Cats' noise disturbing neighbour

[catshatsandchats]

I'm at my wits end tonight. Two nights ago my downstairs neighbour complained about the noise my cats make in the night. I have two siamese and an elderly rehomed tabby. As is usual the siamese are quite playful. They don't go out as they're not very clever! I play with them during the day and they play together too. At night I take away their toys in the hope they'll sleep. It doesn't always work. In addition to this they annoy the tabby until she spits and growls.

I've ordered some rugs and underlay to dampen the noise in the main areas. I've moved into the smaller bedroom so I'm not directly above her bedroom. I can't think what else to do. I don't want to rehome any of them, I would feel guilty and it would break my heart. They're very much bonded with me. The tabby took a long time to settle originally and I can't face handing her over, knowing how upsetting it would be for her. The siamese bring me so much joy.

I'm searching for somewhere else to live, either ground floor or a house, preferably with a garden where I can build a catio. Unfortunately rent is very high now and I'm retired and unable to work anymore due to illness. In the meantime I don't know what else I can do. Just now they started racing around again. I can't face any more abuse from her. She gets very personal and it has really upset me.

Please don't judge or berate me. I'm just looking for advice - if there is any! I'm upset enough as it is, I don't need anyone else laying into me.

By the way I used to live in a bungalow with a garden. They didn't bother anyone there and I took them into the garden with me. However I had to move to be nearer to my mum.

I've just tried out tying the door handle, not sure it'll hold though. I might just attach a bolt. Going to have a look at what's available. I couldn't cope with 3 weeks of him jumping at the door handle though!

The problem with playing just before bedtime is she'll complain about that too if they're running and jumping! Unless it's the middle of the afternoon. After playing and eating they usually go in the litter tray and then run around like lunatics after that! Post 💩 zoomies!!

Exactly what is she doing to make your life a misery? What is the abuse you are encountering and how are you responding?

Perhaps posters can help you deal with some of that, rather than just with ideas on keeping your cats quiet. I'd be avoiding her, refuse to discuss it, ignore her, don't answer the door if it's her. You've been reasonable to move rooms and get rugs etc.

As a cat owner I'm finding it hard to believe your cats are that noisy through a floor to downstairs. I have a big 7kg muscly 6 year old cat who loves to play and gets the (pre poo) zoomies and gallops up and down the flat hallway on my wooden floor. I've asked downstairs if they can hear him and they've said no, never. Even if its a really ticky tacky flimsy new build and the noise does travel, a few minutes of cat thumps a few times a day is hardly a big issue - she's just being unreasonable.

She has stolen at least one parcel, I have Ring doorbell footage of that, but a few have disappeared before I got the Ring doorbell. I've had my front door graffiti, red paint thrown over it, someone ringing my doorbell at 2 in the morning (before I got the Ring doorbell), rubbish dumped in my bin, letters written to the council about me, she's complained about noise in the past too because my partner stayed for a week whilst waiting for his sale to complete and he works 6 til 6 three days a week so was up early - he was as quiet as possible but the floorboards creak. She's written me letters stating "I think you need help. I really do. Your not right in the had. I'm going nowhere. I'm not having hassle from you ok. So I suggest you sort your cats out and keep out of my way. The sooner you are gone the better. Make sure you get psychiatric help too. Paranoid?.?" All because I replied saying I can hear her too because that's how life is in a flat and telling her I have video footage of her stealing my parcel.

I've stayed factual at all times. I've reported her to the police and the landlord, no one can do anything. I won't enter into a slanging match. It upsets me too much. I hate confrontation.

The two siamese weigh about 5 kg and do chase each other when playing. Maybe she doesn't sleep well and that's why she hears them.

I also foolishly put down vinyl flooring when I moved in because the cats used to scratch the carpet up in the doorways. Early on I invited her in for coffee before all this so she knows about the vinyl flooring and has had a problem with that since then. However I've got rugs down and am adding more when they arrive tomorrow. Just spent nearly £200 in rugs and underlay all because of her - I know that's all cheap but honestly can't afford it right now with an old car that constantly needs repairs! I think it's the cats jumping off my bed at night and running after each other, I've moved bedrooms but they still run through the whole flat so I think I'm going to have to shut them in the living room at night which isn't above her bedroom directly.

Contact the police and report her for theft of your parcels and also Harassment

Unless by "cats" you meant "lions" or you are in a block of flats that is pet-free, ignore your neighbour. Normal noise in a flat.

OK based on that I'd advise:

• Report the theft if it's still fairly recent. If not, at least she knows you know it was her.
• Put a sign up on or next to your door stating you have video recording io the door and any adjacent communal areas
• Put the letters from her unread in a box as evidence and ignore them.
• Respond to any letters from the council about her complaints with calm factual statements, then don't dwell on it. Councils are used to nutters wasting their time and will know quickly there isn't a valid issue.
• Unless you have proof she's put the rubbish in your bin - ignore it (it's annoying but not that bad in comparison to other stuff she's done)
• remind yourself that no matter how 'personal' she gets it isn't in fact personal to you - she'd be like this with anyone living in your flat that she took a dislike to. Don't let whatever she says push your buttons.
• Do as she asks and keep out of her way, which I'm sure you are doing anyway.

It sounds like nothing more serious has happened since you got the ring doorbell? She is unlikely to take too many silly risks of theft or damage with that up. Plus your new rugs will hopefully help with the noise transfer.

Most importantly try not to get fixated on her and what has already or might happen.

I've got a friend who had problems with a difficult neighbour and it became an obsession. She was a wreck every time I saw her, yet all the descriptions of what was happening didn't sound that bad to me. I also live in a flat with some odd neighbours (including one banging on door and shouting at me when i was having some slightly noisy repairs done). She and her husband ending up selling and moving which cost a lot of money and stress but she'd really let it affect her mental health.

Don't let her ruin your enjoyment of your flat or your lovely cats!

I did report the theft but nothing happened. I have a sign up about video recording.

Good idea about not reading her letters.

I do have video footage of her putting rubbish in my bin and still she denied it! I'm not that bothered about it really, she's just annoying me now.

Yes I have to keep telling myself it's not personal. It just feels personal that's all. But I'm getting too het up about it and I need to stop. I'm definitely keeping out of her way, I always have done.

No nothing serious since the footage of her taking my parcel.

I love my cats very much, they're real characters and I don't want to be annoyed at them about all this. I'll try my best to stay calm.

Pop some earplugs through her letter box..
There's really nothing you can do about cats having zoomies at 5am.

😂 I'd love to do that!