Witnessed next doors dog attacking their cat violently

[Firstaidnovice]

I have just witnessed next doors dog violently attacking their cat in their back garden (from my bedroom window). Alerted by the most unholy noise, it had the cat pinned to the floor and was tearing at its neck. I'm guessing it wasn't going full pelt as the cat would presumably be dead, but it was definitely not playing. It was incredibly distressing to watch (I initially thought it was my cat).
I shouted which did nothing, ran next door, they took ages to answer but did rush out the back.

No sign of dog or cat now. They are absolute idiots, and we have an ongoing noise complaint with the council about the dog barking all night (they shut it in the conservatory overnight).

What do I do? I'm still slightly shaking from witnessing what I thought was my cat being killed, and also do not like my neighbours, so it's impossible to be impartial about this. From looking at the RSPCA website this is not the kind of thing they deal with or have capacity for?

Maybe a call to the RSPCA would help you find out what can be done if anything, and if you could report etc,

Thanks, am on hold to them now, slightly calmer. It got my heart rate right up then made me cry. They 100% should not own any pets, let alone a dog, but I suspect there is not much to be done.

I actually don't think it was their cat, having checked with my husband I think it had a different coloured collar

hope you're ok OP. Sounds traumatic! Stay away from the dog.

It's my cat I'm worried about! Although I'm pretty sure she doesn't go in their garden.

RSPCA were very nice but essentially said there isn't anything they can do. Unless it happens more often then report to the police who can deal with it as a dangerous dog. The woman on the phone line was very apologetic, I'm sure they'd like to be able to do more.

Do you have a local Facebook page? If so could you post that you have seen a cat (description) being attacked by a dog. People quite rightly get panicky about these sort of things - it could be a child next and it might put pressure on the owners to keep the dog in. Really sorry you had to see that. I'm a cat owner too but ours is a house cat .

Tbh, and I say this as an ex cat owner, I think you are being completely over the top.

I absolutely get that the sight of a dog attacking a cat is a horrendous experience and I too would find it traumatising but you have to remember that both dogs and cats are predatory animals.

A dog that attacks a cat is no more dangerous than a cat that attacks a bird.
They are predators.
People like to convince themselves that they aren’t but they are.
All those dogs that chase after squirrels, most would attack the squirrel if they caught it.

While i too op would be worried for my cat in your position, unfortunately, this is one of the risks you take when you let cats outside.
Keep them indoors or cat proof garden, if you choose not to do that then unfortunately the risk of being by a car/stolen/attacked by a dog etc is a risk you have to take.

And a dog that attacks cats, squirrels, rabbits etc is not at all likely to go on to attack a child FFS.

Attacking cats is predatory behaviour, literally no different to a cat attacking a mouse.

Attacks on children is almost always fearful behaviour where the dog has attempted to move away and communicate it is uncomfortable many times and has been ignored and/or punished and they escalate into bites.

The two are not comparable

I'm unsure why you rang the RSPCA, to be perfectly honest.

While I appreciate it's horrible to hear, the dog wasn't actually doing anything wrong (and it attacking a cat certainly doesn't mean it's going to attack a child!).

Dogs are predators and they like to chase small furry things, in the same way cats are predators that chase mice and birds.

That hunting instinct is totally normal and if a cat comes into a dogs' territory - well, it's taking its chances, frankly. It's one of the risks of having outside cats who roam out of your control and off your property.

I have cats and if one of them escaped and got killed by a neighbours dog - I wouldn't blame the dog. Of course I would be heartbroken but it's not the dogs' fault - it's just acting on instinct which is to chase the small furry thing 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ha - almost an identical x-post with you @HotnSunnyRainbowRoses

My dog would do this if a cat got in our garden I'm afraid . Instinct

I don't see it as any different to a cat killing mice. It doesn't make the dog dangerous .

My 3 year old male cat will often chase his 12 year old female 'sister' and pin her down, going for her neck usually.

Obviously I break it up if I'm there. Never once though has he pierced her skin or injured her and she'll wriggle and leg it away within seconds.

Male cat (who is spayed) stands and looks like - I don't know what came over me?!

I'm very close to both cats and it is sometimes quite amusing to watch their relationship as she'll often wind him up on purpose. Once when he'd been attacked by a fox and was recovering post vet treatment, she'd go and bat him round the face 🤣

But... It does sound horrific when they fight, however there has never been any injury.

So anyway, you can't really blame the dog, or neighbours for what comes naturally via animal instinct.

That constant barking whilst being locked in the conservatory is not acceptable - get onto the council - I would not allow my dog to bark all night - it’s unacceptable - re the cat - yep I would be worried about my cat -