Cat fight

tiernsee

i would welcome some views/advice from other MSE/cat owners.

I've been on holiday, went round to my parents yesterday to be told that a week ago a woman turned up at their door shouting and swearing at my 80 year old mother that one of their cats (they have two snowy bengals) had attacked her cat, hurt its paw and this woman was going to take my mother to the small claims court for £500 for vet bills.

My mother almost collapsed and is understandably very upset. She doesnt know the name or house where this woman lives. I have thought of phoning the non-emergency police line to report this verbal assault, what do you think?

Also is it reasonable for one cat owner to pay another after their cat's fight? The cats are neutered, as I know Tom cats can be quite aggressive. Can an owner be taken to court because of a cat fight?

I would appreciate any collective wisdom or advice from this site on appropriate next steps. I have told my Mum that if this woman comes back not to engage with her but to find out where she lives and I will go to see her. I'm rather shocked by the whole thing and my poor Mum is still having nightmares about it!

Thanks for your help

iammumtoone

Is your Mums cat injured? to cause another cat injuries of that extent your mums cats must be hurt or at least come back with blood on it?

Legally I don't think owners can be responsible for any damage their cats does, morally maybe, but this women lost all hope of getting some goodwill gesture out of your mother (if it was her cat) by her own actions.

I would ring 101 and report this so it is on file. I would not be asking your mother to engage with this women to find out her address but to phone the police if she turns up at her doorstep again. Due to her age once you have reported this I hope someone will visit/phone your mother to help put her mind at rest. I would stress on the 101 call how upset and threatened she felt by this women's behaviour.

Pop_Up_Pirate

I wouldn't bother with the Police and I wouldn't stress about the woman either.

Ignore it.

donnac2558

Neutered or not Bengal's are not suppose to be let out to roam. They are bigger than normal moggies and since part wild cat in the genes seems they need to be house or have fenced in gardens.

I remember watching a tv show a few years back and the police were called because someone's Bengal was causing problems attacking small dogs in this case. They just advised because of the breed it should not be allowed to roam the neighbour.

Cat fights happen and I have never ever heard of a court case or claim because of injuries from one.

iammumtoone

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with the Police and I wouldn't stress about the woman either.

Ignore it.

That would be the standard advise given to a working age non vulnerable adult but this lady is in her eighties, and having nightmares about it.

fizz

Get your parents to report the abuse to 101.

As an aside, do not let Bengals outside, unless the garden is cat-proof or they are on a harness.

They are not normal cats and shouldn't be treated as such.

fizz.x

GwylimT

Stop letting the cats out, problem sorted. It is what any responsible bengal owner would do and what any responsible pedigree breeder would insist on.

Fruittea

Sorry to hear about your problem OP. Your poor Mum.
I 've never come across an aggressive Bengal - in fact they are breed for friendliness.
See Wiki info: The name "Bengal cat" was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian leopard cat (P. b. bengalensis). They have a "wild" appearance with large spots/rosettes/arrowheads, and a light/white belly, and a body structure reminiscent of the ALC.[2] Once separated by at least four generations from the original ALC × domestic cat crossing, the breed possesses a gentle domestic cat temperament.[


If the cats have been spayed then they shouldn't be hunting down other cats. Perhaps it was the other cat who started it.
I have two huge Maine Coons which have a wonderful temperament but if other cats pick on them they would stand there ground in their own garden and they pack a punch but they wouldn't go after others.
Most cats need some outside time and it would be cruel not to let the cats out.
I would call 101 to make a complaint - not much they can do as you don't know where the woman lives and tell your tell your Mum not to open the door to the woman if she calls again. It would be very hard to prove that the cats had gone out of their way to attack another cat and most cats who get in a fight back down if they know they're in trouble. I wonder if the woman's cat caused the fight.

Kim_kim

Years ago I had a cat that liked a scrap (he was netured). He came home injured sometimes, I wouldn't have dreamt of persuing someone for his vets bills - nor would I have paid anyone else's!
It's something cats do, it's rare an innocent party gets injured, it's usually a couple of males that are partial to a scrap!
Cowards run in off & don't indulge!

I have a Burmese whom I KNOW for a fact hates other cats, he was castrated by the breeder & sold as a pet because he only wanted to fight, not mate the ladies!

iammumtoone

A cat does not go after another cat if they back down, so with cats regardless who 'starts' it, they are both to blame as they both choose to take the fight.

tiernsee

Thanks for the comments. To give you an update.

I contacted 101 and explained the situation they have logged the incident but cannot pursue it as they do not know where the woman lives or her name. My Mum has the log number and is advised to contact them should the woman come back. She feels much happier and secure, which is what this is all about.

With regards to the cats - they do not seem any more aggressive or larger than other cats they have had, and they have had Siamese, Abyssinan, Russian blue and plain moggies in the past. These are not pedigree Bengals their mother was a Bengal and their father a snowy Bengal. Personally it seems very cruel not to let cats outside, is this really what other Bengal owners do? I will look into the breed a little more, going over there today so will assess, most of the times I see the cat they are sitting on my lap, asleep and purring!

Thanks again for the comments, really appreciated