My cat got into a neighbours house and caused some damage. Am I liable to pay?

Question

He left the door open and then when he left, he didn't know my cat was in there.

Answer 1

I think you are. You are morally, if not absolutely liable.

Answer 2

yes you might be held liable the cat is your pet and you are theoretically responsible for his behavior unless there are extenuating circumstances like he left his door open came home and found your cat inside at which point he started chasing and throwing things at your cat at which point the cat would run in panic and could hardly be at fault if his behavior is good otherwise but if your cat caused malicious damage that is another matter what kind of damage did he do break something or leave a present on the carpet ?

Answer 3

I dont think you are responsible,if the neighbour left the door open and a burglar entered causing damage,i doubt very much if an insurance company would pay out because it would be classed as negligence,so i dont think its your cats fault as he/she probably panicked because it could not get out.

Answer 4

I think that a $160 bill is pretty cheap for that kind of cat damage. I also think that the neighbors are partly at fault - after all, they left the door open and didn't notice that a strange animal had gotten inside their house. If you had gone to court over this issue, it's possible that a judge would have asked them to split the cost of damages with you. It's also possible that you would have been stuck with the whole bill. I think you are wise to just pay it and forget it. It will save a lot of bad feelings later. However, if they told you that was the total cost of damages for the incident, it would have been a good idea to put "final payment" or "damages paid in full" in the memo line of your check to protect yourself in case they decide later to ask you for more money. Your cancelled check could then serve as proof that they had already been satisfied with your compensation. Your neighbors may be nickel-and-diming you on purpose, or they may honestly think that they are entitled to the extra charges and do not mean to be taking advantage of the situation. Lots of perfectly honest people are just confused about their rights. However, it may help to think of the costs you shouldn't have paid as compensation for their inconvenience. From watching People's Court, here's how I understand their actual damages (which may or may not have needed to be shared between you): Screens - the total costs of rescreening the cat-damaged screens. The bent screen replacement may or may not be proveable as cat damage. But if the screen replacement counts as a damage, they do not also get the cost of repair. If it was bent when they asked you to rescreen it, then they probably shouldn't have come back and asked you to replace it. However, if you can't prove it was already bent, you are out of luck. Soap - if they had to buy special soap to get the urine out of their comforter, then you need to pay for the whole box, if that was the smallest size they could get. If they just bouht more of their regular laundry soap that they use everyday, you only have to pay for the amount they used on the comforters. Sheets - they are entitled to the cost of the depreciated value of the sheets that were damaged. If the sheets were 10 years old, they aren't worth as much as sheets they bought last year, and unless they bought the sheets last month, they aren't worth as much as brand-new sheets. And if the only sheets were, say 200 thread count cotton, they don't get to buy new 600 threadcount Pima sheets. Mattresses - if the urine can't be washed out of the mattresses, they would get the depreciated value of the mattresses (not the cost of new replacements). Cleaning services - they get the cost of any dry cleaning or steam cleaning they need to do - whether they rent a machine or hire someone. But if they hire someone, they don't necessarily get the priciest person in town. They would be entitled to the lowest estimate for any service that would do a good job. And I don't think you should have to declaw him. There may be tougher screens you can get for your windows.

Answer 5

Sorry to say, but yes you are. If you left your back door open to let in fresh air and left, forgetting that you did, and you were robbed, or your home trashed, would that mean that it was YOUR fault? No, no one, human or little critters should be in someones home un-invited. Sorry, and I hope you had a long talk with your bad kitty, lol.

Answer 6

YES! You are as liable as if it was your own kid playing in the neighbors house...

Or, if your "dog" bit the neighbor, do you think you would be liable? Well, its the same thing, he, (the cat), bit him in the wallet, and he is taking it out of your pocket!

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 7

It varies by jurisdiction; but cats, unlike dogs, are recognized by the law as not being subject to control to a great extent. Thus their owners may not be held to the same standard of liability.

Notify your household insurer. They will look at the claim and, if you are liable, will pay it.

Answer 8

Hi,

I would say its your neighbours fault, as he didnt secure his property correctly.

If a burgular got in there afyter he didnt secure it properly , it would be his fault, so wheres the difference in an animal?

Its the moral thing can you live without the gulit? I would say if he has insurance get him to claim, and offer to pay the excess. If he doesn't have insurance then perhaps come to some arrangment of what you should pay for.

Me personally i would say to him tough luck sort it yourself!! Its his fault!!
R x

Answer 9

Hi,
No your are not liable for any damages. As in your country INDIA female can do any thing.

Answer 10

Be an honest person and talk to your neighbor, after all pets are like underage kids so, you're responsible for them.Do the right thing and good luck!

Answer 11

yes. its an owners responsibility to contain thier animals.

The same rule applies to pets as it does to my farm animals in this respect.

Its not his responsibility to check where you cat is, where would that end ?

"lunar" and "andy" are totally wrong. We have to have liability insurance incase any of our animals, including our chickens and ferrel cats ( which aren't even "ours" as such, they just live in the barns, they just arrived ), cause damage off our property.