General Chat

I received a call from my neice tonight (who lives over the road from me) to say my cat was fighting with one of the other local toms. So, I put my shoes on and went to get him in. The owners of the other cat were out looking for theirs too. The torrent of abuse I got from them was unbelievable! They accused my cat of terrorising the neighbourhood (difficult to believe as he's 9 and a bit of an old chap now), said he goes in their house and pees everywhere (again difficult to believe as he won't even use the litter tray indoors - wakes me in the middle of the night if he wants to do the business and I have to get up, let him out and wait for him to go back) and said that my cats have driven one of their cats away. Every other word out of their mouths was a swear word and what they didn't say was nobody's business. The wife said if she ever caught my cat she would kill it. She said she would wrap string around it's throat and strangle it - I said if she did, I would do the same to her. Then she said she hoped she saw it when she was in her car, as she would run it over. This is a person with her own cat - how you possibly even say something like that about an animal if you supposedly love animals enough to have one as a pet???? She then went to hit me, but her husband stood in front of her and wouldn't let her pass. I can't believe all this over a cat! I've been to the police station and reported her and they are going to pay her a visit, but I am so angry. I am also going to contact the other animal welfare centres in the area to make sure she can never get another cat from any of them. Have any of you got any other ideas of things I can do? Or have you been in a similar situation? What really worries me is that my other cat 'disappeared' in June - never usually wandered very far - and now I'm thinking did they have anything to do with it? I am so angry and upset that people could be so horrible to a defenceless animal. Sorry, rant over! AL

I can understand how angry and upset you must feel and that person sounds awful, really rough. I hope the Police scare her into behaving. I would wait a day or two to calm yourself before contacting the Animal Welfare places otherwise you might sound angry and malicious, talking when you have calmed down might make them take more notice of you, hope I haven't offended you by saying that but know how I can sound when I am riled. Are you sure your cat doesn't go into her house and pee? My elderly neighbour adopted a cat her grandson found abandoned and Toby was a good old cat, I used to brush the tangles out cos she couldn't get down to do it, and I was the one who had to take him to the vet etc etc. After a while, a neighbour over the road who had three cats came to me and asked how she could tell the elderly lady that Toby had been going in the cat flap while she was out, and had fought with one of her cats and there was blood and poo all over her little boy's bedroom where her own cat had obviously taken refuge. She said Toby had been going in for a while and pinching their cats' food altho he had his own at home and a cat flap to go in and out but elderly neighbour always locked the flap so he was in at night before she went to bed. This young woman had found Toby in jer's several times and shooed him out, and then things got worse and she had to take her cat to the vet to be stitched up. She started closing all the internal doors in her home, so her own cats could only use the hall and kitchen but then Toby went in and started spraying at the door post. It was quite a relief when elderly neighbour had to go into a home and the cat went to live with her daughter's friend. Of couse I missed her like mad but it solved the problem. So you see, these things can happen even with an older cat - I just wanted to tell you that so you could ponder it a bit in case this woman was telling the truth, altho that still doesn't mean she can be abusive or threaten you or the cat. I hope you can get things sorted out so your cat is safe. Liz

Dont know much about cats but I know I am still fretting about the anonymous letter I had about my dog. Saying that he is in the yard 24/7 and I should show him a little humane kindness and give him to the RSPCA. Obviously this person is not out of bed until gone 9am or they would see me jogging with the dog to and from the beach almost every day. Only recently we discovered our neighbours had had 3 anonymous notes compaining about their rabbits......... One of our neighbours recently got a ginger cat and it started coming into our garden and threatening our dog so I bought a water squirter ready as it was vicious towards me as well. Not seen it since so have not had a chance to use the water squirter.....

What a nasty ??????????better not say what I think lol. tom cats will spray to mark what they think is ' theirs' or want. Even their owners if they think another cat want's them. Maybe her own cat is spraying due to another cat being in the house. Imagine threatning to do that to your cat that's terrible. I take it both tom's have been ''done' if not that help's keep them in a bit more. Site is slow today, I hope you get it, or HER sorted lol Marion

Hi AL I am horrified by what you have told us. What a thoroughly nasty woman ! Did any third party hear what she said about your cat? I was just thinking that may help with your police complaint?. I don't blame you for being furious I would be too. We have neighbours cats that come into our front garden to poo and they frequently sit on our newly cleaned cars too !! and it is irritating, but as a cat owner myself, I reconcile it by thinking my cats are probably doing the same elsewhere. I hope the police give her the reality check she deserves.

