Neighbour’s cat repeatedly damages paintwork
Neighbour’s cat repeatedly damages paintwork
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Discussion

ldn_mx5

Original Poster:

80 posts

63 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Underground car park in a block of flats. 3 residents have cats but only one is let out to wander outdoor, including in the car park. I’ve come back to find paw prints on the bonnet and roof many times (~10), and often the cat seems to spend additional time scratching the bonnet. Most marks will go with a polish, but even that is obviously £ and time spent.

For various reasons, I assume it’s unlikely the owners will take a gentle hint. One of the reasons is the fact they’re massive bike enthusiasts, „low traffic neighbourhood” supporters and have previously expressed opinions along the lines large petrol cars have no place in the city etc on residents’ FB. It’s been suggested to me that the if I raise the issue with the neighbour, the response will likely be „it’s a cat, you can’t stop it from going where it wants to” (including on top of people’s cars?!).

What are my options?

Edited by ldn_mx5 on Tuesday 13th December 09:47

Hugo Stiglitz

40,638 posts

234 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?

Cats go where where cats go sadly.

I'd suggest a car cover and/or ammonia sprayed on a couple of times.

SeekerOfTruthAndPies

266 posts

60 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?

Cats go where where cats go sadly.

I'd suggest a car cover and/or ammonia sprayed on a couple of times.
This. Annoying to have to pay for it, but a car cover would prevent further damage and bring you peace of mind.

Fozziebear

1,840 posts

163 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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ultrasonic device in car, you can get them for gardens and they seem to work, couple of sprays out there you could try, I still wouldn't dismiss a chat with them as an underground carpark can be a dangerous place for tiddles to be roaming in.

Hugo Stiglitz

40,638 posts

234 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
EmailAddress said:
I've got two children. If my neighbours said my children crap in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?

Children go where children go sadly.

...

I wonder where the line of personal responsibility is scratchchin
Social services would be suddenly part of your life going forward..

What else is going on in your house if they do that wink

trails

6,508 posts

172 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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Funk

27,338 posts

232 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
ldn_mx5 said:
Underground car park in a block of flats. 3 residents have cats but only one is let out to wander outdoor, including in the car park. I’ve come back to find paw prints on the bonnet and roof many times (~10), and often the cat seems to spend additional time scratching the bonnet. Most marks will go with a polish, but even that is obviously £ and time spent.

For various reasons, I assume it’s unlikely the owners will take a gentle hint. One of the reasons is the fact they’re massive bike enthusiasts, „low traffic neighbourhood” supporters and have previously expressed opinions along the lines large petrol cars have no place in the city etc on residents’ FB. It’s been suggested to me that the if I raise the issue with the neighbour, the response will likely be „it’s a cat, you can’t stop it from going where it wants to” (including on top of people’s cars?!).

What are my options?

Edited by ldn_mx5 on Tuesday 13th December 09:47
I had the same issue - essentially it appears you are st out of luck and have to just live with someone else's cat damaging your car. Evidently their right to have a cat that can do whatever the fk it wants overrides your right not to have your property damaged.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

TheLoraxxZeus

517 posts

42 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?
Keep your cat inside. It's not really complicated.

Edit: To add onto this, cats are considered "roaming" animals and are exempt from many laws that stops you from doing the same thing with your dog. The only reason this exists is because the UK has a native Wildcat population, so the cross over leaves it in a grey area. Domestic house cats are one of the key factors in the decline in Wildcat population as well as decimation of local bird species.

Pet cats outside are a menace, be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Bring your cat inside.

Edited by TheLoraxxZeus on Tuesday 13th December 10:47

trails

6,508 posts

172 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
TheLoraxxZeus said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?
Keep your cat inside. It's not really complicated.
laugh

Silvanus

6,904 posts

46 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
TheLoraxxZeus said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?
Keep your cat inside. It's not really complicated.
This, I have no issues with cats. Cats owners though, they think it's OK to let their cats do whatever without taking any responsibility. At least dog owners (the vast majority) take responsibility and clean up after their pets. Its for the cat owners to work out how they control a problem cat, not the person it is bothering.

