Neighbour's Cat Died On My Drive - Interested In Opinions...

[Deskdiary]

I'll try to keep this short.

I have a gravel drive and some weeds have started to come through so I was out yesterday with weed killer.

It would appear the neighbour's cat has either licked it, or walked over it and then licked it's paws or whatever, and the upshot is the cat is dead.

I accept it's likely the cat died because of my weed killer.

I've just had a stand-up row with the neighbour who was demanding compensation because I put weedkiller on my drive. I made the point that the only pertinent part of her rant was that she's correct, it is indeed my drive, and therefore I made the point that as it's my drive it is mine to do with as I please.

Bottom line is I sent her away with flea in her ear.

What is the legal position?

[Deskdiary]

Cried?

Wow - you must must be uber-sensitive.

[TonyV]

Douglas apply neat almost as a spot killer then water it to reactive it the next day

[Togo]

Wait till next doors cat claws her little lad because he thinks it is "cuddly" Walt Disney friendly. His eyes will be the target of the critter, a nasty scratch will be a bonus.

[wolf63]

I am always amazed that whilst people tolerate dogs many can be pretty nasty about cats.

Is it because cats are more intelligent than them? :-)

[Mamyalynne]

I've never owned a cat and have had very little trouble with neighbouring cats either but my balcony does open onto a wild area - the cats have to take their chances with all the other wildlife, both mammals and birds.

I have had plants destroyed by foxes and geese however they were here first.

I'm more puzzled by the post above...how can a child's face being clawed possibly be a bonus to anyone? I have to have read it wrong.

[douglas9401]

Thanks Tony.

[Arksided]

I do feel sorry for your neighbours cat and her loss, I think more likely just coincidence that he/she happened to be poorly unless of course you actually had something sinister in mind.

Togo, are you serious.. most cats I've known will only attack when provoked or fearful... or their other instinct to hunt.

[LadyCG]

No desky, I've just got a warped sense of humour.

[EDDIE51]

How old was the cat? Most do not live much over 6 / 7 years if that !

[ladybirder]

The average domestic cat lifespan comes out to 15.1 years.

[Togo]

Arks, children do not realise that. That's why we call them children. My niece was clawed along her arm and hand by a cat(one of 3) "owned" by a next door neighbour. She was 4 years old and thought the cat had come to play. If a dog had done such a thing it could have been deemed a dangerous animal and subject to sanction. How come cats are not likewise monitored? Is that why their "owners" prefer them?

[sherrardk]

Children know no better - that’s why we teach them not to touch ANY animal that they do not know. Can’t recall any news reports of cats mauling a child to death or attacking an adult. Your comment direct at CG’s is particularly vile.

[sherrardk]

CG’s child ^

[Baldric]

EDDIE . . . FYI

https://www.petcarerx.com/article/the-average-lifespan-of-a-cat-breed-by-breed-chart/1698

[EDDIE51]

My Neigbours cat died in our Garden (Natural causes) I waited until dark & put the cat's body back in its owners
garden,then said I did not know anything about it when they asked !
In your case you did nothing at all that was incorrect or wrong! But it might have been polite to have warned them you were putting weedkiller down.

[Davemano]

I put weed killer all over on my driveway, and have done for a few years. Cats regularly use the driveway and I've not known problems.
Could be that the cat dying on your drive, and the weed killer, could be a coincidence.
I would say that if weed killer on driveways was a problem, there would be dead cats everywhere.

[Arksided]

Togo, Sorry to hear about that personal experience with some neighbours cat(S) but you can't tarnish them all with the same brush... when I babysit my nieces even when they were very small children... I simply told them 'Put the cat down, he's not a rag doll' and they did, but he never went for them quite simply submissive.

Where were you whilst not paying attention... hmmm.

[Togo]

//Where were you whilst not paying attention... hmmm.//

I was about 80 miles away Arks......Otherwise the cat would have been taught that it was in the "wrong back garden". About 15 years ago now. She has never forgotten, or her dad(my brother). The cat is long gone, the scars are still visible when she is sun kissed. My brother is still looking for it. :))

[snags]

''Perhaps I've been too quick to say I accept it's likely the cat died because of my weed killer."

This.

[Arksided]

aww bless your niece, I hope she doesn't have a complex about it.

As for the cat... probably just wandered of through the channel tunnel or something.... or maybe turned up on someones driveway way by mistake.