Cat Attacking My Fly Screen + Ban Cats?

The Wololo Wombat on 07/03/2024 - 19:32
Last edited 07/03/2024 - 20:12 by 1 other user

My neighbour's cat has a habit of jumping up and holding onto the fly screen… presumably to get some sort of gecko that's there.

This happens most frequently right as I'm trying to fall asleep (at first I thought it was someone trying to break in lol).

Issue is… the fly screen is now damaged.

I'm not necessarily worried about the cost… but I'm curious… if I were to ask my neighbour to pay for the damage…is that reasonable? I mean, it is his cat. I think it's really ridiculous cats are allowed to roam and kill native animals anyway…

P.S.

Title is partially click bait… but… full disclosure I really dislike cats (to the point I'm willing to entertain the suggestion they should actually be banned in Australia)

Home & Garden Cat

Comments

    • The Wololo Wombat on 07/03/2024 - 19:39
      +6

      😂 I am legally not allowed to discuss this… 👻

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/03/2024 - 19:45
        +3

        I understood that reference

        • Widget on 07/03/2024 - 20:27

          I didn't. Can you fill me in?

          • brendanm on 07/03/2024 - 20:43
            +4

            @Widget: You must do research if you want to be a knower of deep ozbargain lore.

    • HeWhoKnows on 08/03/2024 - 07:51
      +14

      No need to be like that.
      Op is bing serious and its a fair question to ask,.

      Yes OP is entitled to ask the cat owner to repair the damage.
      Pet owners are responsible for any damage caused by thier pet

      THE END

        • HeWhoKnows on 08/03/2024 - 08:10
          -1

          Unfortunately many OBers havent heard of Google..
          Thats why they come here for advice and tips on what and where to buy

          I keep referring them back to Google searches

          • Ocker on 08/03/2024 - 08:15
            -2

            @HeWhoKnows: Nah! They have heard of Google, just to lazy to use the service.

            • The Wololo Wombat on 08/03/2024 - 09:12
              +5

              @Ocker: I'm still using 'Ask Jeeves'. I'll give Google a go.

              Nah, in all honestly, I'm not really worried about the 'law' just getting a sense of people's gut feelings. I'm actually not too worried about it all and likely will just repair to myself instead of buying a replacement… but if it gets worse, knowing people's impression is helpful.

            • Goremans on 09/03/2024 - 09:39

              @Ocker: Perhaps they want to engage their OzB community?

          • randomusername2017 on 08/03/2024 - 10:04
            -5

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            ⢰⣿⣿⣧⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣤⣴⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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    • Hangryuman on 09/03/2024 - 10:43

      sure - I reckon an $8000 spend on lawyers should win the OP the $200 it will take for a professional to replace the flyscreen (or the $8 it might cost to DIY)

      as for banning cats - lemme guess - 52% love dogs, 48% love cats - put it to a vote - yeah nah not top of the list for elbow

      • paulojr on 09/03/2024 - 15:07
        +1

        you've missed the third group of us that would ban both of those flee carrying beasts.. Dog's destroy door fly screens too. Ban them all! :) I feel the OPs pain, had all of our fly-screens destroyed by an unwelcome cat and now door fly screens by dog. I'm giving serious thought to the electrification option! or just putting a pile of flyscreens outside to lure them away from the house!

    • arcticmonkey on 09/03/2024 - 23:16
      +1

      Yes you should ask for the cost and tell the owner to lock up their killer cat.

      It's pathetic that people let their cat out.

      "The results are staggering. On average, each roaming pet cat kills 186 reptiles, birds and mammals per year, most of them native to Australia."

      https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/late…

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/03/2024 - 19:40
    +11

    Imo reasonable.

    My neighbour told me to F off last time I (actually really nicely) asked him to not let him let his pos cat roam at night. It roams my backyard at least twice a week and many times I have considered soaking it with the kids super soaker. It actively tries to hurt the possums that eat our guavas and leaves cat poo all over the place.

    Depends on your neighbour I guess

    • brendanm on 07/03/2024 - 19:57
      +16

      Squirt it with the hose, it's what I had to do with one that kept coming to our place, only took a couple of days for it to learn.

    • Widget on 07/03/2024 - 20:33
      +3

      Spray it. I recall seeing a product some time ago that supposedly repels cats, some sort of spray, can't remember what it was called. Perhaps something like that too?

