Neighbors Cat and our car

Strumms

Folks,

Recently at night it’s becoming a regular issue that the neighbors cat, a reasonably new acquisition of about 2 years has taken a shine to our car.

It’s a mixture of an indoors and outdoors cat that strays or ventures outdoors at night.. tonight I thought somebody was out at the car at about 3.15 am there was a regular and prominent tapping / banging on metal sound that wasn’t stopping so I went and looked out the window... the cat was just bouncing up and down all over the car... bonnet to roof and onto the ground and back and repeated over and over ad nauseam....

The car is 16 months old, a good car, looked after inside and out but recently on the bonnet and low down on the door there was a couple of noticeable longish little dings and scratches that left me scratching my head as to where and how they got there as the car is driven and looked after with care.

In the dead of night the prominence of the tapping and scratching would lead me to believe or guess that the cat needs its claws clipped but ideally I don’t want it anywhere near my car...

The folks who live there and own the cat would be quite hippyish in every facet of their existence, we get on very well & positively all be it just in passing mostly. They have dogs too and very animal orientated so a ‘get your fûcking mog away from my metal’ approach might not be advised but I’m in no mood to watch and listen to my nice car getting scratched up by Tiny Tiddles.. how does one go about looking for resolution In this situation ? I’m happy and wanting initially ideas or solutions to put to them...

s1ippy

Can I just say

It’s a mixture of an indoors and outdoors cat that strays or ventures outdoors at night.. tonight I thought somebody was out at the car at about 3.15 am there was a regular and prominent tapping / banging on metal sound that wasn’t stopping so I went and looked out the window... the cat was just bouncing up and down all over the car... bonnet to roof and onto the ground and back and repeated over and over ad nauseam

This is a hilarious paragraph.


You should have taken the red pill.

As poster below says, definitely try and get a video of it happening and make sure you upload it here too.

Take pictures of the damage and explain to your neighbours what you expect from them (ie cat nails trimmed, kept in by night if necessary).

You could also leave the car unlocked if it has a sensor because that would trigger the alarm and hopefully give the cat enough of a fright to put him off having the nightly jamboree.

I'm sorry I'm still in bits imagining a cat bouncing up and down a car, I've my own cat here and he's a very good boy relatively speaking.

Slideways

Get footage of the cat on the car

Tell them they will need to stop the behaviour or else they will have to pay for the damage. Be very firm about that.

If it is not resolved to your liking the next step on my list would definitely get me a card or banned from the forum

Strumms

Slideways wrote: »

Get footage of the cat on the car

Tell them they will need to stop the behaviour or else they will have to pay for the damage. Be very firm about that.

If it is not resolved to your liking the next step on my list would definitely get me a card or banned from the forum

Thanks, yes the camera footage is indeed a good idea, hadn't thought of that thanks... I can WhatsApp them the evidence rather then a mid pandemic doorsteping....

Strumms

s1ippy wrote: »

Can I just say


This is a hilarious paragraph.

You should have taken the red pill.

As poster below says, definitely try and get a video of it happening and make sure you upload it here too.

Take pictures of the damage and explain to your neighbours what you expect from them (ie cat nails trimmed, kept in by night if necessary).

You could also leave the car unlocked if it has a sensor because that would trigger the alarm and hopefully give the cat enough of a fright to put him off having the nightly jamboree.

I'm sorry I'm still in bits imagining a cat bouncing up and down a car, I've my own cat here and he's a very good boy relatively speaking.

Thanks,

No, I won’t be uploading anything here.

I won’t be leaving a 40,000 euro asset lying around unlocked if it’s all the same.

Unless you are a pharmacist or doctor I’d urge you to resist trying to prescribe medication to others and instead focus on your own needs and wellbeing.

Graces7

Car covers are readily available and not expensive. It would deaden the sound too.

Far better than alienating your neighbours?

Just a thought

MarkR

Graces7 wrote: »

Car covers are readily available and not expensive. It would deaden the sound too.

Far better than alienating your neighbours?

