I trapped my neighbors cat and now they are angered...how do I correct this?

Question

For the past 4 months, my neighbors cat has wandered the neighborhood...and EVERY MORNING I come out to my car and see a fresh set of paw prints all over my car!!!

Each and every morning, I discover that this cat spent the evening walking all over my car. I can't imagine the havoc this is causing my paint job.

I've talked to them several times, and asked them to keep their cat indoors...all to no avail.

So, I went out and purchased a squirrel trap (the guy told me this is a humane way to trap cats)...I put some tuna fish in the trap and low and behold I found the cat in there yesterday morning.

I knocked on the neighbors door w/ the trap in hand, but they weren't home. So I left the trap w/ detailed instructions on how to open it on their doorstep so when they got home they could get their cat out.

Well, they were ANGERED with me to the point where they threatened physical violence. I didn't want it to come to this, so how can I correct this situation?

Answer 1

You did your best. Your neighbors SHOULD have controled their cat, and were lucky that you caught him before he got shot or poisoned.

If your neighbors are going to threaten you when their own stupidity caused the problem in the first place, you would be well within your rights to involve law enforcement people.

Answer 2

I agree with some of the other solutions such as the car alarm or car cover. If you use the car alarm, the cat will get scared a number of times (You'll have to be a little patient while the cat learns, it'll take a while) but eventually it'll learn that - step on the shiny car = loud noise!! ACK! I think seriously that is the best solution. You can't train a cat as you would a dog - they have to learn through their own experiences.

The thing with your neighbours letting their cat out, it is really their decision and it would hard for them to keep it as an indoor cat since it's an outdoor cat from the start. If I had an outdoor cat (which I have had in the past) I would be upset about a neighbour trapping it too. I would see it as 'infringing on a living thing vs inanimate object (your vehicle) that the cat is really not harming'. But I would work with the complaining neighbour to find a solution. To patch things up with them perhaps you could apologize, explain the frustration you were feeling and tell them your new solution. Explain that there might be some loud alarms through the night but it's a more humane solution and hope that they will work with you.

Goodluck

Answer 3

Maybe you can call a truce with the neighbors and suggest they go in halfs with you on a car cover. Another option, besides the car alarm, is to place a motion activated sprinkler system near your car. Cat gets near and he gets a nice, wet welcome. He won't stick around long. If you live in a cold area, though, this isn't
a good option for winter. But, if you do this during summer, he'll probably learn to stay away for good and you won't have to deal with it next winter.

I can tell that you are extremely aggitated about the paw prints. If you went to such extreme lengths to trap the cat, then you must be really upset about this. How much did this trap cost you? Would a car cover have been much more expensive?

I agree that neighbors shouldn't have to deal with cats in their yards and on their property. Cats are much better off being indoor only, but that's not always an option. I have 2 cats right now, one indoor only & the other indoor outdoor, simply because he was a stray that I took in. He only goes out when I'm home and he's never out at night. He only goes out a few hours at a time. Still, I'm sure there are neighbors that don't appreciate him in their yards, but fortunately, no one has gone so far as to try to trap him or harm him.

You are within your rights to get mad and even to trap the cat, although you DID entice the cat into the trap with tuna. Are you certain that it's ONLY the neighbor's cat that's doing this? Could it be other cats, as well? If you trapped MY cat, I'd threaten you with physical violence,too. And you'd better hope he lived a long and happy life, or I'd blame you. And trust me, you wouldn't want that. I'd back off on the trap thing, if I were you. People can get pretty nutsy about their pets. Just being honest.

Too bad it's gone so far, but at least the neighbors know you're serious about it. Try to be calm and explain your situation and your frustration that they haven't been taking you seriously and respecting your property. If that happened to me, I'd probably go in with you on the car cover, because my cat means that much to me.

Good luck,

Cave

Answer 4

I don't see anything wrong with what you did.
I love cats, but as an owner it is MY job to ensure that my cat does not get outside and irritate my neighbours and if they do, it's MY duty to apologize to THEM.
Someone said it is cruel to keep a cat indoors - this is true; in fact, it is proven that indoors cats are healthier, safer, and live longer. You're obviously a decent guy, but what if you weren't? I wouldn't want to risk my cat with some psychotic guy - your neighbours are irresponsible. Someone also said "what if a bird crapped on your car?" that's different - no one owns those birds. But if a big domestic parrot flew over your windshield and took a crap on it every day, then you could address this issue with the owner of the parrot.

Anyhoo, I think that, in the interest of getting along with your neighbours, you should apologize, sort of. Bring them a basket of cookies or a few beers and say you're sorry to made them angry by trapping their cat, but that you didn't have any other options. Say you don't want to cause in ill feelings, but that it's up to them to control their cat and that you don't want it walking on your car. I mean, would they want someone else's kid running up and putting dirty hand prints on their windows? Same thing.

