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Original poster

Neighbour's vicious cat

72 replies

wednamenov · 15/09/2023 16:45

I'm a cat lover. Totally cat daft. I have two of my own and never thought I'd ever meet a cat I didn't like. But the unimaginable has happened.

My neighbour has a Bengal cat who is free to roam. We live in a rural area so he has a great time in the fields. My cats are also free to roam and are living their best life, until the Bengal appears in our garden.

He is unbelievably vicious.

He attacks both my cats. He had my girl-cat corned last night and only backed off when DH ran out. She came in terrorised and hid growling and mewing under a chair for ages. We can't see injuries but she won't let us anywhere near her to check properly, and today is still not herself. So we're taking her to the vet tomorrow, just in case (no car today).

When he pursues our cats, he tailgates so close he can actually get into our house right behind them when their chip activates the cat flap. Then he corners and beats them up inside our house. My girl cat once literally shat herself in fear.

He has twice attacked my daughter (who was 10 at the time, so not a tiny tot). He chased her across the lawn while she was running away, and when she turned, launched himself at her chest and scratched her throat. My daughter was hysterical when it happened. His owner says he does the same to her DC.

He turned on me once when I approached him while he was cornering one of my cats. Scratched me viciously and deeply. It became infected and puss-filled.

I feel as if there's something 'wild' about this cat. As if those leopard spots are him behaving like a wild vicious cat. I have grown to dread him and after last night I am really worried about my cats.

Is there anything I can do to keep him out of our garden that doesn't affect my cats? His owner won't lock him up.

OP posts:
LoonyLois · 15/09/2023 22:30

Maybe someone needs to give them a massive vets bill for injuries he’s done. It might make them think then

TheCatterall · 15/09/2023 22:43

Can you take legal action against the owner for physical injury to your cats and your daughter. He should at least be paying vet bills. I’d be having a word that from now on you will be taking further action for any damage to person or property caused by his cat. Maybe that will make him less nonchalant about the whole affair.

has his cat had the snip?

underneaththeash · 15/09/2023 22:53

They make like water, but a fill tumbler full of water will probably get rid of them.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 15/09/2023 22:54

Why, when I saw the title of this thread, did I immediately know that it would be about a Bengal?

caringcarer · 15/09/2023 22:56

underneaththeash · 15/09/2023 22:53

They make like water, but a fill tumbler full of water will probably get rid of them.

You are joking. I know a Bengal who runs to and fro under the sprinkler on the garden. My son's cat paddles in the sink. He leaves about 6 inches of water in there for it. They'd love a tumbler full of water thrown at them.

Hawkins0009 · 15/09/2023 23:12

LoonyLois · 15/09/2023 22:30

Maybe someone needs to give them a massive vets bill for injuries he’s done. It might make them think then

but legally its proving that the cat was responsible otherwise its hearsay

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/09/2023 07:12

You can’t give other people your vets bills, what are you going to say to them when you’re at the counter? Send it to my neighbour with the Bengal.

When ours had a fight with next doors cat and he had to go to hospital they put a note through our door saying what had happened but that cat used to start fights & I didn’t bill them for the abscesses.

Dogs are easier to crate than bengals, an unhappy Bengal will make your life hell with constant miaowing and spraying if it can’t go out.

It’s going to be you who cat proofs or builds a catio if you want this to stop. Trees are not an obstacle to any of the cat proofing companies and they all say so on their websites.

drunkpeacock · 16/09/2023 08:12

For people saying the OPs cats need to be in a catio, will this not result in the Bengal free to terrorise the OP's cats from outside the catio though?

Also, this cat attacks humans, do they need a catio too?

Not sure what to advise you op, this is a horrible situation. Maybe ask your neighbours for a bit of information about the cat (smell/texture/noise he dislikes so you can work out how to chase him away?)

Original poster
wednamenov · 16/09/2023 08:17

You can’t give other people your vets bills, what are you going to say to them when you’re at the counter? Send it to my neighbour with the Bengal.

