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Original poster

Worried about neighbour’s greyhound if we adopt a cat

57 replies

LostInTheDream · 17/03/2026 22:33

My kids are absolutely desperate to adopt a cat (as an I to be fair)but I have some concerns.

We have a super friendly dog. Definitely not pray driven and will be friendly or give a bit of a wide berth depending on the vibe, has visited with cats. Not too concerned about him. Very different temperament and breed.

My concern is around our neighbours prey driven greyhound. I don't think I can feisably cat proof our garden so my question is, will most cats have the common sense to give that garden a wide berth? Our old cat did, but he had never lived with a dog. Is it too risky, would you look for indoor cats? Or is the risk one of those things that you run with outdoor cats that can and do roam around the neighborhood. Is there anything I could reasonably ask if my neighbour?

OP posts:
Original poster
LostInTheDream · 27/03/2026 14:36

Changename12 · 27/03/2026 14:24

@LostInTheDream
Don't cats wander off to die alone?

Some say they do when they're ill or have been in an accident etc.

The ones we have had disappear have been young, a couple of them around 1 year old and another about 6 (but I really do think that one left in protest at seeing a walking toddler).

OP posts:
Original poster
LostInTheDream · 27/03/2026 14:39

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 27/03/2026 13:47

We have 2 greyhounds and neighbours have 3 cats. The cats enjoy playing chicken with our dogs. Most neighbourhood cats now avoid our garden but usually if a cat enters the garden, the dogs start barking and the cats leg it

This is exactly what would test my nerves. I've seen next doors dog leap at the fence at a squirrel and it was most impressive. Fine if the cat knows exactly what's what but if they underestimate.

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Amkal · 27/03/2026 14:43

LostInTheDream · 27/03/2026 14:39

This is exactly what would test my nerves. I've seen next doors dog leap at the fence at a squirrel and it was most impressive. Fine if the cat knows exactly what's what but if they underestimate.

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This indeed. I would be very wary of getting a cat knowing that it could be killed by a dog next door. It’s not really fair on the cat.

Youmeanyouvelostyourkey · 27/03/2026 14:48

LostInTheDream · 27/03/2026 14:39

This is exactly what would test my nerves. I've seen next doors dog leap at the fence at a squirrel and it was most impressive. Fine if the cat knows exactly what's what but if they underestimate.

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You need to give the cats more credit. Greyhounds have a high prey drive but not necessarily the most intelligent of dogs. If we hear the dogs barking, we wouldn’t let them out immediately until we saw what they were barking at. We also make a thing of opening the door loudly and slowly. If we are out walking, they are always on a lead and we ensure we have a tight grip.

i have to say that if our two caught an animal, we would be devastated as most dog owners would be. I’m sure if you talk nicely to your neighbours, they would take simple steps to reduce the risk.

amber763 · 27/03/2026 14:54

I have a westie with a high prey drive and who hates all cats. I live in a ground floor flat and have a small, fenced back garden which he is always pottering in and out of. There are 3 or 4 cats patrol in the back gardens and they've not once came into my garden or even on the fence since I got.him. They used to come in all the time. I think you would be fine.

Uglydumpling · 27/03/2026 15:25

LostInTheDream · 27/03/2026 13:43

I can't reply individually but

I agree that it is the nature of a sighthound. I absolutely wouldn't want a dog muzzled or on lead in it's own back garden, especially as it is always on walks unless in a secure field.

I can't secure our garden, the fences are at different levels on all three sides and owned by different people and we have a tall side gate (which is no object for a cat). We also have a she d and trees that extend above the fence. If you can't properly secure it all, there is no point in doing it at all really

I will chat with our neighbour. Most cats would go nowhere near, the most I would ask of them is a good visual scan and a shoo away if they see it sat on the fence. I worry more because I have also heard stories from others that their greyhound killed a cat. Most are savvy, some are keen to use every one of their nine lives and I'm questioning whether I ever get an accurate measure of that in the rescue centres.

Out of all the cats I can think that I've had from childhood to present, 3 out of the 8 have disappeared and it does make me wonder what happened with them, it's left me heartbroken every time. I just always worry about an indoor cat that they won't be happy, but I know lots of people do so it for the safety of the cat and the local wildlife.

The point is to secure the fence bordering greyhounds garden so they can’t get into YOUR garden - surely you don’t have big holes

Original poster
LostInTheDream · 29/03/2026 11:25

Uglydumpling · 27/03/2026 15:25

The point is to secure the fence bordering greyhounds garden so they can’t get into YOUR garden - surely you don’t have big holes

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They definitely can't get in our garden but I think most posters talking about securing as talking about securing so cats can't get out with some of the netting/roller solutions out there, which is trickier to do effectively. Without that, you are relying on a cat being savvy and having the common sense to avoid, which most do. But not all.

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