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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:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/02/2016 19:52

Oh really?? I didn't know that. In that case a dog can never be blamed for killing a cat.

Alisvolatpropiis · 27/02/2016 19:55

I'm surprised that hasn't been changed to be honest, given how popular cats are as pets. It's why if you run over a cat you don't have to report it but if you run over a dog (or bigger livestock) you do. Possibly relating to the freedom to roam element. Or that dogs would have been considered of value from a working perspective, historically.

Jesabel · 27/02/2016 20:15

Dogs and cats are carnivores - they both kill small furry things. How anyone can argue that a cat killing something is morally different/better than a dog killing something is beyond me.

If I let my pet bunny roam in my garden and a cat comes in and kills it - whose fault is that?

HSMMaCM · 27/02/2016 22:30

I worry about the hunting birds that fly over my garden when my rabbits are out. It's s risk you take to give your pet a bit of freedom. The neighbouring cats eye up my hens occasionally. A friends dog broke into the hen house and killed one. It's nature.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 27/02/2016 23:21

Apologies if this has been mentioned Op, I've only skimmed the thread, but I just wondered if now that you know that your dogs will kill cats in your garden, whether you will install some way for unwary cats to escape in future? Once the cat was in the courtyard with twelve foot high walls I would imagine it found it difficult to escape. Some trellis or something a cat could climb up might help another time. You wouldn't want to find more remains and think shit, I ought to have done something last time.

mollie123 · 28/02/2016 06:54

hesitated to join this thread as over on Gransnet Angry I was roasted for admitting my lurcher had (when he was younger as now the cats and small furries can escape him although he looks at them attentively) killed (not torn apart as he shook it to break its neck) my neighbours old cat when I first moved into my house which had strayed into my garden. I returned the intact (but dead) cat to said neighbour with heartfelt apologies.
I had thought that only dogs of the lurcher/grey type would kill a cat but it seems that any dog (especially in a pack) can kill.
Sorry OP Sad if you have had a hard time here - cats do roam as it is in their nature but will escape by climbing (as a pp said) if at all possible unless old and slow.

Hennifer · 28/02/2016 09:36

good point - was there any way a cat could have escaped, if the walls are 12 feet high?

freddiethegreat · 28/02/2016 09:49

I will doubtless be given a very hard time over this.

But some years ago I let my JR terrier cross into the garden. As I went back in the kitchen I glanced at the gate & the self closure lock I had on the gate had failed & the gate was slightly open. Dog out. I grabbed meat from the fridge, went out the front door & after the dog. He was half way up the road and he had a cat by the throat (later discovered it was a very old cat who couldn't jump on or off the sofa in his own home, hence he was caught despite having running/climbing escape options). Cat died at the vets. Neighbours (& me) devastated. There was a double bolt & a padlock on by 6pm. Police came round, I signed an agreement to keep dog under control in public - whilst the policewoman was giving me the document she was cuddling the dog! He never goes off lead anyway as he's a runner. My neighbours & the police & the vet all agreed - an unfortunate, tragic accident, but an accident.

pilates · 28/02/2016 10:18

How very sad, the cat didn't stand a chance of escaping.

It's what all cat owners dread when they let their cats out every day Sad.

No, I don't think you are liable but please take the cat to the vet and hopefully they can locate the owner.

I think I would be trying to install trellis or something on the top of the walls now you know what your dogs are capable of.

AppleSetsSail · 28/02/2016 11:27

I think I would be trying to install trellis or something on the top of the walls now you know what your dogs are capable of.

Or, the cat owners could install trellising in their gardens, at their expense?

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2016 12:16

Cat owners have to buy dig owners trellis?

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2016 12:17

*dog

Original poster
habibihabibi · 28/02/2016 12:30

The vet didn't find a chip and if no one claims in a week he will arrange disposal . He said it was possibly abandoned as was underfed , possibly poorly and unable to defend itself .
I'm not sure I can do much more to our garden to discourage cats or aid their escape . I have trellis up two of the 12ft walls.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2016 12:31
Sad
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 28/02/2016 12:33

I don't think it's too much to ask if the Op has a garden that she now knows cats can't escape from? Trellis isn't expensive. I wouldn't bother in my own garden as we only have six foot high wooden fences and there are trees and shrubs everywhere that a cat could easily use to climb and escape my dog, were it daft enough to come in in the first place.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 28/02/2016 12:34

Oh sorry Op, cross posted.

Well it probably was poorly then, if it couldn't outrun two small dogs and leg it up the trellis.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2016 12:35

Nobody will know for sure exactly what happened. It's all very sad.

Dieu · 28/02/2016 14:10

Must admit that I was a bit horrified reading the OP. I have a cat and dog, and I'm just not sure how I'd feel about my dog if he did this. I'd still love him to bits of course, but it would definitely unsettle me.
Agree that an escape route for future trespassing felines should be provided.

tinymeteor · 28/02/2016 14:23

Haven't read the whole thread but if I were you I'd consider what steps you can take to avoid any repeats of a nasty situation for all concerned. Now the dogs have done this once they could well do it again. Try making sure that a cat who has got into your garden can get out again, by having trellising or ropes for them to climb?

Jesabel · 28/02/2016 15:18

Rather than dog owners having to create escape routes, cat owners could cat proof their own gardens if they are concerned.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2016 15:20

Doesn't sound like the cat in the OP had it's own garden. Sad

iminshock · 28/02/2016 15:44

Humpty you are my new favourite. I completely agree with you !

DaggerEyes · 28/02/2016 17:07

Don't provide 'escape routes' if you don't want cats in your garden. Ease of escape makes a garden much more attractive to them. A cat that has been cornered never returns to that garden, as it doesn't feel safe.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 28/02/2016 17:17

Some of the posts on this thread seem to suggest that with a cat you have two options; keep it indoors or let it roam. It is not much work to cat proof your garden, which will keep your cat on your property, and other cats out.

I wish all vat owners would do this and then there wouldn't be cat shit everywhere...

The OP of this thread has a perfect right to let her dogs use her property unsupervised

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2016 17:19

Doesn't help with abandoned strays though....

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