Just a thought

Are you actually suggesting he cover up his car every time he parks it? Door locks are also readily available, and also not very expensive. Cat owner should be keeping cat inside if they don't want to pay for the damage.

Slideways

Graces7 wrote: »

Car covers are readily available and not expensive. It would deaden the sound too.

Far better than alienating your neighbours?

Just a thought

Why should the OP have to go to the financial outlay of a car cover, the hassle of putting it on every night and the risk that it can blow away etc for someone else’s cat?

Preposterous suggest IMO

JustJoe7240

s1ippy wrote: »

Can I just say


This is a hilarious paragraph.


You should have taken the red pill.

As poster below says, definitely try and get a video of it happening and make sure you upload it here too.

Take pictures of the damage and explain to your neighbours what you expect from them (ie cat nails trimmed, kept in by night if necessary).

You could also leave the car unlocked if it has a sensor because that would trigger the alarm and hopefully give the cat enough of a fright to put him off having the nightly jamboree.

I'm sorry I'm still in bits imagining a cat bouncing up and down a car, I've my own cat here and he's a very good boy relatively speaking.

This emoji perfectly sums up my reaction to reading this reply

If possible it is definitely worth recording the cat if you get the chance, and may be worth getting a quote to repair the scratches currently there. That might soften their cough.

I get how frustrating this is,there's a cat at work that does the same thing to my car, little bastard has my car destroyed and I don't even have a nice car.

Graces7

Slideways wrote: »

Why should the OP have to go to the financial outlay of a car cover, the hassle of putting it on every night and the risk that it can blow away etc for someone else’s cat?

Preposterous suggest IMO

Oh dear! :eek:

Graces7

MarkR wrote: »

Are you actually suggesting he cover up his car every time he parks it? Door locks are also readily available, and also not very expensive. Cat owner should be keeping cat inside if they don't want to pay for the damage.

His car; his problem. It would stop birds defecating on it too....

irelandrover

Graces7 wrote: »

Oh dear! :eek:

If asking my neighbour to stop their cat using my car as a trampoline alienates them, then they aren't really people i want to be friendly with.

Knine

Graces7 wrote: »

His car; his problem. It would stop birds defecating on it too....

He should be able to park his car without the neighbours problem cat scratching it. I just paid to have scratches repaired on my car this week & if was a neighbours cat that caused it, they would be paying the bill!

Del2005

Graces7 wrote: »

His car; his problem. It would stop birds defecating on it too....

Bird dirt can be washed off. Damage from a animal is the animal owners responsibility. Putting a cover on the car is not the solution to the OP's problem.


OP if the car is damaged already you are entitled for it to be repaired at the cats owner expense at a garage of your choice. If the car is on PCP or leased then the cars owner will be penalised for the damage at the end of the term, it will be worth less if selling or trading in, and that shouldn't come from the owners pocket when the damage was caused by someone else's property.

blackbox

It's possible that your neighbour's cat scratched it, but it could have been done by a bird or other wild animal or by debris blowing on the wind.

It's annoying - I get that, but if your car is that valuable, special and perfect, why do you leave it out in the open?

I wouldn't sacrifice my relationship with my neighbours for something I was going to replace in a few years.

Outkast_IRE

I would be giving the cat a light spray of water each time i catch him. No harm done to the cat and he will get the message soon enough.

tk123

I've successfully kept cats out of my garden for over a year now with these ultrasonic scarers . I got a very satisfying video the first night of the cat fleeing the garden and no issues with cat poo or spraying since.

Graces7

blackbox wrote: »

It's possible that your neighbour's cat scratched it, but it could have been done by a bird or other wild animal or by debris blowing on the wind.

It's annoying - I get that, but if your car is that valuable, special and perfect, why do you leave it out in the open?

I wouldn't sacrifice my relationship with my neighbours for something I was going to replace in a few years.

Thank you.

cruizer101

Graces7 wrote: »

His car; his problem. It would stop birds defecating on it too....