      • newbo on 07/03/2024 - 20:39
        +5

        Coyote Urine

        • Widget on 07/03/2024 - 20:43
          +1

          Wasn't that, but I'm sure that'll do the trick, lol. I wonder what the range is on that, whether it will keep animals away from the property or the whole block. :O

          • banana365 on 08/03/2024 - 16:53
            +2

            @Widget: You're meant to dab it behind your ears. Really good at keeping away cats, dogs, other people…

          • saveye on 10/03/2024 - 07:37

            @Widget: Citris, chili powder and other stuff can repel cats but water from a hose is fine. There are also spray cans which let out a puff of air when they detect motion

      • WT on 08/03/2024 - 15:18
        +3

        water? there is a guy on YT who sets up a sprinkler with motion activation and posts the vid with commentary

        Went viral a few years ago

        edit, kmart sells a $12 solar sensor light that will prob scare the cat away, at least a few times

    • Transient on 07/03/2024 - 20:50
      +5

      I bought one of these sprinklers years ago. Found it very effective. Also on Ebay. Plenty of videos

      • banana365 on 08/03/2024 - 16:57
        +1

        How sensitive is it? I'd love to keep cats away, but part of the reason for that is so that we attract birds. Can it be "de-sensitised" to not detect birds on low lying plants?

        • Transient on 08/03/2024 - 18:45
          +1

          Good question. I only used it at night so didn't have a problem with scaring away birds. The sensor is a PIR (Passive Infrared Radiation) type. If the bird is close enough to the sensor then I would think it could trigger it (it would appear as a large heat emitting object). There is a knob which supposedly changes the sensitivity but if the mechanism is not sensitive enough then it might miss detecting the cat. I think the sensitivity also shortens the detection range so may not be suitable for your situation. Perhaps, move the plants off the ground or fence with wire?

          • banana365 on 08/03/2024 - 18:53
            +1

            @Transient: The plants are well established and planted in the ground. I've bought one to try out anyway as there are at least three cats that seem to treat our garden as their own at night. I've got an OpenSprinkler controller that I need to set up for our retic, it's very tempting to see if I can do some sort of image recognition with our CCTV and use that as a trigger, but that's just another project that gets added to the list. I'll stick with "basic, but meets half the requirements and is ready now" for the moment.

            • Transient on 08/03/2024 - 20:28
              +1

              @banana365: The sprinkler I bought runs off 4AA batteries. I turned it off at the mains during the day (in case postman, etc) comes into the yard, and back on again at night. I found the batteries lasted for about a month. Rechargeables did not last as long. Main problem was changing the batteries as the battery door was attached by 4 screws and faced the ground to prevent water ingress. Could uproot the device to unscrew then reattached and recalibrate or unscrew by hand. Bit of a pain either way. However, I found that after less than two months the cat learnt not to come into the yard anymore. So just had to reset the device when I noticed it had returned.

              Good luck with modifying it to use the CCTV system. It should be possible. There is a solenoid / relay? that keeps the water from spraying out. When the PIR is activated, it trips the switch so that water flows for a set period of time. You can also set the spray angle and hit zone arc. I thought it was a bit like the sentry guns in the Aliens movie. Note that the sprinkler also makes a clacking noise when operating which helps to scare the cat away. Although hopefully it is not loud enough to wake you or your neighbour. Perhaps locate away from bedrooms. Also, because the water is under pressure, make sure the connections cannot come loose, otherwise the hose could be running all night!

              • banana365 on 09/03/2024 - 17:20
                +1

                @Transient: I've always rather liked the sound of impact sprinklers. It reminds me of summer, which is odd as I was brought up in Scotland and I don't think I ever saw a sprinkler there. Airborne watering is kind of a built in feature in Scottish gardens.

                • Transient on 09/03/2024 - 18:35

                  @banana365: Same here. They remind of schooldays in Sydney long ago. We used to watch them during lunchbreak with their characteristic clacking then quick burst fire. They watered the yards after they had been seeded, in preparation for the next school term. Kids would randomly run through their sprays until the teachers told them off. The images and sounds from many summers ago.

    • GordonD on 07/03/2024 - 21:37
      +12

      It actively tries to hurt the possums

      My neighbors had a possum in their roof, and a cat. They'd regularly argue with each other. Cats are fast, but they only have little claws, where possums are slow but have really vicious claws that can do a lot of damage. So the possum couldn't turn its back on the cat, but the cat couldn't attack the possum unless it did. They'd sit there swearing at each other for a while in the middle of the night until one or the other gave up.

