Should I own up?

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filly190

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A neighbours cat has been stalking the hens in our garden for weeks now and driving our dogs to dispair. The hens are seperated from the dogs, well until yesterday when the dogs driven mad by this cat got through. I was watching from my upstairs window and could not get down in time to stop my dogs from catching and attaching the cat.

We got to the dogs and pulled them off, the cat was in a terrible mess and nearly dead. So my partner put the cat in a box and took it to the vets which is on our road. He did'nt say much to the vets, other than he had found this cat and it was'nt his and left them to get on with it.

On the cats collar we saw that our next door neighbour but one owns it. So here is the problem, do we go round and tell them what has happened? or do we just leave it be. We dont want to carry the vets bill as its not our cat.

Your opinions would be very welcome please.
 
Hum....a hard one, this is the risk us cat owners take letting our cats roam freely, it's not like u intentionally set your dogs onto the cat, which is the only instance that would make me go mad if it where my cat, and you did the responsible deed of handing the cat into the vets, therefor saving it's life.
If I where u, I would prob not fess up, and with a bit of luck the cat will now steer well clear of your garden and dogs in general if it's knows whats good for it.
If it was my cat, I would take full responsibility of my own bill as it's a risk I take when allowing my cat to wonder into gardens with dogs in them, but your neighbours may kick up a fuss, so maybe best to leave it.
 
In an ideal world you should really, but I wouldn't to be honest as would they tell you? (I know this isn't the way to look at it but)

You did the right thing by taking it to the vets, maybe to ease your mind, get a stay away thingy to deture cats from coming into the garden.

Good luck
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I would post a letter to them saying what happened, or even just saying their cat is at the vets, so they know where it is and yes, I would actually tell them as otherwise, how will they know to stop it happening again?
 
Assuming if the cat was such a mess that the vet had to put it down I don't see the point of confessing. It would upset the owner to know there cat had been ripped apart and so long as they know it's dead and not just missing then I'd forget it. Even if it lived and the owners are left with a big vet bill I wouldn't feel responsible though it must have been horrible for everyone especially the cat
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This is my worst nightmare
 
I would want to know if it were my cat, sorry! I don't actually like cats very much but we have had them just go missing before and it has left my mother very upset.

My dogs' sire caught a next-door cat which had been taunting him for years and while it managed to get away, the breeder noticed it only had three legs left and the dog had bitten it clean off.

He steeled himself and went round to the neighbours to solemnly apologise, only to be told it had been a tripod for quite some time already.
 
Difficult one, but I think I would ring the vet to find out about the cat, just to make sure if he/she was ok but as there was a tag/collar then the vet would ring and let the owner know, so tbh i wouldnt fess up as it could cause problems.
 
Yes please tell them. My cat is a wanderer - it's the nature of the beast. I'd be devastated if he just vanished and I wouldn't blame your dogs but I'd want to know what had happened!
 
I assume the vets will inform the owner if the cat has a tag as OP suggested, if not might be best to inform vets who's it is by a call to the vets, know one would have to know it was the person who handed it in.
 
in my opinion and im probably going to get shot down for this but hey. the cats that come round my stables are running the risk i dont particuly want them there and the owners even had the cheek to say "make sure your dogs dont get my cats" to which i replied only way u can gaurantee it is to keep them where you no where they are. at the end of the day its my property if i let my dogs they would run all over aswell. i know cats a diff natured but thats there choice to own one not my problem. i would have done same and just leave it the vets will contact them. hopefully the cat will survive and learn..........
 
You could let them know annomasly what has happened to their pet wouldnt't be fair to just leave it , how would you feel if it was the other way around . would you like the person to leave it. good luck
 
Hi, Many thanks for your replies. The cat had a collar on which gave its details, so when we took it to the vet which is on our road we knew that they would be able to ring our neighbour and tell them.

We have'nt actually done anything and none of our other neighbours have mentioned it. It does weigh very heavily on us, but we dont want to have any trouble with these neighbours and fear that should we admit, we may find ourselves in a neighbour dispute.

We are confident that the vet would have informed the owners as an address and phone number where on the collar, all we can hope for is that the cat was dealt with swiftly and has not suffered.
 
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