Is this a joke.
If I come around your house and start hitting it with a lump hammer can I just say your house your problem

The neighbours cat is causing the issue so it is their problem

Graces7

MarkR wrote: »

Are you actually suggesting he cover up his car every time he parks it? "

Yes. His car, left outside. His responsibility.

Just out of interest. can you ask on the Legal Discussion Board about cats and damage? Proof and owners liability.

You need to look at that for yourself. Not take my word for it.

jam_mac_jam

Have you tried talking to them about it?

Graces7

cruizer101 wrote: »

Is this a joke.
If I come around your house and start hitting it with a lump hammer can I just say your house your problem

The neighbours cat is causing the issue so it is their problem

The CAT has a lump hammer? OH MY ! Now THAT is SERIOUS!

The car owner is leaving his car unprotected.

amadangomor

Well within you rights to use a water pistol. Won't harm the cat at all but will stop him after a couple of wettings.

For me it would be worse for the cat if it had to be kept inside all the time.

Knine

Graces7 wrote: »

The CAT has a lump hammer? OH MY ! Now THAT is SERIOUS!

The car owner is leaving his car unprotected.

He is entitled to leave his car outside his own home without it being damaged.

Day Lewin

Use 4 clothes pegs to attach a length of net curtain over the top of the car, clipping to the front and back bumpers.

See what she makes of that!

It might be the echoing sound that she likes as she does her trampoline practice, and muffling with a cover will both dampen the sound and protect the surface, - and hopefully discourage the cat.

Let us know how this works - a photo would be great! (A video, better still )

Graces7

Knine wrote: »

He is entitled to leave his car outside his own home without it being damaged.

Where is the law that says that please?

Seriously I think this is what they call a "first world prpblem" .

If you leave a car outside uncovered? Cats have more protection in law than dogs. Read up on it?

Suggesting you ask on the Legal Discussion forum as I think many would be interested.

Bowing out as …..

Lump hammers indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

vicwatson

Graces7 wrote: »

His car; his problem. It would stop birds defecating on it too....

Oh behave

Knine

Graces7 wrote: »

Where is the law that says that please?

Seriously I think this is what they call a "first world prpblem" .

If you leave a car outside uncovered? Cats have more protection in law than dogs. Read up on it?

Suggesting you ask on the Legal Discussion forum as I think many would be interested.

Bowing out as …..

Lump hammers indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is against the law to damage someone else's property! You very clearly don't drive or have a car! Cars cost a lot of money to buy & maintain!
I'm glad you are not my neighbour!

Slideways

Graces7 wrote: »

Where is the law that says that please?

Seriously I think this is what they call a "first world prpblem" .

If you leave a car outside uncovered? Cats have more protection in law than dogs. Read up on it?

Suggesting you ask on the Legal Discussion forum as I think many would be interested.

Bowing out as …..

Lump hammers indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have to be having a laugh or else are not in touch with reality.

I Am The Law

Strumms wrote: »

In the dead of night the prominence of the tapping and scratching would lead me to believe or guess that the cat needs its claws clipped but ideally I don’t want it anywhere near my car...

.

Never heard of clipping cats claws, is that really a thing?

Fighting Tao

I had issues with feral cats climbing on and sleeping on my car in an underground car park. I surrounded the car with cayenne pepper. Harmless to the cats, and they don’t like it. I applied it every few days for a couple of weeks. It trains the cats to stay away from the area.

Alun

I Am The Law wrote: »

Never heard of clipping cats claws, is that really a thing?

It is.

Our elderly cat stopped going outside as much and also despite our trying to get her to do it, refused to use an indoor scratching post. As a result, her claws grew too long and started to curve round and dig into her paws making her very uncomfortable. It's only the very tip that's cut off.

Not to be confused with the horrible practice of "declawing", common in the US.

Knine

Knine wrote: »

It is against the law to damage someone else's property! You very clearly don't drive or have a car! Cars cost a lot of money to buy & maintain!
I'm glad you are not my neighbour!

Sure it would be against the law to go into my neighbours with a claw hammer and damage their car, and there would be plenty of options to sort it criminal damage via guards, civil case for damages etc.
Where is the entitlement if say it's a stray or unidentified cat?

