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Original poster

Neighbours dogs have killed my cat. Distraught.

296 replies

MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 13:52

I've name changed as this will totally out me.

On Thursday night, my darling 5 year old cat went out. she was the most timid cat, I rescued her as a kitten from an abisive household. It took her months to trust me but for the past 5 years, she has been my shadow. Scared of everything, she took huge comfort in me.

She didn't come back on Friday, I knew then that she was never coming home. I kept the faith and asked all my neighbours to keep an eye out. She had never been missing for this long. She hardly ever left the garden, if she did I knew her hiding place and she used to pop out when she heard my voice. She wasn't in the hiding spot.

Saturday morning, I started a social networking missing cat campaign. I was still half hoping she was in somebody's house (very unlikely as she was so timid) but I assed she had been hit by a car or something and just wanted to know. Tried the local vet, neighbours again. People on social networks were so helpful.

I went searching. It transpired one of our neighbours, who erected a 12ft fence lately (with spikes on top) has three dogs. Two Staffordshire bull terriers and an enormous bull mastiff. He welled up as he told me he had found my beautiful cat in his garden on Friday morning. He had taken her to the vet who were going to keep her for a few days to see if an owner enquired. She was dead. I asked if his pack of dogs had savaged her, he said not. I told him she had no chance of escape, that his fence was too high, he was visibly upset, profusely apologetic. He told me 3 times what he'd done, said he thought he was doing the right thing when he erected the fence. He took my number and said he'd get the vet to call me when they open tomorrow.

I am heartbroken. My cat was a nervous wreck, scared of her own shadow. I can't understand why she's end up in a garden with three dogs. She barely left the house, she followed me around like a lamb. I'm so upset, I feel her trauma, she must have been so frightened.

I know it's not the dogs fault but I cant help but hate them for it. I don't want to live near them anymore. My other cat (who is very old and frail) looks so lonely and keeps crying at the door for her.

It's unbelievably tragic. I'm utterly heartbroken. She wasn't just a cat, she was my friend, she was my therapy. And I miss her.

OP posts:
NeedABumChange · 19/04/2015 15:31

LIZS how do the dogs sound lethal? There is no evidence they have ever hurt anyone, child, adult or pet. You are just judging them on their breeds.

Would they sound lethal if OP had said there was a springer spaniel, chocolate lab and golden retriever? Or would you then think the neighbour was being responsible building a fence high enough to contain his dogs?

debricassartcleary · 19/04/2015 15:32

And yes report to council.

GahBuggerit · 19/04/2015 15:33

the dogs sound lethal? have i missed an update by the op? Confused

NeedABumChange · 19/04/2015 15:33

debricassart learly Since when aren't people allowed to let their dogs out in secure back gardens? Some of you sound bananas.

GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 15:33

debrica

How exactly is it anti-social to have 3 dogs in your own back garden, that are doing no harm to anyone and are simply existing in their owners home.

JacquesHammer · 19/04/2015 15:33

He built a fortress.
Who needs a fortress?

Or he made his garden completely escape proof to his pets which makes him IMO a very responsible owner.

I'm sorry for your loss OP. She sounds like she was adored Flowers

Toughasoldboots · 19/04/2015 15:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyArksNotReady · 19/04/2015 15:34

How many people don't have mental health issues? Under eating, over eating, alcohol, cigarettes, over clean, messy, hoarders, anxiety, depression, shoe, handbag, pram addictions, bipolar,pnd. Big deal people have issues.

GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 15:34

The dogs sound lethal too, ask the vet's advice as to who you should report to ie. Police, rspca if they haven't already

Could you expand on why you think they sound lethal? I'm guessing it's the hysteria surrounding their breeds yes?

The RSPCA and police would laugh at you.

JacquesHammer · 19/04/2015 15:35

And yes report to council

For what? Having pets and having them secure in his own garden?

GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 15:36

Dog owners simply can't win.

If you don't want a breed that people deem acceptable such as these tiny snappy things then you're expected to keep them under lock and key.

When you do you get accused of building a fortress and having mental health issues, oh and letting them 'roam' which is antisocial apparently.

tresfatigue · 19/04/2015 15:36

Flowers For you and your poor wee cat. Hope the vet has some answers for you

CrabbyTheCrabster · 19/04/2015 15:37

Whoever erects a 12 foot fence and keeps three dogs has a real issue with society. I do not know the full facts, but it is not impossible they have MH issues. I would not trust everything he is saying to you or the welling up in that situation. Also, if the fence was supposed to be secure then there are questions to be asked about how your cat got into his garden in the first place.

