Lost our cat on Friday

[Suff]

Our cat, which we got in 2009, was living with our daughter. She kept on getting in the feet of Mrs S on the stairs and as she has osteoporosis, we had all her rabies done and then gave her to our daughter; who has another cat and the grandkids loved her anyway. Even though she was Mrs S cat, she loved me and every time I went to our daughters she followed me round the house wherever I went.

Our daughter has just moved in with her long standing boyfriend. The cat had been out for the second day after being kept in from the move. She'd jumped on the fence between the two houses and slipped and feel in the garden next door. To be rushed and savaged by the dog that lives there.

She had to be put down by the vet as her spine was snapped in 7 places, her lower jaw torn in two and one eye put out.

I'm kind of numb about it at the moment. I think it's probably a good idea that I'm far away. My 9 year old granddaughter saw the whole thing and they have a Malamute husky which lives with the cat and was trying to get out of an upstairs window to get at the dog.

I understand that the neighbours are horrified and shocked and I see that this will cause issues in the future. As far as Mal is concerned, the dog next door is a legitimate target which it will attack on sight if not carefully handled. Also my daughter really has to worry about the children now.

Were it my dog, it would not have been in existence more than the time to take it to the vet and have it put down. But I can understand people who don't want to do that to the family pet. But, honestly, how could you trust it ever again?

[saundra]

thats awfull suff
shocking to see as well
im so sorry

[tonicha]

So sorry to read that Suff.

And yes, I can understand your thinking xxx

[miasmum]

Suff I am so sorry, but some dogs will react that way to small furry creatures. Before I would make any assumptions I would want to know what breed it was? My friend has a beautiful docile greyhound, but one day next doors cat came into their garden and before my friend could do anything the dog had the cat by the scruff of the neck and killed it. She never takes the dogs out unmuzzled and now never lets them in the garden unmuzzled either, but that was just a sad sad accident that devastated her and the neighbour

I feel desperately sorry for you all especially your poor grandaughter but hopefully they will live there a long time and they need to talk to the neighbours and get something sorted

[Kaz]

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's is horribly shocking, the poor cat, and Suff I am particularly sorry that your little granddaughter saw it all - a horrible thing for anyone to witness, never mind a child

However, as Shell says, certain breeds whilst very cat-aggressive would never harm a human, so I think having the dog destroyed is on a tricky wicket.................Dogs will often kill small furries given half a chance, it is in their nature. My inlaws had a cute, lovable terrier once but it killed the family pet rabbit when it got the chance

I am very sorry to hear about this though Suff, it is truly very upsetting xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[pederito1]

That is a very sad story, Suff. I fear though that most aggressive dogs will kill an intruder coming into their own garden and maybe elsewhere if not suitably restrained. In Victorian times dogs had to be muzzled when in the open and should be now. This was the case when we first went to live in Spain, our ridgeback had a wire one but the ruling was soon dropped or was not enforced. He got used to the idea and put his head up for it to be put on when walks were imminent.
The dog was one of a pair in Africa and when an intruding animal came into the compound they would race towards it together and then split, do a tight circle and come on it from behind. This did not happen when a rabid dog came in they slunk away.

[miasmum]

but that is what I am saying Ped, Ridgebacks are bred to fight lions, brave, fearless and at times aggressive dogs. That is why I would want to know what this dog is next door to Suff's daughter. My friends greyhound is a beautiful dog, gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly, but then flies aren't small and furry. I cannot agree that dogs should be muzzled at all times. That is like saying every human should have a curfew and be strip searched before leaving the house, just in case they happen to be carrying a knife or gun.

[Kaz]

Agreed x

[Diflower]

Oh Suff that's a dreadful thing to happen, especially that your granddaughter saw it
I can understand it though. If the cat had not lost its balance, it would have seen the dog and jumped back into its own garden. The dog would no doubt have barked, maybe ran at the fence, but no harm would have been done.
Dogs are usually absolutely fine living with cats, but any other cat is different.
Minnie hates them, occasionally one will appear on the shed roof and she goes berserk. I've no idea what would happen if one fell into the garden

As was posted last week, dogs will also attack birds if they can catch them, it's upsetting but incredibly difficult to stop, and to a dog, it's the same thing, a creature it doesn't want in its garden.
At the marshes there are rabbits galore, and some dogs chase and catch those too; Minnie chases but has never caught one, but if a pet rabbit got out and into the garden I'm afraid that would be attacked too.

Cats kill whatever they can too, there are plenty of people who get quite hysterical at the fact that cats torture and kill birds, mice, lizards, squirrels, even rabbits.
I don't see any connection between this behaviour in normal dogs and those same dogs attacking a human.

[Kaz]

I don't see any connection between this behaviour in normal dogs and those same dogs attacking a human.

There is none at all Di, I totally agree! All animals have natural behaviours and for most dogs chasing and or killing small creatures is natural behaviour, as it is for cats too! This does not make them dangerous to people.

Like Minnie Pepper also goes berserk at strange cats if they come in the garden. She has never caught one but I think she would definitely attack it if she did. She's a terrier breed and terriers in particular were bred for ratting, and there is not much difference to a dog I am sure, between a large rat and a small cat