There's lots of law and case law about say if cattle break out and do damage - is there the equivalent for wandering cats?

Practically OP if the owners are hippish as you describe - do you think they will assign the same value to the car vs their cat roaming? You will probably be left looking at deterrents.

I Am The Law

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Have you tried talking to them about it?

Notoriously unwilling to listen, cats.

listermint

blackbox wrote: »

if your car is that valuable, special and perfect, why do you leave it out in the open?

I wouldn't sacrifice my relationship with my neighbours for something I was going to replace in a few years.

Why does someone leave their car in the open.

Is this really a question you are asking or are you just on the wind up?

Knine

Deleted User wrote: »

Sure it would be against the law to go into my neighbours with a claw hammer and damage their car, and there would be plenty of options to sort it criminal damage via guards, civil case for damages etc.
Where is the entitlement if say it's a stray or unidentified cat?

There's lots of law and case law about say if cattle break out and do damage - is there the equivalent for wandering cats?

Practically OP if the owners are hippish as you describe - do you think they will assign the same value to the car vs their cat roaming? You will probably be left looking at deterrents.

It is not my car. The OP saw the cat in question!

MarkR

Graces7 wrote: »

His car; his problem. It would stop birds defecating on it too....

Not his cat. Not his bill.

s1ippy

Day Lewin wrote: »

It might be the echoing sound that she likes as she does her trampoline practice, and muffling with a cover will both dampen the sound and protect the surface, - and hopefully discourage the cat.

Absolutely hilarious description

JustJoe7240 wrote: »

I get how frustrating this is,there's a cat at work that does the same thing to my car, little bastard has my car destroyed and I don't even have a nice car.

Is this something cats do???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEtQeoTpf-g

Fluppen

Can a small famously light footed creature like a cat really damage/dent a car? Are their nails really hard enough to scratch what I assume would be good quality paint on a 40k car? I'm not saying it's impossible just wondering is there more happening than just the cat. I wonder if there is a dog jumping against the side of your car to try and get to the cat.
I have both cats and dogs, the cats sunbathe on the roof and bonnet of the car and I've seen them slide and try to grip with nails, the only result was that the dust was scratched off the paint. My dogs on the other hand have scratched the paint on the door sills getting in and out of the back seat. neither have ever dented it.

Sardonicat

A cats claws are retracted and they only unsheath them if using them, eg.for purchase, but there is nothing for them to grip on a metal surface.

Piehead

Perhaps the car could be coated with a grease like substance that would dissuade the cat?


Something like this but that would wash off after the cat has lost the habit of going on the car. Perhaps the neighbours would agree to wash it off?


https://www.screwfix.ie/p/blackfriar-anti-climb-paint-black-1ltr/5810p

Cheensbo

Piehead wrote: »

Perhaps the car could be coated with a grease like substance that would dissuade the cat?


Something like this but that would wash off after the cat has lost the habit of going on the car. Perhaps the neighbours would agree to wash it off?


https://www.screwfix.ie/p/blackfriar-anti-climb-paint-black-1ltr/5810p

Is this a serious response? :pac:

Alun

Fluppen wrote: »

Can a small famously light footed creature like a cat really damage/dent a car? Are their nails really hard enough to scratch what I assume would be good quality paint on a 40k car? I'm not saying it's impossible just wondering is there more happening than just the cat. I wonder if there is a dog jumping against the side of your car to try and get to the cat.
I have both cats and dogs, the cats sunbathe on the roof and bonnet of the car and I've seen them slide and try to grip with nails, the only result was that the dust was scratched off the paint. My dogs on the other hand have scratched the paint on the door sills getting in and out of the back seat. neither have ever dented it.

Sardonicat wrote: »

A cats claws are retracted and they only unsheath them if using them, eg.for purchase, but there is nothing for them to grip on a metal surface.

I agree about the dents, extremely unlikely a small animal like a cat would be able to cause a noticeable dent in a car. For a start any cat worth it's salt would be able to jump up on a car in one leap, it's paws/claws wouldn't get anywhere near the door.

