IF neighbours dog harms my cat?

Suckit

I have a cat and a dog, they get on to an extent, but the cat decides if and when.
The cat was rehoused here, i did not want a cat at the time. Anyway, the cat must have come from a pretty friendly environment because nothing seems to phase him, He will greet people no matter who they are and has no problem checking cars out. If the opportunity to get inside a car arises, he will take it.

My neighbour has a boxer. My neighbour also has a tendency to open his mouth long before he has started thinking, and told me (with great pride) that his dog caught a cat on a green area outside two houses. The cat was hiding in the bush and the dog injured the cat quite badly. It sounded like the cats back was broken. I went to the area that he mentioned but could not find it.
Anyway, he also likes to say things like this quite a lot "They say the dog is like its owner" and then would go on to compare different dogs to owners, always in a less than favourable light. But he somehow manages to not notice that his Boxer bungles around digging up gardens and taking a dump in them, and has even broken a window (mine), Lovely dog, but a big bungling moron.

Sorry if it seems as though i went off on one there, i may have slightly, but i was also to trying to give the full picture. Lately the boxer has been coming more and more into my garden, the owner wants my dog to play with the boxer because they are of a similar age, but i do not. They run out on to the road, and also he starts walking away and expects me to call my dog back.
I have given him the impression that i do not like the him doing that, as i do not want my dog running off down the road, and he has definitely seen me rushing his dog out of my garden a few times when he was taking a dump.
That is not the problem, the problem is the cat. The dog runs at it, and looks like he will never catch him, but if there is one day the cat does not notice him before he jumps. Last night the cat was on the pillar and a girl was petting him. As she walked away, the boxer jumped up at him from seemingly nowhere and just missed by (excuse the pun) a whisker. The cat got away. My neighbour of course thought this was hilarious and kept saying "wooahh wooahh the cat got lucky that time".
I have asked him to watch out for that, and if he sees the cat before the cat sees the dog, would he make a noise or something, as i do not want the cat to get injured.

He does nothing. If the dog does get the cat and seriously injures it, can i bill him?

I know it seems like a weird question, and not the thing maybe to be worrying about as much as the cat itself. But short of asking him to warn the cat, i can not think of anything else to do, I do not want to threaten him with "if that cat gets injured, you are paying", and i do not want to lock the cat in the house. He has seen me (as i said) rushing the dog out of the garden, and he knows that i do not want the two dogs playing there because of the road. I can not help feeling as though it is only a matter of time before the cat gets injured and i am half accounting for a bill in my expenses..

aujopimur

Firstly you both need to keep your dogs under control and not them roam free.

VonVix

Sounds like you want this owner to change. Chances of that happening given the character you have described? Basically nonexistent, changing what he does will essentially have no benefit to him.

You seem to have three choices.
Keep your cat indoors.
Leave your cat do to what it's doing now, running the risk of him getting injured or killed.
Build a 'Catio.'

I personally prefer the first option in this case, prevention is better than the cure. It seems highly unlikely that he could be expected to "do the right thing", purely going on how you describe him. Also, secure containment for your existing dog to prevent his dog from entering your property would be a pretty good idea too. You have a duty to keep both your cat and dog safe.

Suckit

aujopimur wrote: »

Firstly you both need to keep your dogs under control and not them roam free.

Neither dog roams free. My dog is either indoors or out the back garden (not possible to get out of). When my dog is indoors, she likes to sit facing outside to look out, and can be seen from the road.
The boxer broke my window by pounding against it with his paws trying to get in or get my dog out. The boxer is only out when he is going for a walk, and he has him off the lead when he is passing my house, that is when he comes bounding in. If he meets me coming back from a walk, or vice versa, he wants me to let my dog off the lead so that the two of them can play. Sometimes during the summer when i was doing things in the garden, my dog would be out with me and lying beside me, or sniffing around the garden. When his dog would come, they would run out, at which point i would be out calling her back and have to go up the road a bit as they run quite fast when they are playing. She comes back no problem, i just do not want her to run out to begin with, which would not happen if he did not let his dog bound in to my garden.

I do not want the owner to change, i could not care less about him. I just do not want his dog chasing my cat on my property. The cat would not stay indoors.

tk123

Suckit wrote: »

I do not want the owner to change, i could not care less about him. I just do not want his dog chasing my cat on my property. The cat would not stay indoors.

The owner does sound exactly like the majority of boxers I've ever met - a PITA who doesn't know when he's being one lol.

