Lady Down The Street Accusing My Cats Of Scratching The Paint On Her New Car!!! Help!

[VetTechJess]

As rediculous as the title is, it is in fact true. Theres a lady down the street saying its my cats that are scratching the paint off her husbands new car and are making muddy kitty pawprints on their cars. They are also accusing my cats of using their flowerbed and mulch as their own personal litterbox.

A word of note here: where I live there are tons of feral (wild domestic) cats running around. add that to the tons of stupid **** ppl around here that routinely dump their unwanted cats at the stockyard up the street every wednesday and thursday and it only complicates things.

I have all of my cats with collars and tags on them. not a one of them has been caught after one of my cats were caught in the have a heart humane cat traps the pound has been setting out at this ladys property. The only reason that cat was caught is they bait the traps with an open can of cat food and even though Jack (the cat in question) is more than well fed, he does suffer from one of the seven deadly "sins": GLUTTONY. Hell I even offered to buy her an electronic cat deterrent but she is still adamant that my cats somehow did it. Since his big scare of being transported to the shelter and me having to drive there to get him, I think he has learned his lesson. (I HOPE!!)

Anyways, the dog warden said if my cats are constantly caught, he would have proof they somehow did it. He hasnt caught any of my cats since that one time with Jack. However, I wouldnt put it past that lady to go to the local courthouse and file a nuisance complaint just because she is so adamant that she thinks my cats somehow are the cause of the problem.

In the place where I live is a little ol country town where most ppl here don't know their own rights. In other words what I am saying, is the justice system here tends to rely on the "he said she said" bull s hi t rather than physical evidence. When I am talking physical evidence, I am talking forensic evidence specifically linking my cats to her car. (fur samples, blood, nail marks, etc.) I refuse to pay for the forensic part of the investigation simply because it should be the norm in any investigation instead of relying on some sort of an easy scapegoat.

All I know is I'll be damned if I admit to anything thats not forensically backed up.

reasoning with her brings me nowhere. ANY ADVICE?!?!

[NotesMaeve]

Keep your cats inside unless you're watching them.

[silicon toad2000]

ask her to setup a video camera, even pretend it's to help you identify which cat it is and keep them locked up.

It really depends how you want to handle the situation, you could get the car detailed to smooth things over or just tell her she's dreaming and to come back with some proof.

[carenkh]

I don't think they'd bother to pay for forensics for a cat-scratch allegation - I think they reserve that for murders.

Can you keep your kitties in for a while? I have indoor/outdoor cats (sounds like carpet!), but when I've needed to, they've been content enough to stay in. My kids and I call those prints across the top/windows of a car "catfeeti" - I've never known them to *scratch* a car, though.

A camera sounds like a great idea!

[Angela]

Bake some delicious chocolate chip cookies. Buy the electronic cat deterrent, and wrap it up in "Garfield" paper. Take the cookies and the gift to your neighbor's house. Knock on the door and say,

"I don't think it's my cats that have been harrassing you, and I'm very sorry if I'm wrong about that. I can understand that you would very annoyed about what you've been going through. I'm committed to keeping my cats indoors; it's important to me that they don't get eaten by dogs or hit by a car or katnapped by unsavory types. If despite all my efforts you see my cats, would you please let me know so I can come get them? And if you have any other ideas, of course I'm open to hearing what you have to say."

Hand her the cookies and the cat deterrent. Go home and lock up your cats so they don't bug people. Next time you see your neighbor, smile and wave.

[Brutha]

In the place where I live is a little ol country town where most ppl here don't know their own rights. In other words what I am saying, is the justice system here tends to rely on the "he said she said" bull s hi t rather than physical evidence.

I don't really know where you live, but I would think that just accusing cats isn't enough to win a court case in most western countrys.

[NotesMaeve]

Originally Posted by Angela

Bake some delicious chocolate chip cookies. Buy the electronic cat deterrent, and wrap it up in "Garfield" paper. Take the cookies and the gift to your neighbor's house. Knock on the door and say,

"I don't think it's my cats that have been harrassing you, and I'm very sorry if I'm wrong about that. I can understand that you would very annoyed about what you've been going through. I'm committed to keeping my cats indoors; it's important to me that they don't get eaten by dogs or hit by a car or katnapped by unsavory types. If despite all my efforts you see my cats, would you please let me know so I can come get them? And if you have any other ideas, of course I'm open to hearing what you have to say."

Hand her the cookies and the cat deterrent. Go home and lock up your cats so they don't bug people. Next time you see your neighbor, smile and wave.

I like this answer the most.

[Matthew Shea]

Right now:

Originally Posted by Angela

Bake some delicious chocolate chip cookies. Buy the electronic cat deterrent, and wrap it up in "Garfield" paper. Take the cookies and the gift to your neighbor's house. Knock on the door and say,

"I don't think it's my cats that have been harrassing you, and I'm very sorry if I'm wrong about that. I can understand that you would very annoyed about what you've been going through. I'm committed to keeping my cats indoors; it's important to me that they don't get eaten by dogs or hit by a car or katnapped by unsavory types. If despite all my efforts you see my cats, would you please let me know so I can come get them? And if you have any other ideas, of course I'm open to hearing what you have to say."

Hand her the cookies and the cat deterrent. Go home and lock up your cats so they don't bug people. Next time you see your neighbor, smile and wave.

In the future:

Originally Posted by NotesMaeve

Keep your cats inside unless you're watching them.

Personally, my cat's never outside if I'm not watching him. There's too many ways for them to get hurt or in trouble out there.