    • freefall101 on 07/03/2024 - 22:25
      +2

      Personally, I'm planning some home alone style alarms, sprays and automated doodads to get rid of the cat that keeps scaring my cat.

      I live in an area where cats aren't allowed to roam free, I could call the council but personally I enjoy just tapping on the window and watching the cat launch itself over the fence as a reaction.

    • Sinnerator on 08/03/2024 - 08:49
      +4

      why haven't you completely soaked it already?
      after a few times the cat will learn and never enter your yard again

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/03/2024 - 09:27
        +1

        Tbh I would feel kinda feel bad for the cat.
        It’s the owner that lets it out and the real a-hole and an irresponsible owner.

        • jollibot on 08/03/2024 - 10:25
          +3

          If OP was a Cat and could communicate effectively with the cat, then he could challenge it when it entered his territory (presumably win), and it would stay away.

          If OP was anything other than a human, there's a good chance that if the cat entered his territory it was fair game and it would be lunch.

          Since OP is a human, and one that doesn't want to resort to violence, then a simple harmless dowsing until it learns is actually an extremely reasonable response. I know many others that wouldn't be so nice. Giving it the opportunity to learn without actually harming it is as good as it gets imo

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/03/2024 - 10:42
            +1

            @jollibot:

            (presumably win)

            @The Wololo Wombat what say you in this proposed fight to the death?

            I will try to get in contact with netflix to see if they are interested in the ultimate showdown between wombat and cat to settle this life long beef once and for all.

        • Widget on 08/03/2024 - 12:42
          +2

          It's just a bit of water. Cat will be fine.

        • jackspratt on 08/03/2024 - 17:22
          +1

          Are you suggesting it's the owner who should be soaked? 😲

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/03/2024 - 17:31

            @jackspratt: Some days sure
            Like mate we both plan to make our respective homes our forever homes and I prob got another 40 years in the tank - him maybe 30… so do ya wanna play along and be friendly or is this war? Hmmm

            • banana365 on 08/03/2024 - 18:57
              +1

              @Jimothy Wongingtons: Friendly war. Super Soakers at 10 paces. The cats will keep clear if they think you're both nutters.

        • ProlapsedHeinous on 09/03/2024 - 00:29

          As a cat lover, I think a bit of water isn't going to hurt it. If it solves the problem then so be it.

    • SlickMick on 08/03/2024 - 09:46
      +2

      Does it keep the possums away? I might need to get a cat.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/03/2024 - 10:09

        nah some nights you can hear them going off at each other and skittering around on the carport but never any blood or bodies

        • SlickMick on 08/03/2024 - 14:19

          sounds like we need something to chase the cat that chases the possums

    • jacross on 08/03/2024 - 10:15
      -4

      Unfortunately your neighbour has àbrogated their responsibilities. It is up to you now to be the hero our native wildlife needs and deserves.

      You must, as humanely as possible, execute that cat.

      • arcticmonkey on 09/03/2024 - 23:24
        -2

        The pathetic little snowflakes didn't like your comment but didn't bother to leave a rebuttal.

        These cats are evil killers but I bet the little snowflakes claim their cars are innocent.

      • Dsiee on 10/03/2024 - 14:56
        -2

        Yep, if it is wandering around unattended it is fair game. Just throw it on the road and run over it afterwards.

    • Toph Beifong on 08/03/2024 - 18:38
      +8

      Ask Council for cat trap. Neighbor got the message after that.

    • AlanHB on 09/03/2024 - 13:46

      I'm a cat owner, I reckon squirting them with water is just fine. Do it enough and it won't return.

      • Dsiee on 10/03/2024 - 14:57
        +1

        Yeah the water isn't going to hurt the cat. It isn't even really going to get wet because it will bolt straight away. It might go off and sulk but it will be absolutely fine (unless it is literally freezing in which case it probably won't be wondering around as much anyee).

    • arcticmonkey on 09/03/2024 - 23:19
      -1

      I think you should do more than soak it. You'd save hundreds of lives.

  • Dollar General on 07/03/2024 - 19:43
    +5

    Yes neighbour is liable for the damage caused. Getting the money from your neighbour is the tricky bit. If they don’t cough it up, the cost of legal action makes it not worth it

    Perhaps report it to council if you want a longer term solution

  • BoltThrower on 07/03/2024 - 20:24
    +2

    Just scare it away and squirt it with a hose.