Build a wall/fence and put a gate in and keep your pets out of harms way - job done. Or report him to the dog warden but sounds like it'd be in one ear and out the other. What if your dog takes off after his and gets hit by a car or causes an accident - it won't matter if it was the neighbors fault - you'd be liable..

Suckit

tk123 wrote: »

The owner does sound exactly like the majority of boxers I've ever met - a PITA who doesn't know when he's being one lol.

Build a wall/fence and put a gate in and keep your pets out of harms way - job done. Or report him to the dog warden but sounds like it'd be in one ear and out the other. What if your dog takes off after his and gets hit by a car?

The owner is a whole other thread . He is not the worst, just very nosey and talks a lot. Some funny, majority annoying. But he is not bad. I could not build a wall/fence unfortunately. It is the front garden.
I was worried about cars, but i have trained my dog to an extent. She will not run off if i call her as she is about to, nor will she cross the roads we walk near until i am ready. But if the Boxer comes in when i am approaching my house or in the garden, she will run before i can stop them.

The only thing that i am really worried about though, is the cat. I guess he will be fine, but last night was a fright to see, and then the neighbour laughing about it as though if the dog gets the cat, it is tough.

Knine

Seriously you are being very lax about your cats safety. It a case of when not if that dog gets your cat. It won't be vets bills you will likely face but a dead cat. There is also a chance your own dog will get involved in such an attack on the cat either joining in or defending your cat.

I can tell you that not a hope in hell would I put up with a Boxer or any dog lumbering into my garden or breaking windows. I would tell this idiot of an owner to keep that dog on its lead and under control. Then I would contact the warden who will pay him a visit.

Your dog should also not be able to run anywhere onto a road or out of your garden because your dog should also be under control.

njs030

The simplest answer is to have a gate so your dog can't get out and his can't get in.

Your cat is wandering where you know it's in danger. Like it or not you'll have to keep her indoors until you create a way to protect her that she can go out safely.
He sounds like a bit of an idiot but it's your cat not his and its your responsibility to look after your cat and that means it's up to you to change things not him I'm afraid.

Suckit

Knine wrote: »

Seriously you are being very lax about your cats safety. It a case of when not if that dog gets your cat. It won't be vets bills you will likely face but a dead cat. There is also a chance your own dog will get involved in such an attack on the cat either joining in or defending your cat.

I can tell you that not a hope in hell would I put up with a Boxer or any dog lumbering into my garden or breaking windows. I would tell this idiot of an owner to keep that dog on its lead and under control. Then I would contact the warden who will pay him a visit.

Your dog should also not be able to run anywhere onto a road or out of your garden because your dog should also be under control.

I am not being lax, it is partly why i am posting here. This has me demented. It is impossible to keep the cat locked in the house, he runs out any chance he can if i have him in for more than 3 hours (if he is not sleeping). My dog will not get involved, because she is never outside to get involved. If it did happen when she was out, i would also be there, with her on a lead.
I do not put up with the boxer, i have just not (yet) said outright to the owner to control his dog, but i have given him plenty of signs, including running his dog off my property. My dog is under control.
The only time that this happens is if i am returning from a walk (mainly) or if he is returning from a walk and i am going out. If i am caught unaware, there is a Boxer bouncing around my dog at crazy speed and wrapping the lead around me and me trying to stop it.

I am not asking for anyones opinion on my Dog control. As it would take much more explaining anyway, to form a proper opinion.
Only if there is anything i can do if his dog does not stop bounding into my garden and eventually gets my cat.

Knine

You have mentioned about your dog running across the road. Therefore no it is not always under control.

I'm sorry but in the heat of the moment you have no idea what your dog will do if your cat is under attack.

You might not have asked about controlling dogs but this whole problem you are having is because the dogs are not under effective control.

What do you think will happen if the Boxer with previous form attacks your cat?

I cannot understand why you have not communicated your concerns in no uncertain terms with your Neighbour. No showing him your are uncomfortable. You need to tell him. Give him one chance to keep the dog under control and then it is dog warden time. Next time that dog comes charging into your garden, Record it.