My cats are insured. But even if they weren't, my neighbours are filthy rich and would happily pay. That's not the issue.

Dogs are easier to crate than bengals, an unhappy Bengal will make your life hell with constant miaowing and spraying if it can’t go out.

Which is exactly what my cats would unhappily do if locked up inside or stuck in a crate. They've had free reign of the garden and woods beyond long before the bengal arrived.

It’s going to be you who cat proofs or builds a catio if you want this to stop. Trees are not an obstacle to any of the cat proofing companies and they all say so on their websites.

I can barely afford to pay my grocery bills. How am I going to cat proof a 1 acre garden perimeter or build a catio?

OP posts:
Original poster
wednamenov · 16/09/2023 08:19

drunkpeacock · 16/09/2023 08:12

For people saying the OPs cats need to be in a catio, will this not result in the Bengal free to terrorise the OP's cats from outside the catio though?

Also, this cat attacks humans, do they need a catio too?

Not sure what to advise you op, this is a horrible situation. Maybe ask your neighbours for a bit of information about the cat (smell/texture/noise he dislikes so you can work out how to chase him away?)

This is totally true. I have video of the bengal on one side of a glass door scratching and trying everything to get in, with my girl cat fizzed up and howling and wailing on the other side.

OP posts:
Original poster
wednamenov · 16/09/2023 08:22

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 15/09/2023 22:54

Why, when I saw the title of this thread, did I immediately know that it would be about a Bengal?

I will never ever get a bengal after this experience and I will always try to discourage anyone from getting one. I'm damn sure my neighbours got him for his designer good looks. Lots of money, not much sense.

OP posts:
Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie · 16/09/2023 08:23

You need to catch it and really terrify it. I would give the neighbours the vet bill. If it keeps happening catch it, take it a very long way away and hand it in as lost to the council in the area. Hopefully if the neighbours get it back they start to keep it inside.

Original poster
wednamenov · 16/09/2023 08:44

This is quite a good idea. A disturbing idea ... but, it could work. Maybe. If I trapped it and gave the kids permission to blow whistles, rattle football rattles, yell, play football around the crate. Torture it with sound and stimulation for a bit. Then we need to chase it with whistles and rattles every time we see it afterwards. I'll discuss with DH.

Preferable to the other thought I had, which was trap it and put an advert on Gumtree. Rid myself of a big problem and gain financial compensation. (I wouldn't and couldn't).

OP posts:
Dotcheck · 16/09/2023 08:51

wednamenov · 16/09/2023 08:44

This is quite a good idea. A disturbing idea ... but, it could work. Maybe. If I trapped it and gave the kids permission to blow whistles, rattle football rattles, yell, play football around the crate. Torture it with sound and stimulation for a bit. Then we need to chase it with whistles and rattles every time we see it afterwards. I'll discuss with DH.

Preferable to the other thought I had, which was trap it and put an advert on Gumtree. Rid myself of a big problem and gain financial compensation. (I wouldn't and couldn't).

Don’t do that

Original poster
wednamenov · 16/09/2023 09:02

I understand why you say that. Believe me.

But balance your reservations against my experience of cleaning cat excrement smeared around a room after he tailgated my girl cat in through her chip controlled cat flap and, quite literally, beat the crap out of her in my house.

I am actually thinking 15 minutes of torture could benefit everyone. He still gets to roam and we get peace in the garden and in our home.

If this is typical of Bengals, I hope Bengal owners are reading all this and taking note.

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 16/09/2023 09:09

Unfortunately you can't make the neighbours do what you want them to do. That's out of your control. So you can only do those things that are within your control.

For example keeping your cats indoors, building a secure area for your cats to use when they want to be outside, that sort of thing.

Which is bloody unfair but that's life. There are things you can control and things you can't.

Wolfiefan · 16/09/2023 09:32

A catio would be cheaper than paying the excess of the insurance. Plus your cat would be secure and happier.

drunkpeacock · 16/09/2023 14:38

Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie · 16/09/2023 08:23

You need to catch it and really terrify it. I would give the neighbours the vet bill. If it keeps happening catch it, take it a very long way away and hand it in as lost to the council in the area. Hopefully if the neighbours get it back they start to keep it inside.

