to all that is holy it is never allowed in proximity with a baby or toddler.
Not to mention why would you want such an animal as a pet.

Arfarfanarf · 27/02/2016 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Haffdonga · 27/02/2016 14:33

How awful for you habibi Sad

I'm another cat and dog owner who chooses to let my cat roam. I think the cruelty of keeping a cat indoors all its life outweighs the potential reduction in risks it will face.

I'm waiting for the you-should have your-dogs-put=to-sleep-what=if=it=was-a-child brigade to jump in to this thread soon but don't let the people who don't undrestand anything about animal behaviour make you feel worse than you already do. Sadly this cat was unlucky and your dogs did what dogs will do in their own garden.

I know my terrier would potentially kill a 'strange' cat that inadvertently wandered into our garden, yet she is currently happily curled up on the sofa with our own cat.

Haffdonga · 27/02/2016 14:34

Oh I see the what if it was a child brigade has beaten me to it!

Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2016 14:35

I would be interested to know what a vet's opinion of this situation would be.

AppleSetsSail · 27/02/2016 14:35

So, the happiness of the dog (being allowed 'natural' behaviour, not prevented from killing) takes precedence over the cat's happiness (being allowed to roam).

Crucially, the cat's 'natural' behaviour is indulged in public spaces, whereas the dog's 'natural' behaviour is indulged on it's owners property. Can you see the difference?

^If your dog is capable of killing a sizeable animal like a cat, I hope to all that is holy it is never allowed in proximity with a baby or toddler.
Not to mention why would you want such an animal as a pet.^

There is absolutely no correlation between dog aggression towards non-human prey and aggression towards humans.

You cat people need to come to terms with property rights.

Haffdonga · 27/02/2016 14:35

Humpty A dog that kills a rabbit or a cat will no more likely attack a child than a cat which kills a mouse.

Would you say that your cat should never be allowed to mix with children because it's killed a mouse?

RaptorsCantPlayPoker · 27/02/2016 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 14:36

They will be suggesting it is put down next. My last cat killed a wild rabbit, it really upset me. I don't understand why cats are okay to roam everywhere decimating wildlife but a dog guarding its own territory is a crazed monster, capable of killing a baby Hmm

MrsCampbellBlack · 27/02/2016 14:38

How horrible.

A question - now they've killed one cat are they more likely to kill again, eg, if you were out on a walk?

Because obviously you couldn't help what happened in your garden but I'd be wary if they were off lead somewhere and attacked another cat.

RaptorsCantPlayPoker · 27/02/2016 14:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuburbanRhonda · 27/02/2016 14:39

hennifer

Don't forget this is Mumsnet, where people post about their inalienable right to poison neighbourhood cats with Jeyes fluid and their posts are allowed to stand. I really wouldn't bother arguing your case if I were you (and I mean that in a caring way Smile)

Fettuccinecarbonara · 27/02/2016 14:40

Hennifer- are your cats trained not to kill nice which trespass into your property?

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 14:40

Yes, those cat hating cat owners on this thread are just like that. Bonkers eh?!

AppleSetsSail · 27/02/2016 14:40

Because obviously you couldn't help what happened in your garden but I'd be wary if they were off lead somewhere and attacked another cat.

Again, the logical consequence of a cat's 'right' to roam. If the cat is supervised by its owner in public spaces (like dogs), then it will be just fine.

Fettuccinecarbonara · 27/02/2016 14:40

Mice!!!!
Maybe nice mice?

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 14:41

As an aside did the poster who boasted about killing a dog on here ever get banned?

MrsCampbellBlack · 27/02/2016 14:45

Well I've had dogs off lead come in my garden - we live rurally. So it would be possible for a dog to come into my garden and attack my cat.

Anyway, I was just asking if it is likely that once a dog has killed a cat it is more likely to kill one again?

Floralnomad · 27/02/2016 14:45

mrscampbell , I don't think they are more likely ,just as likely IYSWIM . My dog would attack anything small furry or feathered so when I'm out with him even though he is off lead I only let him off where there is no wildlife , he's not allowed near ponds and I always keep him relatively close to me . He's nearly 6 and has only killed one pigeon.

MrsCampbellBlack · 27/02/2016 14:46

Thanks Floral!

I re-read Jilly Cooper's book over Christmas about when she lived in Putney and one of her dogs kept killing cats and she had to have it put down. Was very sad.

AppleSetsSail · 27/02/2016 14:48

Well I've had dogs off lead come in my garden - we live rurally. So it would be possible for a dog to come into my garden and attack my cat.

In that case you would call the police because the dog would be considered not under it's owner's control. Whether they'll do anything is a separate matter, they barely manage to be able to protect humans from feral dogs but you could certainly try.

Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2016 14:48

I feel very conflicted. The cat took it's chances by entering the garden. I thought dogs would just chase it off, so it's unfortunate that they killed it. I might feel strange toward the dogs now if I owned them if this is the first time they had done anything like this.

It's just horrible for both OP and the cat owner that this happened. OP is probably in a state of shock and there's a cat owner that has received or is about to receive the most awful news.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/02/2016 14:51

mrscampbell not necesarily. My 6 year old lab used to catch rabbits and squirrels, but I've told her off very firmly (lots of screeching involved as I'm very squeamish) and she doesn't do it anymore, probably hasn't for a couple of years now, she looks at me for permission if a rabbit crosses her path. So it depends on the owner and how they've managed it.

Having said that, she's never come across a cat before, and our neighbours have just got a kitten. I am absolutely dreading the day it might venture into our garden.