  • Widget on 07/03/2024 - 20:28
    +1

    Depending on State, Council, cats damaging property is a no-no. I would request neighbor pay for damages. Failing to do that, report to council.

  • joka on 07/03/2024 - 21:38
    +5

    I think it’s just fair you should be allowed to do the same to your neighbours flyscreen

  • sharkyoz on 07/03/2024 - 22:26
    +5

    electrify the flyscreen hehehe

    • The Wololo Wombat on 08/03/2024 - 09:11
      +4

      What makes you think I can't chat to my neighbour?

        • yadq on 08/03/2024 - 17:16
          +4

          Next time maybe try 2 be helpful at least…

          • try2bhelpful on 08/03/2024 - 17:37
            -4

            @yadq: I am. I suggested they talk to the neighbour instead of wasting their time here.

  • donga100 on 07/03/2024 - 23:45
    +6

    Let it inside and get rid of your mouse problem. In all seriousness, I have had multiple roaming cats in my street the last few years and the advice from council was to trap them and then drop them off to the river pound.

  • Mechz on 08/03/2024 - 00:01
    +1

    I spray my own cats with water when they don't behave properly. One learns, the other is a ginger terrorist.

    • kiitos on 08/03/2024 - 09:19
      +1

      Ours seems to love water!

      • jollibot on 08/03/2024 - 10:26

        I bet it would think twice about a full-power hose to the face.

    • Poor Ass on 08/03/2024 - 22:34
      +1

      Or else it gets the hose again

    • saveye on 10/03/2024 - 07:41
      +1

      You may think it works, it just learns not to do it when you are there. And it will become afraid of you.

  • gar519 on 08/03/2024 - 07:45

    Sprinkle chill powder around the area the cats are roaming or attacking. You will need to do it a few times before the cat/s finally get the message.
    For those cat lovers, it doesn't harm the cat permanently, like us humans, the affects either injested or touched, only last a short while.
    Better this than people poisoning cats.

  • H4nd0 on 08/03/2024 - 08:40
    +15

    If you live in Brisbane, the Brisbane City Council technically prohibits roaming cats. https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community-and-safety/pets-an…. You can trap roaming cats on your block and drop them off at the pound. Or you can contact the RSPCA and advise if there is a "feral cat" problem in your area. They will drop off a trap and pick up the cat. Cats with microchips go to pound. Ferals get euthanised. The RSPCA has helped us trap sick possums, rats, and "feral cats". The good thing about Brisbane is that there are plenty of cat predators too including pythons and the Powerful Owl. We get the notice from the vet each year … "It's python season, keep your cat indoors" … then a few weeks later we see all the "Cute Orange Cat Gone Missing Please Help" notices around the suburb. Makes me LoL.
    EDIT: We have a cat. He is a good boy. He stays indoors. When outside he is monitored and never left on his own to roam. Cats are cute but they devastate local wildlife. Keep your cat inside people!

    • The Wololo Wombat on 08/03/2024 - 09:10

      Very interesting! Didn't know that!

    • LFO on 08/03/2024 - 11:00
      +2

      … "It's python season, keep your cat indoors" … then a few weeks later we see all the "Cute Orange Cat Gone Missing Please Help" notices around the suburb.

      Priceless!!!!

    • arcticmonkey on 09/03/2024 - 23:27
      +1

      It's a shame that they don't euthanize all of these killer terrorists.

  • saltypete on 08/03/2024 - 08:47
    +2

    Owner is responsible so in theory you could make them pay. We all know that won’t happen.
    Cats are terrible for our wildlife, and I would love to see any cat free roaming our neighbourhoods removed. Worth keeping it in perspective though. Consider what was there before your suburb. Native habitat was bulldozed to make room for our houses and this destroyed most of the native flora and fauns well before the cats had their opportunity….

  • turbochris on 08/03/2024 - 08:48

    This guy on youtube has the answers for you:

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD2WUOTR4fDbCwwD_TmiQ…

  • 2esc on 08/03/2024 - 08:50
    +14

    I would love them to be banned in Australia we have cats going to the toilet in our vege garden on a regular basis. But there is approx 6.3 million feral cats in Australia destroying the native wildlife even animals like the Leadbeater's possum is a target cats are deadly.

    Cats are not allowed off their owners property in Wellinton Shire, Victoria but unless you lock them up they will wander and the owners have no respect for their neighbours.

