My neighbors are a-holes...how do I handle this??

[flordagirl]

I live next door to a family that has a cat they allow to roam freely into other people's yards. I hate cats. When I first saw some cats roaming around in my yard I tried to figure out who these cats belonged to. I was new in the neighborhood and didn't feel comfortable going door to door or asking people when I saw them outside, since they weren't very friendly when I first moved in and tried to introduce myself. So I tried a little experiment. I posted my wifi ID as a phrase that implied there was someone who lived in the neighborhood (myself) that did not appreciate people letting their cats roam free and eliminate on my property. A little while later I noticed the couple who lives on one side starting to act very standoffish and pretend they didn't see me whenever we happened to be outside at the same time. I heard one of them making cat noises one time when both of us happened to be in our backyards at the same time. There have been other times when one of them will make barking noises at my dog whenever she barks which is VERY RARE since I trained her to know when it's ok to bark and when it is not. She is not a nuisance barker. To make a long story short, it pisses me off when the guy does this and I have been tempted to shout back at him "Wow that's real mature!" But I don't want to stoop to his level. So what do I do when this guy starts taunting my dog? I was nice enough to not hurt his cat, and I keep my dog quiet and off his property. It pisses me off he and his wife refuse to show the same respect.

 

Another observation that made me determine one of the cats belongs to this family is that I see their cat litter container every week on the side of their curb along with their trash on trash day. Also because I witnessed them petting the cat while it was perched on the fence.

[MrBojangles]

If you plan on being neighbors with these people for a while, then I would recommend just ignoring them. Unless it's upsetting to your dog, then just ignore them. If you do confront them, do it very politely. Should things become confrontational, then you may be left dealing with vindictiveness and retaliation on an permanent basis.

 

You could always speak to them about their cat coming onto your property also. But if the cat is allowed to roam freely, it will climb and roam anywhere it pleases, including your property. An anonymous call to animal control could solve that problem is it continues to be an issue.

 

Above all, try to keep the peace with your neighbors, if not, they could make your life hell.

[darkmoon]

they knew the wifi was yours and are making fun of you, leave it, they are just as likely to be horrible to others, then you will be safe if you are all victims

 

but drop the immature overview and the expectation of respect, tbh, both are signs of some petulance on your part, cool it, they are just neighbours, so put up cat-proof fences

Edited August 20, 2015 by darkmoon

[Poppyolive]

To be honest, it was q bit of a passive aggressive move with your WiFi stunt. If you want to remain neighbours living in harmony then you need to not get involved in petty behaviours, like them barking at your dog. Try to refrain from making a comment back about this.

 

Do some research, you can get stuff to put on your lawn to keep the cat out. Safe stuff that's not going to hurt it. Enquire at pet stores. I think it would be wise and mature to suggest they get an outdoor litter box as the cats getting busy in your yard. It's impossible to stop your cat from roaming, if its an outdoor cat, but you can take steps to curb the stuff that's annoying you.

 

I think, sadly, your passive aggressive comment has riled them up. You need to try and fix that, make peace with that. Unless you want shjitty neighbours.

 

I know if it were me, the last thing I'd want is fighting tension between my neighbour and I. I'd approach it in a way without blame and criticism ln the grand scheme of things, its not a huge deal. I'd suggest a compromise, work on a solution.

 

Would having a mature discussion work for you?

[flordagirl]

 

 

It's impossible to stop your cat from roaming, if its an outdoor cat, but you can take steps to curb the stuff that's annoying you.

 

 

 

 

So it's okay for people to let their cats roam anywhere they want but not their dogs? How is that justified?

 

Would having a mature discussion work for you?

It's not possible for me to have a mature discussion with an adult who has shown himself to be immature.

[Poppyolive]

So it's okay for people to let their cats roam anywhere they want but not their dogs? How is that justified?

 

Never said it was justified. I never said anything about your dog roaming or not roaming free. All I said was its impossible to stop the cat. Especially because its an outdoor cat, so I suggested you get something for your lawn that the cat doesn't like. Nothing about your dog... Nothing about the cat being allowed and not your dog. No need to get so fired up. Jeez.

 

It's not possible for me to have a mature discussion with an adult who has shown himself to be immature.

 

alrighty then.

[Shining One]

Were you expecting them to not know that you were the owner of that WiFi SSID? It's very easy to determine the approximate location of the broadcasting access point. I would avoid using this experiment in the future if you hope to remain anonymous.

[gaius]

So it's okay for people to let their cats roam anywhere they want but not their dogs? How is that justified?

Dogs can bite people and take much larger dumps in general. Cats usually keep to themselves. Hence the double standard.

 

Though I will say since I've been down here I've seen dogs that are trained so well it kind of boggles my mind, being from the Northeast. To the point I can walk by with Timshel's dog and they'll never leave their own yard despite there being no kind of fence. Still, I don't know too many people who will back you for being mad a cat wandered into your yard. That's generally the cat standard.

[beatcuff]

So it's okay for people to let their cats roam anywhere they want but not their dogs? How is that justified?

 

in most locals cats are considered wild animals and therefore are free to roam, dogs are not: hence leash laws for dogs not cats.

[Mrin]

If it makes you feel any better, outdoor cats have much shorter lifespans than indoor cats. The problem usually resolves itself eventually.

