What to do about a neighbor with too many cats?

Question

I live in an apartment and right across the way is this 18 kid and his mother who had two cats that I was fine with. Well, now theres eight cats and I'm getting pissed. I wash my car and an hour later I have paws prints all over my hood and windshield. I'm planning on killing the cats, but I figured I wait and listen to some sane people before making my decision. I complained to the office but they don't seem to care. What should I do? Where the hell is Bob Parker when you need him?

I don't think there his pets. The two were strays originally and he fead them and now they don't leave.

Ok. First off I came on here to seek opinions from other people on what I should do. There's really no need to insult me and ask me who the hell I am on how many cats a family can have. I'm all for pets, they make are lives happier and I believe we live longer because of them. I'm trying to look out for all the cat lovers out there so they don't read or watch the news and hear about a cat mass murder. I don't plan to kill them but that option will always be on the table. Just as any other option.

Answer 1

Call animal control. There is a limit to the number of animals depending on size of the home.

Answer 2

Welcome to apartment living!!! Not much you can do- you're sure it's their cat marking your car??? Most cities don't have leash laws for cats and chances are that there's more cats than just those that live across the way. Put an alarm on your car- scares the hell out of em without hurting anyone- It'll only take a couple times of setting it off for the cats to start avoiding it. If the neighbors complain about the alarm going off in the middle of the night, then you can point the finger at the neighbor. Also there are covers you can get for your car you know- it'll protect it from other things such as sun exposure and bird crap. I guess my point is that there's always going to be something so just anticipate that.

Answer 3

I fail to see why killing is an option, and your first option at that.

Cats can be taken to the humane society--but you have to be sure they don't belong to the neighbors! Not all cats are strays. Not all strays are unowned. Ferals won't be around people at all, and usually don't come into an area with people.

Plenty of cars have plastic covers to protect against UV light and bird poop, you can get one of those. You can lay a floor rug over the hood. I see plenty of cars with cat and even dog prints on them at work in the parking lot, it doesn't tick off people there.

If you have a beef, call animal control about strays, but you have to be sure they're not owned pets or you become liable for their loss. They are owned 'property' in the eyes of the law.

This thing about 'killing' can get you in deep legal trouble in just about any city. It also says volumes about you and your possessions that it's your first and only choice that came to mind.

Answer 4

What are you thinking. Seriously. That's right, you are insane.

There is no reason why a family can't have 8 cats. If they are in good health and in the hands of good care then there is no problem with that.

You need to stop thinking about yourself. Who cares about paw prints in your car. Lock your car in a garage if there in one attached to the apartment building. You are the un-reasonable one. Why would you kill someone's cats for some marks on the car? Are you too out of shape to clean your car again? Cats are property and family. If you had any sense at all you would know that that is sick, cruel, and illegal. Seems like that kind of thing doesn't stop you.

Cats go outside, they are happy there. There is no reason why someone should lock their cats up in their house 24/7 because someone is worried that their precious car will get ruined.

Do not kill another persons cats. That is like if someone had 8 kids and they put hand-prints on your car. Read over this a good few times and think about what you have asked and maybe you won't ask these kind of questions again.

Answer 5

look, as long as the cats are fed and watered, theres nothing the council can do. How many times have you complained to the office? If you complain once then don't keep at them, of course they're going to ignore you, they aren't going to work if they don't think they have to. Your building should have annual general meetings to discuss any problems in the complex and if they don't, you could try talking to your other neighbours and ask if the cats bother them. If you find some like minded people, write up a petition and present it to your building manager. Failing that, but a cover for your car. They aren't that expensive and if thats all thats bothering you about the cats, it's really not a big enough deal to deprive a family of all their pets.

Answer 6

Two words for folks who think it's okay to kill animals: Michael Vick.

Talk to them, leave an anonymous letter, whatever, but tell them you will call animal control if they don't do something about their cats. That way they have a chance to do the right thing and find new homes for the cats or bring them inside. If they don't do the right thing, follow through and call animal control.

P.S. Women find paw prints on a car attractive. It shows a sensitive side (that you don't seem to actually have, but it'll seem you do).

Answer 7

You could check with your City to find out if they have any limitations on pets. If the cats are old enough to have been weaned, your neighbors may not be legally allowed to own that many. If they exceed the legal limit, call the city on them. They'll be forced to downsize. It doesn't matter what your apartment complex's rules are.

Sorry I can't give specific offices. I've never had to do it, but I know many cities have the rules and the folks to enforce it. I'm not sure if the ASPCA or Humane Society, or someone altogether, handles it but check around. A call to those types of businesses or your local courthouse can probably sort it out for you.

Answer 8

Call your landlord. Surely there is a policy as to how many cats a person can have in an apartment. If that doesn't work call the police or the local ASPCA and have them look into it. Please don't take the cat's lives. It's not their fault they have an irresponsible owner. Let the authorities do their job. In the mean time try to find some patience. Good luck

Answer 9

Okay there should be local bylaws against that many pets in that situation so you need to check that out first and lay a complaint if that's possible.

Next, some councils offer cat trap cages which you can catch them alive in if they stray around your area and then you bring the cat in one at a time to your local pound. You can hire these cages from the pound sometimes. Its worth it to get a result. These are all the legal ways which you should try first.

Answer 10

ok,i know your upset but if for some reason you do decide to hurt the cats its not worth it,if you get caught and chances are you will ,you can be charged with animal cruelty,your name could also appear in the newspaper or even the news.try to find a another solution to this,,im a cat lover but i know that 8 cats is alot.try talking to the owner of the cats and telling her you dont want any proplems but this has become a proplem to you and your hoping she will understand that it is a nusiance to wash your car only to keep finding cats paw prints.if she doesnt act concernd then i would go another route,,good luck

Answer 11

there is a law that states if you kill an animal (especially if it is a pet) you will do jail time. animal cruelty is a felony and punishable by doing time in prison. this penalty is almost worse than killing a human.

instead report this person to the humane society about the excessive amount of cats in this families possession

i am sure that where ever you live there is a law about how many cats you are allowed to own