What is it with`people and animals. My next door neiighbour bought her 5 cats from UK to Spain and has had lots of problems with the Spanish couple who live next door to me. Same sort of thing cat peeing in house etc. But in Spain there are loads of street cats so how she knows which is which I do not know I have a westie - 13 next month - who cane ti start a bew life in Spain with us - now some Spanish love animals and some not. We pick up any mess she makes in the street - which she does in road - the Spanish just open their doors and the dogs take themselves for a walk doing their business anywhere and everywhere. I have been reduced to tears a few times since living here in Oliva - once Whiskey was sniffing corner of a building and a woman came and went to kick her - wont tell you what I shouted out . I was not very ladylike I tell you. Another recently an old Spanish lady stopped us and complained that I was throwing dirty water out in the street and it was running past her house - in fact it was bleach water I threw out over the drain where Whiskey pees . I know I am in their country but I get so annoyed . one rule for Spanish dogs and another for English. Oh well, got that off my chest. I do feel sorry for you but at least the police will go round and quote the law to her. Mary in Spain

If you,ve got Cats as we have, and want to stop others from coming through the Cat Flap, get one which is Magnetic type.fit magnets onto your own cats and it will only open for them.You can get them from most good Pet Shops. I must say though that the person who was swearing at you seems to be a nasty piece of goods and needs reporting' when you are much calmer'. Hal.

As far as I'm concerned, this stupid couple have shot themselves in the foot. As I see it, she's made these threats so if one of your cats went missing, I'd tell her - and the police - that I'd taken her words literally! She sounds all gob to me, but I'm sure the RSPCA, Cat Protection etc would be very interested in her threats, and the fact that she has her own cat. I'll leave it there: I have plenty more to say about these sort of people, but I'm a lady! lol Good luck. x

oh AL just read this how awful for you. I have a cat so do alot on my street but everyone respects each others cats, we know em all by name. This woman is horrid and not fit to have such a beautiful animal in her home. I would definately report her that way god forbid if anything happened they have your warning down on record. People like this make me sick, pretend to be animal lovers but they are not. I do hope your cat will be fine, if she makes any more threads go to the police. catherine xx

That's terrible AL ! I would definitely talk to the police - do you have a local community bobby that you could chat to??

No cat owner can ever be fully confident that their cat is not doing anything to upset a neighbour. I train all my cats to use a tray indoors, but I have no idea what they do when they are out of sight so I don't get complacent. That having been said, if you have an issue with a neighbour over anything, whatever it is, there is a right way to deal with it and a wrong way. The right way is through a calm and reasoned discussion. The wrong way is through screaming and threats. Your neighbour has crossed an important line. I suggest waiting till things calm down before doing anything more - maybe keep an eye on your cat to see if there could possibly be any truth in what she's saying. If he won't use a litter tray in your house that doesn't mean he's against fouling indoors - just that he won't foul his own home, which is normal. Cats are also extremely territorial and even the mildest can turn into a lion if they feel they need to make a point. I have a very meek cat who turns tiger if confronted by a particular neighbourhood feline. Hope you do resolve this as neighbours who are cat owners should, when they are in a reasonable frame of mind, appreciate each others' position. I have recently had issues with a new family whose cats are using my garden as a toilet and it has taken some talking and creativity, but we're coming to a solution. Angela

What i would like to do this nasty women i cannot print on here, but i do hope the police scare the living 'poo' out of her. I hate abuse of any form, but to animals or young children i get so mad. My cat is 10, she used to have a twin, but she wandered off one day and never came home (like yours, never went out of her garden normally), so Pepsi is now a house cat, might sound cruel, but she is happy and i know she is safe. x

Thanks for all your comments - sorry I've taken a while to get back to you, but I've been out most of the day. A lovely policewoman who is a cat lover (has two of her own) came 'round this morning and took all the details. She met Bud and could see what a terror he was - laying at her feet while she tickled him and purring! She asked if I would like her arrested, but I said at the moment I would rather the police just warn her and her husband - which she did. She's spoke about their cat flap and said they should either lock it or use a magnetic one - otherwise other cats are likely to enter their house, but the WPC thinks that fell on deaf ears! They asked her to ensure I get Bud neutered - he was years ago!! I don't think we'll have any problems now, but if we do I need to get straight on to our community officer, who will be told of the situation. My OH is the Chairman of the local Parish Council, so he knows (as I do) the Community Officer very well. I can't say Bud doesn't go in there - cats are cats and go where they want basically, but they can stop him by making changes to their catflap - if they don't how can they complain? If we leave our doors open various neighbourhood cats come in and have a cuddle, or some treats -we all do it - there are loads of cats around here! What I still can't comprehend though, is that someone who appears to love cats - by having her own - could say she could do such terrible things to another cat???? I can't say on here what I'd like to do to her and her husband, but I wouldn't dream of harming an animal. AL