    Check out the regulations some shires will even provide traps for the public.

    • try2bhelpful on 08/03/2024 - 08:57
      +3

      My girls don’t leave my property unless they are in a cage. Owners should keep them under control but banning them won’t work.

      • StingyBritches on 08/03/2024 - 11:27

        This!

      • banana365 on 08/03/2024 - 19:02

        but banning them won’t work

        Not if you're aiming for perfection, i.e. no native wildlife killed by cats, but if you accept even a 50% success rate then it's an improvement.

    • utopia on 09/03/2024 - 13:10
      +1

      I wonder what all those traps are costing the rate payers.

      And don't forget the rest of us :

      https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/invasive-species/feral…
      Curiosity® : the Australian Government led the $5.9 million project to develop the Curiosity® bait for feral cats
      Only 1 method associated with cost in that article

      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-19/nsw-considers-expandi…
      NSW ; 2m/year

      Bargain !

    • saveye on 10/03/2024 - 07:42

      You may wish to ban loggers too.

  • El cheepo on 08/03/2024 - 09:52

    Some councils have rules that cats can’t be out after dark or leave their owners property (lol to both).
    Could complain to them if that’s the case in your area, but is it worth it? Probably not.

    In any case, if your not worried about the damage why even consider getting the neighbour to pay?

    Just run a hose close by the front door before bed (if you have one - otherwise super soaker etc) and soak that little bugger until it gets the hint.

  • Sleeqb7 on 08/03/2024 - 10:00
    +1

    I think it's really ridiculous cats are allowed to roam and kill native animals anyway

    Depending on where you are, they're not.
    It's illegal for a cat to leave the property boundary without being on a leash or similar.

    Get traps from your council if you want to deter the cat, while teaching the neighbour a lesson.

  • payless69 on 08/03/2024 - 10:13

    Cow's lung from a butcher is what cat's find hard to resist in a trap.

  • Navanod66 on 08/03/2024 - 10:15
    +2

    I think the owner would care less about your screen if they don't care about the cat's safety and health to begin with. Let alone the eco terrorism the cat performs once let loose.
    My cat is strictly indoors only. I'll splash water on any nuisance cats that come and pick fights through the windows. Not becos I'm a prick, but becos there is a pesticide barrier spray around the house that is toxic to cats.

    • try2bhelpful on 08/03/2024 - 10:19
      +1

      Good for you. It is about responsible ownership.

    • jollibot on 08/03/2024 - 10:33
      +4

      "eco terrorism" lol

      I understand what you mean, but I'm laughing as I imagine a cat with a sign strapped to it saying:
      "RISE UP AND FIGHT THIS FISHY BUSINESS!
      TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN PAWS AND HELP FIGHT OVERFISHING!
      IT'S PURRSONAL!"

  • LFO on 08/03/2024 - 10:57
    +2

    I think it's really ridiculous cats are allowed to roam and kill native animals anyway…

    That is not entirely correct as cats are not allowed to roam free at night

    There is council legislation stating cats should NOT be allowed to roam free at night and kept inside the registers owner premises.
    In some states is State law to avoid feral cats to increase.

    You can set an animal trap and then if/when the cat is caught call your council animal section to have it removed.
    Then the owner (if the animal/cat) is registered with a chip, will be fined.

    • utopia on 09/03/2024 - 13:16

      That is not entirely correct as cats are not allowed to roam free at night

      That is an incomplete statement, that is entirely dependent on state by state / council by council.
      For NSW , and in my Council, if it's Dogs there are specific laws for Dogs Barking and Biting but for cats, unless a cat shits/pees over 50grams on your designated food preparation area precisely during midnight on 29th of March AEDT, you are on your own.

  • Drakesy on 08/03/2024 - 11:37
    -1

    If you accidentally put out a bait i don't think anyone will mind…

    Its your neighbours cat, not the neighbourhoods.

    Call the council, chuck it in the pound. Let the neighbour argue with them.

  • ihbh on 08/03/2024 - 12:18
    +1

    Get a motion detection camera and record it. You don't want to get into a situation of your word vs the cat's - it wasn't me but the cat across the road, etc.

  • Loopholio on 08/03/2024 - 12:46

    You can try making a safe cat repellent.
    Maybe complain to the council? Cats should never he allowed to roam free.

  • jv on 08/03/2024 - 16:03
    +1

    Is it possible to electrify the flyscreen?

    That's what some people do to ponds to keep the cats away.

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