TheLoraxxZeus

517 posts

42 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Silvanus said:
This, I have no issues with cats. Cats owners though, they think it's OK to let their cats do whatever without taking any responsibility. At least dog owners (the vast majority) take responsibility and clean up after their pets. Its for the cat owners to work out how they control a problem cat, not the person it is bothering.
Good luck trying to explain that to them. I was recently assisting my neighbour across the street with some heavy materials and she started complaining about cats stting in her garden. She had orange peel, lions st and lavender to try and stop them. She didn't see the irony that her cat comes into my garden and sts all the time, I've caught it on camera several times. These people are dense.

Silvanus

6,904 posts

46 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
TheLoraxxZeus said:
Silvanus said:
This, I have no issues with cats. Cats owners though, they think it's OK to let their cats do whatever without taking any responsibility. At least dog owners (the vast majority) take responsibility and clean up after their pets. Its for the cat owners to work out how they control a problem cat, not the person it is bothering.
Good luck trying to explain that to them. I was recently assisting my neighbour across the street with some heavy materials and she started complaining about cats stting in her garden. She had orange peel, lions st and lavender to try and stop them. She didn't see the irony that her cat comes into my garden and sts all the time, I've caught it on camera several times. These people are dense.
Not dense, they just don't care.

lufbramatt

5,546 posts

157 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Careful making comments about anti freeze and catnapping, members have been banned for similar.

It's annoying as hell though. Used to have a cat that used the boot of my car to get up on to my garage roof and then over the fence to it's house. Constant claw marks in the paint, some of them can't be polished out. Ended up growing a massive wisteria up over the roof of the garage and along trellis at the top of the fence to make it too much hassle for the cat to walk over.

Hugo Stiglitz

40,638 posts

234 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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I've had one of my cats come back with what looks like a cigarette burn on and around his eye. Luckily he blinked I'm guessing. It was either that or a car exhaust burn but it's never happened before or since.

Some people really are idiots. Luckily most just think it and don't act.

TheLoraxxZeus

517 posts

42 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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Hugo Stiglitz said:
Yet dog owners think it's OK for Fido to run free in a public park, run across and around you when your on a bike or Peak District hillside full of sheep.. then hang their poo presents in little black pouches or nestled next to walls.

Then there's those who say you should get off your bike and walk when you approach someone with multiple dogs off a lead.

I'll take the cats.
Yeah those are problems you can't change. However you are able to change. Maybe focus on that and keep your cat indoors.

Silvanus

6,904 posts

46 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
lufbramatt said:
Careful making comments about anti freeze and catnapping, members have been banned for similar.

It's annoying as hell though. Used to have a cat that used the boot of my car to get up on to my garage roof and then over the fence to it's house. Constant claw marks in the paint, some of them can't be polished out. Ended up growing a massive wisteria up over the roof of the garage and along trellis at the top of the fence to make it too much hassle for the cat to walk over.
I removed my comment, don't fancy being banned by the humour police for what is obviously a joke hehe

Zarco

20,244 posts

232 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?

Cats go where where cats go sadly.

I'd suggest a car cover and/or ammonia sprayed on a couple of times.
I'd be launching it back over your fence.

trails

6,508 posts

172 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
TheLoraxxZeus said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Yet dog owners think it's OK for Fido to run free in a public park, run across and around you when your on a bike or Peak District hillside full of sheep.. then hang their poo presents in little black pouches or nestled next to walls.

Then there's those who say you should get off your bike and walk when you approach someone with multiple dogs off a lead.

I'll take the cats.
Yeah those are problems you can't change. However you are able to change. Maybe focus on that and keep your cat indoors.
Have another biglaugh

Silvanus

6,904 posts

46 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
TheLoraxxZeus said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Yet dog owners think it's OK for Fido to run free in a public park, run across and around you when your on a bike or Peak District hillside full of sheep.. then hang their poo presents in little black pouches or nestled next to walls.

Then there's those who say you should get off your bike and walk when you approach someone with multiple dogs off a lead.

I'll take the cats.
Yeah those are problems you can't change. However you are able to change. Maybe focus on that and keep your cat indoors.
I'm a dog owner and hate the above things. No idea what it has to do with controlling cats though. They aren't the same thing, its just excusing ones own behaviour because someone else acts bad too.

Monkeylegend

28,427 posts

254 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Zarco said:
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've got two cats. If my neighbours said my cat craps in their garden stop it. I'd reply how?

Cats go where where cats go sadly.

I'd suggest a car cover and/or ammonia sprayed on a couple of times.
I'd be launching it back over your fence.
Are you a professional footballer?