Neighbors Cat and our car

Alun · 13-11-2020 10:46AM

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.

13-11-2020 10:48AM

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 · 13-11-2020 10:50AM

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Have you tried talking to them about it?

Notoriously unwilling to listen, cats.

listermint · 13-11-2020 10:57AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:03AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:05AM

Graces7 wrote: »

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

Not his cat. Not his bill.

s1ippy · 13-11-2020 11:11AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:13AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:17AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:17AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:19AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:27AM

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.

13-11-2020 11:37AM

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 · 13-11-2020 11:42AM

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

Graces7 · 13-11-2020 12:15PM

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 · 13-11-2020 12:21PM

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 · 13-11-2020 12:24PM

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 · 13-11-2020 12:31PM

This thread gave me a good laugh!

lalababa · 13-11-2020 12:34PM

Get an old car

Stratvs · 13-11-2020 12:36PM

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.

endacl · 13-11-2020 12:40PM

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.

Ah, sure she's always posting mad stuff. Don't mind her.

Apiarist · 13-11-2020 12:43PM

Strumms wrote: »

Thanks, yes the camera footage is indeed a good idea, hadn't thought of that thanks...

Also post it on YouTube. It may get viral and you might get enough money to buy a new car

Potatoeman · 13-11-2020 12:46PM

Is your car a pussy magnet?

Fluppen · 13-11-2020 12:54PM

Potatoeman wrote: »

Is your car a pussy magnet?

LOL it's a bad joke but it had to be made

Graces7 · 13-11-2020 12:56PM

endacl wrote: »

Ah, sure she's always posting mad stuff. Don't mind her.

Covering your precious car is sensible. Far from "mad" .

Knine · 13-11-2020 01:03PM

Graces7 wrote: »

Covering your precious car is sensible. Far from "mad" .

Preventing cats from wandering & being a nuisance is far more sensible!

Imagine having to cover & uncover your car every time you wanted to use it!

Jimmy Bottlehead · 13-11-2020 01:08PM

Graces7 wrote: »

Covering your precious car is sensible. Far from "mad" .

Ah Graces7, come on.
I've enjoyed and supported many of your posts down through many years, but to say that the car and/or owner are at any way responsible for this, and that the cat has the right to do it, is silly.

Washing a car with just water? Why should anyone have to do that? Covering the car? Same thing.

The issue is the cat. The cat needs to stop. The car owner doesn't owe it to the cat or their owner to facilitate a cat using their car as a trampoline. And I say that as a cat owner myself. If my (very fat) boy was doing this, it would have to be dealt with, in an appropriate manner that didn't impact the cat beyond amending it's behaviour.

tk123 · 13-11-2020 01:15PM

Many a motorbike cover here has ended up sprayed with p1ss and shredded by cats over the years... I would not recommend using a car cover...nor would expect somebody to do that as a solution. The lack of courtesy and understanding in this thread...Jesus wept. Some of us live in cities beside our neighbours and have to accommodate each other as best we can. Not everyone has a driveway or garage or an island to park their car on. Some of us have worked hard and actually like our cars - just because you haven’t done the same doesn’t give you the right to stick two fingers up at somebody who has.

The Continental Op · 13-11-2020 01:21PM

OP might like to try washing his car with something that has a citrus smell. Cats hate that. I've no idea if this would work but I'd give something like this a try https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemical-Guys-Citrus-Gloss-Concentrated/dp/B07F9XDVW7

Now you might say why should the OP have to bother but he's said its a 40 grand car I suspect he washes it occasionally

Graces7 · 13-11-2020 01:36PM

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Ah Graces7, come on.
I've enjoyed and supported many of your posts down through many years, but to say that the car and/or owner are at any way responsible for this, and that the cat has the right to do it, is silly.

Washing a car with just water? Why should anyone have to do that? Covering the car? Same thing.

The issue is the cat. The cat needs to stop. The car owner doesn't owe it to the cat or their owner to facilitate a cat using their car as a trampoline. And I say that as a cat owner myself. If my (very fat) boy was doing this, it would have to be dealt with, in an appropriate manner that didn't impact the cat beyond amending it's behaviour.

I merely suggested ways forward as the OP seemed very....distressed indeed and out of all proportion. IF the cat is allergic etc to the car wash used then the water wash will show that and he can change brand
End of problem

Cats are not malicious . There is always a real reason for their behaviour. This is recent behaviour so something about the car has set this off. A reaction to a chemical fits that possibility,

The real issue is the owner's reaction and yes he does have a responsibility to care for his property. So you snigger at every suggestion? But none of your own?

What is so terrible about covering the car! An easy enough task.

Neighbors Cat and our car

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