Suckit

The dog has run out in the past when the Boxer came bounding in and caught me off guard. I am not worried in the slightest about the control of my dog and the cat. My dog may turn on the cat if they were having a free for all on attacking the cat but my dog would never be able to get into that situation. If i see the cat outside, he is brought in. The girl petting him last night was at the pillar, i was going out to him when the boxer jumped up. I had not even seen him on the road.
My dog would never be out at the same time as the boxer, unless they meet as returning from walks. During the summer my dog was in my Garden lying down beside me, and two times the boxer bounded in. I put an end to that.
I have had 7 dogs all my life. I know how to look after them and control them.

I haven't said anything outright to the neighbour yet, as he is a bit vocal and he would take it as though i was insulting him somehow. I have, however said to him the main point i am trying to make here, about the cat.

All i wanted to know was if the cat was attacked by his dog on my property after having warned him about it, is he under any obligation to pay the Vets bills if it should come to that.

njs030

Suckit wrote: »

All i wanted to know was if the cat was attacked by his dog on my property after having warned him about it, is he under any obligation to pay the Vets bills if it should come to that.

I really do think your focus should be on protecting your cat from harm and pain now you know it's a very high possibility rather than worrying about who will pay for it when it happens.

We are all legally obliged to protect our animals from harm and knowing your cat could be hurt and still allowing the situation to continue is a bit concerning - like I said above its up to you to change things.

tk123

OP you only seem interested in who'll pay for the cats bills/cremation - I'd imagine you'd have a civil case against your neighbour to repay you after you paid the vet..

Suckit

tk123 wrote: »

OP you only seem interested in who'll pay for the cats bills/cremation - I'd imagine you'd have a civil case against your neighbour to repay you after you paid the vet..

Thanks. I was hoping to get a link or some sort of proof, I decided to have a look around and found this. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/260-vets-bill-for-dog-owner-307482.html

My intention is to bring up the other cat, I am going to ask him did he ever hear anything else about it. When he answers, i am hoping to tell him that he was very lucky and that i read about the above and he could have got smacked with a massive bill depending on how badly the cat was injured.
I aim to follow up by saying something along the lines of, "i know if it was my cat, i would definitely be going to court.". I will be showing it to him on my phone.

I am already trying to keep the cat in as much as possible, but there are children that will let the cat out, as well as the cat running out when somebody is at the door or going to the washing line, or utilities etc.
Having spoken to this neighbour about other things in the past, i know his reactions etc.
I am giving him something to think about, that he can see in black and white and i am letting him know that i would have no problems with going down a similar route should it ever come to that.

Bells21

Does your cat ever get into the neighbours garden?

Suckit

Bells21 wrote: »

Does your cat ever get into the neighbours garden?

That particular neighbour, probably not. The Boxer would be there all the time. There are 5-7 cats around and i have not seen any of them around their house.

tk123

Make sure the cat is chipped anyways in case he’s killed and needs to be indentified - assuming the body is found and not picked up by bin men or the neighbour dumps it.

Your priorities are odd to say the least.

Knine

Suckit wrote: »

Thanks. I was hoping to get a link or some sort of proof, I decided to have a look around and found this. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/260-vets-bill-for-dog-owner-307482.html

My intention is to bring up the other cat, I am going to ask him did he ever hear anything else about it. When he answers, i am hoping to tell him that he was very lucky and that i read about the above and he could have got smacked with a massive bill depending on how badly the cat was injured.
I aim to follow up by saying something along the lines of, "i know if it was my cat, i would definitely be going to court.". I will be showing it to him on my phone.

I am already trying to keep the cat in as much as possible, but there are children that will let the cat out, as well as the cat running out when somebody is at the door or going to the washing line, or utilities etc.
Having spoken to this neighbour about other things in the past, i know his reactions etc.
I am giving him something to think about, that he can see in black and white and i am letting him know that i would have no problems with going down a similar route should it ever come to that.

Passive Aggression won't work. You have to be direct. Maybe "Hey John, in future could you please keep your dog on the lead. I don't want him coming onto my property or attacking my cat. If it happens again I am going to have a chat with the local dog Warden"

There probably won't be any vet bills as altercations between large dogs and cats usually end up with a dead cat. Imagine your children getting caught up in all that.

the beer revolu

OP, you are worried that asking your neighbour to keep his dog off your property will cause offence.

But you think that threatening legal action against him if, in the future, his dog attacks your cat will go just fine?

This is an interesting relationship you have with your neighbour.

Suckit

the beer revolu wrote: »

OP, you are worried that asking your neighbour to keep his dog off your property will cause offence.

But you think that threatening legal action against him if, in the future, his dog attacks your cat will go just fine?
This is an interesting relationship you have with your neighbour.