If the cat is still walking on the car, I would write them a final letter stating that you're not an animal hater and have tried to resolve this problem peacefully and humanely, but that you will not tolerate their cat walking on your car anymore. That it is THEIR responsibility to control their cat, to keep it in their yard or in their house. And if they don't, you will contact the humane society about it, because what they are doing is illegal.

Or you can just do the non-confrontational thing and buy a cover for your car or just sponge the paw prints off. They won't hurt your paint job.

Answer 5

It is my belief that cats belong inside where it is safe, but some think that is hurting the poor kitty not to let it roam. When in REALITY there are so many dangers that the poor thing will be lucky to live past 3 years old.
Although you did not harm the cat I am like alot of the others here that do not think material things are more important than life. Cars are easily replaced and you probably won't have it more than a few years anyway. Same goes with people that would rather torture and mutilate their cats by de-toeing because they don't want their precious furniture scratched.
Instead of investing money in a trap you should invest in a car cover or alarm. And tell them that you just didn't think of it and now regret your actions. But want to make amends.

Answer 6

Why correct it? They were warned and they did nothing. If they are threatening violence then you should do the same or at least let the police know what has taken place (all of it) and if they continue to allow their cat to roam free then you could threaten to call the humane society and have the cat taken to the pound or you can BUY a car cover for your car and let the cat walk all it wants.

Me, I'd piss all over their car every time I found cat prints on my car and I'd make sure that the piss went into the air ducts in front of the windshield so they'd smell it every time they turned on the air but that's just me and I'm vengeful not to mention a spiteful old cuss.

Answer 7

We have two problems here.

1) Irresponsible pet owners. Cats are indoor animals. These people are idiots.

2) Your concern for a worthless hunk of metal. Yeah. You probably paid out the @$$ for it. Is it not going to run anymore if it has paw prints on it? Only if it's a Ford.

Solution to problem 1-Contact the local ASPCA. Tell them what's going on. If nothing else,the ASPCA getting involved might scare your neighbors straight.

Solution to problem 2-That cat is probably freezing. It wants somewhere warm. Put a car cover on your car. It'll take 2 minutes to put on,2 minutes to take off,and if you're that concerned about your paint job? You should already have one. That cat isn't going to get through a car cover and it'll still have somewhere warm to curl up on for a while.

If you LIKE the cat (and well,at least you aren't some moron who wants to shoot it-good job on getting the humane trap. I commend you on that) you could always use a small dog house or something akin to it to give it a bit of cover while it's prowling your yard. On freezing,wintery nights? It'd really appreciate it.

I doubt your neighbors have anything for it to hide in or under to keep warm. -_-

Answer 8

Must not care too, much about their cat if they are letting it roam the neighborhood. If the cat is really bothering you, give a call to the humane society or your local city hall, they will assist you in setting the matter straight, (should be no such thing as an outdoor cat due to the risk of fights, hit by cars, contact with unvaccinated cats carrying FeLV, FIV, or other infectious diseases). As for you paint job, dirty paw prints won't do much, give em a good wipe and rinse and they will disappear.

Answer 9

If it were me, I would trap it again and take it to a no-kill shelter. They won't be able to prove you did anything with their cat as long as no one sees you. Since you trapped it once, hopefully they'll see just how serious you are about this and keep their cat inside. Cats shouldn't be outside anyways. Don't bother with the cops because they can't do anything anyway since cats don't have to have a license like a dog does. If you don't want to take it to a shelter, can you find a good home for it? Just don't hurt it; it doesn't know that it's doing any wrong.

Answer 10

Firstly, a little set of dusty paw prints won't wreak any havoc on your paint job. No more than leaves or bird doo, so you get it washed. Frankly I like little paw prints on my car, but to each their own.
Secondly, trapping your neighbors cat and then LEAVING it caged all day was wrong. The cat is now greatly agitated, could have harmed itself trying to claw or chew out of the cage... you really did cross boundaries here. Imagine if your child always played in your neighbors yard: and they trapped him and left him in a cage on your porch all day? no food, no water, no bathroom, afraid? it is nearly classifiable as assault, and if the victim were human, you bet your rump it would be. So why is their furbaby any different? I suggest if kitty prints agitate you to the point of violence you search E-bay for a reasonably priced car cover- or makes friends with kitty, which is much easier.
She probably likes you anyway ( well, did until you scared her) and was only visiting.

Answer 11

Are you so entirely vain that you are worried about paw prints on your car? Oh Please. If all you are seeing is prints and not scratches, you need to get over it, the cat is not hurting your car. Now if it IS scratching the car, you need to get out the video camera and tape the cat doing the deed, then file a small claims suit for damages. Against the owners, not the cat. Do not even THINK of harming that animal, its just doing what comes naturally, and if something does happen, you will be the prime suspect, and could open yourself to all sorts of hassels..like being arrested.