The only possible way a cat could put any scratches on car paint would be if it had any small stones/dirt on it's paws, but again it wouldn't be a real deep scratch, just the kind of thing you'd get from brushing the car up against the bushes on a small country road, something that would buff out in 5 seconds.

Knine

Knine wrote: »

It is not my car. The OP saw the cat in question!

I know it's not your car.

Knine wrote: »

He is entitled to leave his car outside his own home without it being damaged.

What exactly is that entitlement?
If if park my car beside the road I expect it will be safe but I know it comes with some risks, on my drive less risks, in a secure garage even less risks.

Different scenarios produce different expectations.
Accidental damage by a bin truck is different from accidental damage by a child on a bike which is different from damage by a cat.


A quick Google produced this summary:
https://www.lawreform.ie/_fileupload/consultation%20papers/wpAnimals.htm
Lots of talk about damage caused by cattle. Not much about cats.

munstergirl

Could be a lot worse than a cat, could be a rat.

Graces7

Serious question. What do you wash/polish your car with? If you use wax or any detergents etc that may well be what is attracting the cat. That is unusual behaviour without any reason,
and cats are sensitive to and react to a lot of aroamsstivie to and react to a lot of aromas

Try washing the car well with just water; see if that stops it?

Strumms wrote: »

Folks,

Recently at night it’s becoming a regular issue that the neighbors cat, a reasonably new acquisition of about 2 years has taken a shine to our car.

It’s a mixture of an indoors and outdoors cat that strays or ventures outdoors at night.. tonight I thought somebody was out at the car at about 3.15 am there was a regular and prominent tapping / banging on metal sound that wasn’t stopping so I went and looked out the window... the cat was just bouncing up and down all over the car... bonnet to roof and onto the ground and back and repeated over and over ad nauseam....

The car is 16 months old, a good car, looked after inside and out but recently on the bonnet and low down on the door there was a couple of noticeable longish little dings and scratches that left me scratching my head as to where and how they got there as the car is driven and looked after with care.

In the dead of night the prominence of the tapping and scratching would lead me to believe or guess that the cat needs its claws clipped but ideally I don’t want it anywhere near my car...

The folks who live there and own the cat would be quite hippyish in every facet of their existence, we get on very well & positively all be it just in passing mostly. They have dogs too and very animal orientated so a ‘get your fûcking mog away from my metal’ approach might not be advised but I’m in no mood to watch and listen to my nice car getting scratched up by Tiny Tiddles.. how does one go about looking for resolution In this situation ? I’m happy and wanting initially ideas or solutions to put to them...

Alun

The repeated jumping up and down does seem odd behaviour indeed. Only time I've ever seen a cat jump on a car it's simply jumped onto it to sleep on a warm bonnet.

The only thing I can think of is if it's happening at night that it's chasing insects / moths.

Graces7

Slideways wrote: »

You have to be having a laugh or else are not in touch with reality.

Nothing wrong with a good laugh and thank you for this one!!!!.

And I am serious about the law and cats. Ask as I suggested. They are a protected species. This comes up in gardening forums a lot.

As an owner of six rescues I am well aware of all aspects of cat laws

Including what you are and are not allowed to do to them

Oh re claws. If an indoor cat that does not need sharp claws for defence etc gets overgrown claws. they can become infected and impacted. With proper nail clippers you can just take the sharp tip back

Mine are all outdoor cat so no way would their claws need clipping and they need them to climb and defend themselves etc

TheW1zard

This thread gave me a good laugh!

lalababa

Get an old car

Stratvs

Graces7 wrote: »

Oh re claws. If an indoor cat that does not need sharp claws for defence etc gets overgrown claws. they can become infected and impacted. With proper nail clippers you can just take the sharp tip back

We have to watch this constantly. They have sisal wrapped cat trees and cardboard scratchers and when they go out in the garden they usually make use of what was originally a large piece of driftwood but is gradually shrinking but even with that some need a clipping every so often. Thankfully dear daughter does that with a proper claw clippers.