[hotgurl]

I live next door to a family that has a cat they allow to roam freely into other people's yards. I hate cats. When I first saw some cats roaming around in my yard I tried to figure out who these cats belonged to. I was new in the neighborhood and didn't feel comfortable going door to door or asking people when I saw them outside, since they weren't very friendly when I first moved in and tried to introduce myself. So I tried a little experiment. I posted my wifi ID as a phrase that implied there was someone who lived in the neighborhood (myself) that did not appreciate people letting their cats roam free and eliminate on my property. A little while later I noticed the couple who lives on one side starting to act very standoffish and pretend they didn't see me whenever we happened to be outside at the same time. I heard one of them making cat noises one time when both of us happened to be in our backyards at the same time. There have been other times when one of them will make barking noises at my dog whenever she barks which is VERY RARE since I trained her to know when it's ok to bark and when it is not. She is not a nuisance barker. To make a long story short, it pisses me off when the guy does this and I have been tempted to shout back at him "Wow that's real mature!" But I don't want to stoop to his level. So what do I do when this guy starts taunting my dog? I was nice enough to not hurt his cat, and I keep my dog quiet and off his property. It pisses me off he and his wife refuse to show the same respect.

 

Another observation that made me determine one of the cats belongs to this family is that I see their cat litter container every week on the side of their curb along with their trash on trash day. Also because I witnessed them petting the cat while it was perched on the fence.

 

This is so disturbing. Nice enough not to hurt their cat. Why it is acceptable to abuse an animal. Do you get all pisssed if a racoon or skunk is in your yard? What about a stray cat? No one should ever hurt an animal.

[BlueIris]

This is so disturbing. Nice enough not to hurt their cat. Why it is acceptable to abuse an animal. Do you get all pisssed if a racoon or skunk is in your yard? What about a stray cat? No one should ever hurt an animal.

 

Exactly.

 

And squirrels bury nuts in the lawn.

 

OP, I think you're overreacting.

[hotgurl]

Exactly.

 

And squirrels bury nuts in the lawn.

 

OP, I think you're overreacting.

 

every spring my parents have peanut plants come up in their garden. And I always find acorns in mine. It is part a nature. You can't control everything.

[O'Malley]

Eh, neither the OP or her neighbors handled it well. And yes, the neighbors are being negligent and lazy about their cat's welfare. If they have a yard, even if it's small, there's no reason they can't build a catio. My SO and I constructed one for my two cats (I have a fenced in yard, but my one cat is an escape artist and won't sit in the yard on a leash like the other does), and both cats love it, plus they aren't at risk for being hit by a vehicle, killed by a predator or an irate homeowner.

 

If there's not an ordinance in your community banning it, then there are likely other cats roaming around, and that's besides the wild animals that will wander through on occasion. Your best bet is to make your yard as unattractive to intruders as possible. Look into cat repellent spray (gardening sites have plenty of alternatives that you can spread around your property line and wherever you routinely see the cat) and a motion sensor sprinkler system. A bit pricier is cat repellent fencing but if you hate the cat that much it might be worth looking into if other options don't work well. Nothing is 100% foolproof, but one or a combination of the methods above will likely scare the cat off of your yard. Just ignore the neighbors.

Edited August 20, 2015 by O'Malley

[flordagirl]

Were you expecting them to not know that you were the owner of that WiFi SSID?

 

Nope. I was looking for an reaction and obviously it worked.

 

It's very easy to determine the approximate location of the broadcasting access point. I would avoid using this experiment in the future if you hope to remain anonymous.

 

I already know that. Remaining anonymous wasn't something I was concerned about.

[flordagirl]

If it makes you feel any better, outdoor cats have much shorter lifespans than indoor cats. The problem usually resolves itself eventually.

 

True.

Too bad all these cat owners don't take heed.

[Hawaii51]

If there's another animal in your yard you have full right to trap it and take it to the SPCA, just saying.

[flordagirl]

Dogs can bite people and take much larger dumps in general. Cats usually keep to themselves. Hence the double standard.

 

 

Cats also bite, and worse, scratch. And a dump is a dump, no matter the size. Smaller dumps don't make the animal anymore special or privileged than any other.

 

Though I will say since I've been down here I've seen dogs that are trained so well it kind of boggles my mind, being from the Northeast. To the point I can walk by with Timshel's dog and they'll never leave their own yard despite there being no kind of fence.

 

Probably because the owners had an invisible fence installed.

 

Still, I don't know too many people who will back you for being mad a cat wandered into your yard. That's generally the cat standard.

 

Exactly. "The Cat Standard"

[flordagirl]

Ok that's really wonderful that so many people here want to express their cat-loving opinions but let's stick to my original question on how to deal with my a-hole neighbors. K? thx.

[flordagirl]

If there's another animal in your yard you have full right to trap it and take it to the SPCA, just saying.

 

I actually had been making plans to do exactly that, since cayenne pepper and other methods hadn't kept them out.

[Hawaii51]

I actually had been making plans to do exactly that, since cayenne pepper and other methods hadn't kept them out.

 

I have a strong dislike for cats, especially orange ones. This is my only humane and legal advice for you. godspeed.

[hotgurl]

I actually had been making plans to do exactly that, since cayenne pepper and other methods hadn't kept them out.

 

I think you do that esp if you want to escalate the situation with your neighbors.

 

Just think it could be a contest of who could be the bigger *******.

[flordagirl]

This is so disturbing. Nice enough not to hurt their cat. Why it is acceptable to abuse an animal. No one should ever hurt an animal.

 

That's wonderful that you feel the need to express your personal feelings about me and assume I'm an animal abuser, but I can't find where you addressed my question on how to handle the neighbors.

[flordagirl]

I think you do that esp if you want to escalate the situation with your neighbors.

 

Just think it could be a contest of who could be the bigger *******.

 

Sorry that you feel taking legal action is considered a contest of who could be the bigger *******.

[hotgurl]

Sorry that you feel taking legal action is considered a contest of who could be the bigger *******.

 

Sometimes is can be a d&ck thing to do.

 

Also if you had a problem why didn't you go over and speak to them in person in the first place, instead of being passive aggressive and changing your wifi password?