What an absolute load of bollocks! Hmm I'm not keen on bull breeds at all but some people love them and they can be loyal family pets. To say that a person with three dogs who builds a high fence to keep the dogs secure and people out has 'a real issue with society' is ridiculous. As to how the cat got in there... cats get in everywhere. My dog is constantly chasing them out of our garden and I worry that she's going to catch one or that one will come in when my friend's lurcher is here. It's not the neighbour's fault that the cat was in his garden!

OP I'm very sorry for your loss. She may have died of fright - that's what killed a dear elderly cat of ours who was grabbed by the neighbour's greyhound (in our garden). Barely a mark on her, but I think her heart just gave up with the shock. Sad If the dogs had killed her it would have been pretty instant.
Flowers

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 15:37

I don't think the staffies are dangerous but when he walks the mastiff he keeps it away from people. I had no idea they had three dogs. He didn't build the fence to keep them in, they could jump the wrought iron gates at the front, he built it to stop children climbing over his wall, using it as a thoroughfare or because he was armed robbed. Heard 2 tales, both from him!

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 19/04/2015 15:39

I don't think the staffies are dangerous but when he walks the mastiff he keeps it away from people

Honestly I don't think there's anything to read into that. PLenty of dog walkers keep their dogs away from people.

GahBuggerit · 19/04/2015 15:39

report what to the to council? a man has 3 dogs in his own garden? what will they do?

kennel dogs in their own bloody garden? how about YOU stay in your house out of everyones way? oh sorry, is that a TOTALLY RIDICULOUS idea?!

CrabbyTheCrabster · 19/04/2015 15:39

and yes report to council

FFS. Hmm

paisley256 · 19/04/2015 15:42

I feel so sad reading this I'm so so sorry.

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 15:44

jaques as in, he crosses the road. I'm not saying the dog is dangerous but if it's bigger than him and it decided to bite someone or chase an animal, he wouldn't stand a chance of controlling it. Just like any huge dog.

OP posts:
pigsinmud · 19/04/2015 15:44

OP - hope you're ok. This happened to our cat when I was about 17. Our neighbour appeared in tears and asked us to go round. She'd found our cat dead in their garden with their dog standing next to her. She hadn't been mauled. We thought at the time that her neck had been broken, so it would have been very quick.

Our cat was timid too, but would go wandering. She must have wandered in to their garden at the wrong time. We were puzzled too as she was a very fast cat and we thought she would have run away, so could only assume that she must have been taken completely by surprise. The neighbour's dog was not fierce and it was just wrong place, wrong time scenario.

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 15:45

They do have children though. So the dogs can't be dangerous, can they. It'll have been instinct.

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 15:47

What has him crossing the road with his bigger dog got to do with any of this?

FYI, I used to cross the road with mine (a larger breed who sadly has passed away now) if I saw someone looking at my dog with particularly wariness or distaste because they judged him on how he looks.

whatlifestylechoice · 19/04/2015 15:47

Possibly he was robbed and that's why he keeps 3 dogs? I know that's why our neighbour got their 2nd dog (the first one hid under the couch when the burglars broke in Grin). I can't see that the neighbour has done anything wrong n this scenario.

Op, I'm very sorry about your cat. It would break my heart if anything happened to my two, but that is the chance we take with letting them out.

SingingHinnies · 19/04/2015 15:49

Ok ive got a staffordshire bull terrier who loves cat's and if the cat hisses will run away from them, shes old now and cats have never been a problem

Ive got a rescue bull lurcher (staffie cross) with limited history who has been worked and will kill any furry animal if it could. I keep the dog leashed at all time's, i don't put it in a situation where it could kill a cat. I let it in the back garden to relieve itself as i have to and luckily it seems all the neighbour hood cats appear to give my house a wide berth

I would feel awful if my dog killed a neighbours cat, i honestly would and it appears this man does as well, the cat i assume went into his garden. Not excusing it at all just saying that some people have got dogs who hate cats and do whatever they can to avoid an incident

Sorry about your cat Sad

Moreisnnogedag · 19/04/2015 15:49

OP so sorry about your cat. You gave her a wonderful life at least.

To those getting all riled up because of the breeds, the guy is a responsible owner. He's tried to do the right thing - if he was an antisocial bastard he didn't have to do/tell anyone about the cat.