Although from what op has said it doesn't sound like the neighbours like it all that much either?

FishPie2 · 16/09/2023 14:50

A few years ago my FIL had the same problems and borrowed a trap from a friend at work and caught the cat. He then took it miles away and opened the cage at the back of a travellers camp who he thought would feed it.

He was amazed a couple of weeks later to find the said cat was back in its own garden. 😮

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/09/2023 15:07

That's just vile, what a high handed patriarchal attitude to other peoples pets that they love. He sounds a total cunt.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/09/2023 15:09

@wednamenov Your not the nice person you think you are wanting torture an animal is just sadistic. The cat knows no better your supposed to have frontal lobe skills 🙄

FishPie2 · 16/09/2023 18:55

That's just vile, what a high handed patriarchal attitude to other peoples pets that they love. He sounds a total cunt.
My late FIL is not a what ever you said - why revert to that horrid word when you want to talk about someone you don't even know. He was hounded by this Bengal cat and didn't know how to deal with it - it came into his home and messed everywhere, attacked him when he tried to get it out of his home and was basically frightened to death by it. He tried to reason with the owner who was basically a gobshite who thought him and his cat could do what they wanted and this is why he took this way out.

Original poster
wednamenov · 16/09/2023 21:29

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/09/2023 15:09

@wednamenov Your not the nice person you think you are wanting torture an animal is just sadistic. The cat knows no better your supposed to have frontal lobe skills 🙄

Don't be silly. I don't WANT to torture an animal. I want to find a solution to a problem. If scaring the hell out of him for 5 mins keeps him away from my garden, cats and children, then all the animals, including him, can keep living their best lives in a lovely rural setting.

And no, I'm not EVER going to cage my cats up. Especially not where we live.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/09/2023 23:10

We've had various horrible cats in the neighbourhood including one that attacked me through the cat door ( not a microchip door back in those days )
And one that would come into my house and piss (stunk as he was an entire) .

I've got 2 of my own cats now (one is an utter wimp ) .
The only way I;ve kept other cats out is a heavy dose of really cold water . Not aimed at their face or ears though.
I'm hoping no-one gets a Bengak round my way if my tried and trusted cat deterrant would be a game to them.

Can you video the cat and show it to the NDN.
Say yes I know by law rhey have the right to riam , but what do YOU suggest I do to keep my DC and cats safe in their own house and garden ? Put it back in your NDN court

Original poster
wednamenov · 17/09/2023 10:53

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/09/2023 23:10

We've had various horrible cats in the neighbourhood including one that attacked me through the cat door ( not a microchip door back in those days )
And one that would come into my house and piss (stunk as he was an entire) .

I've got 2 of my own cats now (one is an utter wimp ) .
The only way I;ve kept other cats out is a heavy dose of really cold water . Not aimed at their face or ears though.
I'm hoping no-one gets a Bengak round my way if my tried and trusted cat deterrant would be a game to them.

Can you video the cat and show it to the NDN.
Say yes I know by law rhey have the right to riam , but what do YOU suggest I do to keep my DC and cats safe in their own house and garden ? Put it back in your NDN court

I had that experience with an intact male coming into our home. We'd sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to a stench of urine from him spraying downstairs. It would be the smell that would wake us up. I genuinely thought he was a stray. He got shabbier and shabbier and thinner every time I saw him. So we trapped him and took him to cat rescue.

A week later he was back (I saw him staring at me from outside). I contacted cat rescue who told me his owners had gone on holiday and left him (she commented with sarcasm in the 'lovely tan', so I think they were appalled). She also said they were quite angry their cat had been neutered in their absence.

I never ever saw that cat again. Either surgery fixed his habits, or he was too scared to come back to our house in case another bit of his body got lopped off.

Unfortunately I haven't managed to video the attacks. We're usually stumbling over ourselves trying to get out fast enough to rescue one of our cats.

OP posts: