Problem with cat? or problem with neighbour??

Tashatutuw

Hello Lovely People,

The background to my post is that we have a terrible relationship with our neighbours, Mother and 3 daughters (the non conjoined side). In fact, the whole village dislike these people. We have had numerous confrontations with them about various things (I have had Mother and all 3 daughters hurling abuse at me before infront of my friends and family).

Last night one of the daughters came round whilst I was out and told my OH to 'control your ginger cat'. He was understandably confused. So he asked what she was talking about. She proceeded to tell him that our cat 'bullies' and 'beats up' one of their cats (we have 4 and they have 7).. My OH repeated to her something which her Mother once told us 'cats are free roaming animals there is nothing I can do' (one of her cats comes in through our windows and eats our cat food). To which she proceeded to give him a load of verbal and as her parting shot shouted over to him 'I will send you the vet bills'.

Where do you think we stand on this? I suspect if it ever came to it they would have little 'leg' to stand on as I cannot control where my cats wander nor what they do whilst they are out. I genuinely feel it would be cruel for me to lock my cats in the house after they have all always been outdoors animals, cats are territorial and will fight. I am interested in any advice.

p.s. the fighting is happening as much through the day as it is at night time.

dandelionclock30

Just ignore them, dont answer the door to them or get into a confrontation. If they verbally abuse you on the street you can report them to the police for harrassment.
Also I would be thinking about moving if its that bad. Theres not much you can do about the cat if he goes out. I think your best bet is to rise above it.

Tashatutuw

Thank you for your response dandelion - unfortunately, OH wouldn't move as our house is the house he grew up in with his Parents who have both now passed, he is very sentimental about our home. Luckily, next door have their house for sale! Unluckily, it has been for sale for 3 years and they have had no interest..

I agree with rising above it. I am surprised OH even answered the door to her let alone entered into a conversation but I think he was shocked at the audacity. I only wondered whether anyone knew anything contrary to my belief that cats are classed as 'free roaming' and therefore we had only little responsibility for its behaviour. I have done quite a lot of research on Google and this appears to be the case.

meritaten

you are right in that cat owners are not liable for the actions of their cats. so if you get a vet bill - ignore it.

martinthebandit

meritaten wrote: »

you are right in that cat owners are not liable for the actions of their cats. so if you get a vet bill - ignore it.

That is not actually correct.

'cats are considered to have a legal 'right to roam'- although this does not release the cat owner from potential liability and responsibility under the law if their pet causes damage to another person or the property belonging to them'

atrixblue.-MFR-.

martinthebandit wrote: »

That is not actually correct.

'cats are considered to have a legal 'right to roam'- although this does not release the cat owner from potential liability and responsibility under the law if their pet causes damage to another person or the property belonging to them'

I'd interested how a court case is won with a cat causing damage to another, property or person?


how do you control a cat from causing damage to property? especially outdoor cats (by keeping a outdoor cat indoors, that's considered cruel by some cat people).

how do you stop a cat doing damage to person why the heck will it damage a person other than thinking its defending itself if a person has picked it up and it doesn't like it.


cat owners are NOT responsible like dog owners for damage to property or person or cat to cat fights either!.

krlyr

http://www.cats.org.uk/uploads/documents/cat-care-leaflets-2013/EG13_Cats_and_the_law.pdf (PDF link)

The Common Law Duty of Care
It is a commonly held view that cats have a ‘right to roam’
wherever they wish. This view is largely based upon the fact
that certain duties imposed upon the owners of dogs and
livestock to keep their animals under control – the Road Traffic
and Dangerous Dogs Acts – do not apply to cat owners. The
law in these respects recognises that, by their nature, cats are
less likely to cause injury to people or damage to property than
some other animals.
However, cat owners do have a general duty at law to take
reasonable care to ensure that their cats do not cause injury
to people or damage to property. In practice, cases involving
damage to property or injury to people by cats are few and
far between.

May be hard to prove, but doesn't change the fact that there is a duty there. Personally, regardless of law, I wouldn't want to be a nuisance to my neighbour if I could avoid it. Nevermind how they act, or how many people they've upset, in life the only person's actions you can really control are your own. You've been made aware of an issue, and if it were me, I would be trying to find a way to resolve the issue. If keeping the cats indoor isn't an issue, I'd maybe look into fencing options to perhaps prevent your cats getting access out of, and her cats getting in via, that side of the garden (or your whole garden) - you could always give access from the front or perhaps side of the house to try to discourage them from too much interaction with this neighbour's particular cats.

CharlieRabbit01

martinthebandit wrote: »

That is not actually correct.

'cats are considered to have a legal 'right to roam'- although this does not release the cat owner from potential liability and responsibility under the law if their pet causes damage to another person or the property belonging to them'

Cat owners are not responsible for their pets actions.

I refer you to Martin's own page on pet insurance:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cut-pet-insurance-costs

Quote "Cats, however, are considered 'free spirits' by law courts and so, as an owner you are not legally responsible for their actions"

meritaten

martinthebandit wrote: »

That is not actually correct.

'cats are considered to have a legal 'right to roam'- although this does not release the cat owner from potential liability and responsibility under the law if their pet causes damage to another person or the property belonging to them'

Would you like to give the forum details on any court case where a claim for damages against a cat owner has resulted in the owner being 'fined'? as in 'vet bills for cat fight'?

Tashatutuw

krlyr wrote: »

http://www.cats.org.uk/uploads/documents/cat-care-leaflets-2013/EG13_Cats_and_the_law.pdf (PDF link)



May be hard to prove, but doesn't change the fact that there is a duty there. Personally, regardless of law, I wouldn't want to be a nuisance to my neighbour if I could avoid it. Nevermind how they act, or how many people they've upset, in life the only person's actions you can really control are your own. You've been made aware of an issue, and if it were me, I would be trying to find a way to resolve the issue. If keeping the cats indoor isn't an issue, I'd maybe look into fencing options to perhaps prevent your cats getting access out of, and her cats getting in via, that side of the garden (or your whole garden) - you could always give access from the front or perhaps side of the house to try to discourage them from too much interaction with this neighbour's particular cats.

Just wondering if you have ever met a cat?

How do you think cats (who climb trees) can be kept in by a fence? Do you plan for me to put a roof on my fence? My cats have always been outdoors cats and roam the fields and woods surrounding my area regularly, if we have ever had to keep them in (medication reasons etc) they are inconsolable and try desperately to get out at the merest crack of the door (and you would be surprised how quick such sleepy animals can be).

I accept that if they cause problems to property or a person I could potentially be liable but considering that within the 4 houses each side of me there are over 20 cats I fail to see how all can be controlled. My cats have often been battered - do I seek recompensation from them as I know on occasions it has been their cat. Their cats come INTO my home and steal food from my kitchen and from my cats - do I take my Tesco shopping bill round to them?

I agree in extreme cases that owners can be held liable but cats by nature are free spirited and territorial - they fight. Fact. If they bring a bill round, I shall pop it back through their post box.

Thank you to all who have replied

arbroath_lass

Tashatutuw wrote: »

How do you think cats (who climb trees) can be kept in by a fence? Do you plan for me to put a roof on my fence?

http://www.protectapuss.co.uk/cat-fences/

(Other cat-proof fences are available)