Ugh!!!

M2788 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 03:26 AM

So at 4:00 this morning after my new puppy had just finally dozed off to sleep, I tip-toed into the kitchen to get something to eat before sitting down at my computer in the living room for the first time in a while. I was in the middle of eating my yogurt when I heard this really weird noise coming from the kitchen; I ignored it at first since it has been a bit windy recently. Then I heard a loud bang, and I looked into the kitchen and saw that there was an animal in the house, and it wasn’t mine. The neighbor’s cat managed to get into my fenced-in yard and come in through the dog door, freaked out, and started climbing the curtains, knocking things over, and running around the house, which of course caused my own cats to get upset and made the dogs start barking and woke my puppy.

She (the neighbor’s cat) bolted into my roommate’s bedroom, so I woke her up, we ran in there, and we managed to pick her up and bring her into the hallway where my roommate’s Miniature Schnauzer decided it would be an excellent idea to launch himself at the cat in my roommate’s arms, causing her to get scratched and accidentally drop said cat, which of course led to her dog chasing the cat into the bathroom. I ran in there with them, closed the door, grabbed my roommate’s dog mid-snarl, and tossed him out into the hallway.

The cat was scared, thin, and covered in scabs but still wanted attention, which made me even more infuriated with my neighbors. I got a few pictures of her, we calmed her down, and brought her back outside. It REALLY ticks me off when people think it is okay to let their cats outdoors in a non-cat safe area. All because my neighbors are too lazy to keep their cat inside or build cat-proof fencing, my roommate’s painting in her room is damaged, my blinds and a whole bunch of my reptile supplies are knocked over, and my pets were all freaked out. We are going to talk to the neighbor about it tomorrow, though I doubt that will be very effective as they are too involved in their... less than responsible lifestyle, to put it nicely... to care overmuch about their pets. If this happens again I may just take the cat to the local no-kill humane society; at least there she’ll get a good meal and have a chance of a home with people who actually care enough for her to feed her and make sure she isn’t roaming around by a busy road.

Why does anyone even think this is alright? Why aren’t there laws about people keeping their non-canine pets in their yard? Especially animals as destructive and prone to getting in dangerous situations as cats are. If my Rottweiler (who wasn’t cat-friendly) was still alive, that cat very likely would have been killed. Heck, if no one had been around to get my roommate’s Mini Schnauzer off of her she probably would have been killed anyway, if not seriously injured. It just baffles me that this is okay by many people’s standards.

/End rant

Here are a couple of the photos of her; you can’t tell very much from the pictures but she is probably 3-4 pounds underweight. Her skeleton is VERY prominent when she is being handled. Sigh.

HERPHAPPY · #2 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 04:22 AM

Wow, and I'm just mad that my front yard (where I am crawling around planting new things) smells like cat pee!!!! I hate that! What if my dogs pee'd all over their place? Roaming animals is SO rude! And causing damage like your neighbors cat just did? I'd give them a bill! Just awful what you all went thru...

mongoose5971 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 03:37 PM

I am such an anti-outdoor cat person...I really don't even see the point. Kill wildlife, risk the safety of your pet, annoy neighbors, the list goes on. I had an abandoned cat find its way to our back door a few months ago, poor thing was starved for food and attention. It's really just sad.

Icicle · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 03:54 PM

Sorry to see the damage done.

How does one make a cat proof fence?
Our neighbors cat can climb over a 6' chain link fence, also can leap over a 4' picket fence, can dig under a fence, and I seen this.

nitram · #5 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 04:07 PM

give them the bill, or take em to small claims court.
this damage is their responsability not yours.
hope everything works out.

John_White · #6 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 04:28 PM

If you feel that the cat is neglected, call animal control.

Stargazer · #7 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 04:49 PM

Awww, beautiful cat. No tag or collar either. This bothers me, too. My neighbor (in a condo) has a free roaming cat, too, and it bothers me. But I know the cat would never get a home if I gave it to one of the overcrowded shelters here.

Tough call. If the cat broke anything in your house, your neighbors should pay for it.

Sakara · #8 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 06:26 PM

poor kitty... I agree with the others too, call animal control and make them pay for your damaged items... If it was me I probably would have taken the cat in >.< But I know not everyone can do that.. Hope the kitty gets the proper treatment it deserves

Rachel SS · #9 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 08:18 PM

Poor kitty. This is exactly why I have an indoor cat, and she is only allowed outside on a screened in patio.

I'm sorry to hear about all that stuff getting destroyed too. It's probably in the cats best interest to be adopted into a more caring home.

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