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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:
thoughtsbecomethings · 19/04/2015 15:51

How utterly awful for both you and your neighbour Hmm

GahBuggerit · 19/04/2015 15:51

i too have to cross the road because some idiots think my dog is an evil mastermind just waiting to decide to tear a chunk out of a passer by's leg. she got accused of 'going for' someone (she sniffed a plastic bag with meat in) so its just easier to keep her away from people. it scares me that someone could accuse her of something she hasnt done. maybe hes doing the same thing? understandably judging by somd of thd bizarre posts on here

NeedABumChange · 19/04/2015 15:52

missingkitty there is no actual evidence the dogs have killed your cat is there? You haven't asked the vet. The neighbour told you it wasn't his dogs and given he was honest enough to tell you he'd found your cat then he'd probably tell you if his dogs had killed it. The neighbour told you he found it in his garden. It could have died from any number of causes especially given it's abusive start in life.

NeedABumChange · 19/04/2015 15:54

Also there was someone putting poisoned meat down in my area last summer, so my cats had to stay in. Could that be likely in your area. Any one complaining about cat shit and dead birds a lot?

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 15:55

need he did actually tell me his dogs had done it. Told me what kind of dogs he had. Showed me 2 of them. I asked if they'd savaged her, he said no. So she was still whole. That's what I wanted to know, I didn't probe further.

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 15:55

I don't understand why people are questioning the dog owner on why he had 3 dogs, and why he chose to put up a large fence.

All that is irrelevant.

When you have a free-roaming animal you accept that it comes with some consequences, however upsetting. Cats jump into gardens, they don't know what's going to be there.

Just the same if my rabbit escaped and came upon a cat.

I wouldn't blame the owner, I wouldn't question their choices. It is irrelevant to the situation and seems like people are just wanting a scapegoat.

GahBuggerit · 19/04/2015 15:56

and i dont know about instinct. my dog shits herself when our neighbours cat appears in our garden.

PlanningMyFuture · 19/04/2015 16:00

Clearly my previous post has struck a chord.

I said that we have rescued animals before. We have ex-marines and NI RUC dogs, cats, horses, donkeys with bullet holes, and we are vets and know how they behave. We live in a remote UK place and have foxes' earths 20 feet away from the chickens. The foxes leave the chickens alone. Foxes do not kill on their own territory.

The ex-marine dog leaves the cats alone. More than that, if a delivery van comes sweeping into the yard the dog gets its hackles up and will stand between the van and the cats. And the kids I might add, but it doesn't know the van driver is a risk - he is just doing his dog stuff. Don't we all know that animals look after each other? Google it. Its not rocket science.

So, taking into account all that I know and have heard posted here, I still don't understand why the neighbour needs wants a 12 ft fence.

MetallicBeige · 19/04/2015 16:01

Op so sorry to hear about your little cat. Flowers

Shock at some people on this thread, I'm not a dog person at all, I have cats, but bloody hell some people need to dial it down a notch. Over the top doesn't cover it.
Cats do roam, my timid one gets all over the place, I wouldn't have believe it had I not driven past him and saw him mooching around where he shouldn't have been. It sounds like the dog owner has tried to be responsible and surely gets some credit for actually letting the op know. He could have put the poor thing in the bin and not said anything.
If he's a decent pet owner,he'll be feeling awful about it. Horrible situation all round.

debricassartcleary · 19/04/2015 16:01

The 12ft fence is relevant. I'm pretty sure you can't erect a 12 ft fence. What if more cats fall into the snake pit and meet their death.

GahBuggerit · 19/04/2015 16:03

ahhh i understand now op. in that case i do think the poor cat probably died of shock and could have happened in sny other dog owners garden.

his dogs sound pretty well behaved leaving the body be.

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 16:04

The 12ft fence is a worry for me now. It wasn't before.

OP posts:
SunshineAndShadows · 19/04/2015 16:04

So the dog owner walks his pets on the lead and keeps them securely in a fenced garden. He found your poor cats body I his garden and responsibly took it to the vet.

For this he is antisocial, has mental health issues, and should be reported to the police and the council. Hmm
Some of you lot are bonkers.

Sorry about your cat OP Flowers

SingingHinnies · 19/04/2015 16:04

Also staffies fill most pounds and rescues he mite have rescued the dogs like you rescued your cat. my bull lurcher had a horrible life, 3 homes in 18mnths including being in the pound twice.

LIZS · 19/04/2015 16:05

Unless he had planning permission a 12ft fence is not appropriate, and suggests more that he has something to hide and attract more attention from prospective burglars. If it was so innocent how come he made no effort to track the op down initially.

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 16:06

Gah, I don't know. Maybe when she realised there was no escape, yes. I'm so thankful they left her body alone. Could have been so much worse.

OP posts:
SingingHinnies · 19/04/2015 16:07

The fence might be to stop the dogs barking and escaping, thats responsible imo. Imagine the dogs jumping the low fence and killing the cat on your property, he would then be irresponsible with out of control dogs

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 16:07

LIZ that's a good point. We live behind his garden and have done for 4 years. He will have seen the cat before. They will have heard me shouting her constantly on Friday and Saturday.

OP posts:
PlanningMyFuture · 19/04/2015 16:08

Yes Debrica the neighbours fence is relevant.

i.imgur.com/7En0kSk.jpg

debricassartcleary · 19/04/2015 16:09

No sunshine It isn't as straight forward as that. If he is saying he needs a 12 ft fence because his dogs may bite a child if they go into his garden then yes they should be kennelled when not supervised.

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 19/04/2015 16:09

I don't know how many time I have to write it-

He built the fence after an armed robbery (so he told my neighbour as he was erecting it. He told me he built it to stop children using it as a thoroughfare. It wasn't about the dogs. He already had a tall wall.

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 16:12

What exactly would people have liked the next door neighbour to do, what would be your solution?

He tried to protect his animals and his property. I would have thought erecting a 12 foot fence would have kept a cat out too, it's not his fault your cat decided to venture over there OP. Nor is it the dogs.

If people on the thread honestly think the neighbour is to blame then I suggest you start keeping your animals in doors to prevent others from being blamed for something beyond their control.

PlanningMyFuture · 19/04/2015 16:13

A 12ft fence to keep dogs in?

Deer need 8ft at most, and that is a fact.

Just to break it down, a deer to a heavy dog is like Darcey Bussell to Daniel Adongo.

GraysAnalogy · 19/04/2015 16:14

It isn't as straight forward as that. If he is saying he needs a 12 ft fence because his dogs may bite a child if they go into his garden then yes they should be kennelled when not supervised

The OP has already explained that the neighbour was a victim of robbery. And to also prevent people from climbing over his fences in the first place.

PlanningMyFuture · 19/04/2015 16:14

GraysAnalaogy if I ever need a fence on my smallholding I wont come to you. I would be some 500% over budget Grin