I met him today.
A (very small) bit of background. His next door neighbour passed a comment on his horse chestnut tree. The next day he was in their garden cutting down anything that was on their side of the wall, and trampled all over their flower bed while doing it. He was angry. The comment that was said was, 'the kids will be delighted with the conkers in School.'

Nothing i have said in this thread could give any of the commenters (or anyone else) an inkling of my relationship with him or the type of person he is, or the type of Dog owner that i am.

I asked a specific question, and to the most part, never got it answered. Boards at its best.

Today i met him. Before i said anything he told me that his dog 'nearly caught a cat' on the green.
I said 'you should be careful, if he does, you could be facing court. People love their cats as much as you, the dog'.

He replied along the lines of pfftfft, and signalled that he does not care.

I said 'seriously. and the judge may find in their favour, i was reading it last night.'

I showed him the article and said, that if it was my cat or dog that was injured, i would probably do the same.

He implied that he thought they were just playing.
I said i did not think so, (at this stage it was obvious what we were talking about).

He brought the dog past my house again at 1:30, his dog was on a lead.

Knine

You got lots of advice but still ignored all of it anyway. No wonder you are having problems with your neighbour.

FelchWivMe

try training your cat to attack the dog. that way the cat has the element of surprise.

Suckit

Knine wrote: »

You got lots of advice but still ignored all of it anyway. No wonder you are having problems with your neighbour.

I did not look for the type of advice i was given, and i have no problems with my neighbour other than the dog going for the cat. Which now hopefully is not a problem anymore. Using the article made it easier to approach him about it, knowing the type of person that he is. Again, another useless response.

tk123

Suckit wrote: »

I did not look for the type of advice i was given, and i have no problems with my neighbour other than the dog going for the cat. Which now hopefully is not a problem anymore. Using the article made it easier to approach him about it, knowing the type of person that he is. Again, another useless response.

You're posting in API = animal lovers so I'd assume most people here would be more concerned about making changes to keep their pet safe rather than using their inevitable injury/death as traction in tip toeing around their neighbour. And I don't care what kind of a pr1ck somebody is - if they're putting one of my pets in danger I have no problem opening my mouth to tell them - as I've done in the past.

Bells21

Suckit wrote:

I did not look for the type of advice i was given, and i have no problems with my neighbour other than the dog going for the cat. Which now hopefully is not a problem anymore. Using the article made it easier to approach him about it, knowing the type of person that he is. Again, another useless response.

None of the comments were useless, they were giving options and ways to keep your animals safe, but they weren't what you wanted to hear. You wanted your neighbour to change their behaviour but yet was unwilling to change your own behaviour in order to keep YOUR animals safe and contained.
The only way to keep your cat 100% safe and unharmed is to keep it in your home and not allow it to free roam.

Suckit

tk123 wrote: »

You're posting in API = animal lovers so I'd assume most people here would be morons.

FYP

Suckit

Bells21 wrote: »

None of the comments were useless, they were giving options and ways to keep your animals safe, but they weren't what you wanted to hear. You wanted your neighbour to change their behaviour but yet was unwilling to change your own behaviour in order to keep YOUR animals safe and contained.
The only way to keep your cat 100% safe and unharmed is to keep it in your home and not allow it to free roam.

No. I wanted to know if there was any repercussions if his dog did attack my cat. Nothing else was similar to what i asked.

Anyway, anybody that locks their cat in 24/7 should not be allowed to have one.

Knine

Suckit wrote: »

FYP

Suckit Up Buttercup. You don't actually get to choose the advice people give you.

And you are very welcome.

Suckit

Knine wrote: »

Suckit Up Buttercup. You don't actually get to choose the advice people give you.

And you are very welcome.

I did not choose it. I am not bothered, just hope future posters realise before they ask, that this forum is oversensitive, and judging from the responses i have received (it looks lke it should take less), not all that knowledgable in... well, anything really.
Even the advice that i did not ask for, was terrible.

DBB

It never ceases to amaze me how people post in forums, things don't quite go as they'd planned (and don't bother reporting it until the 11th hour), then both denigrate the forum and the users of it, but yet keep posting in such an awful place with such awful people!
Suckit, I was just coming along to follow through on your request to have the thread locked, when I see you've since managed to turn your own thread into a mess which would have to be locked anyway.
Don't like boards? Don't like this forum? Then bugger off and stop posting here! It's really very simple.
Thanks,
DBB