Question
We've had a visit from a neighbour saying that he recognized our cat and he attacked his cat, causing an injury that needs vet's attention. This has apparently happened before, too. He says his cat is too scared to go outside now and he wants us to help out with the vet's bill.
First, is it reasonable for us to do this? We didn't after all take his cat to the vet. Second, if it is our cat doing this, he is probably trying to 'play' and he is rather rambunctious while play fighting - we have seen him being that way with another of our cats, although certainly not causing any kind of serious injury. What can we do, exactly? We'd rather not lock him inside (it's a bit difficult anyway because we have 3 other cats that we don't want to lock inside and the catflap only has a "open on chip" mechanism for entry, not exit). It's quite a difficult situation, one that I've not been in before, and I'm not sure how to act.
Answer
If your neighbour went to the vet, ask them what exactly the injury was and how it was treated. If it's anything like a bite wound that needed antibiotics, pain killers or even stitches, then it's very probable that his claim is true. Whether or not you chose to pay part of the bill is your decision, but please keep in mind how your relationship may change based on your actions.
How your cat behaves at home with other cats he knows is completely irrelevant. I've never personally seen or heard of rough play ending at the vet. A cat fight and some rough play are two completely different things. In a fight the attacker most often tries to chase or drive the victim away, which of course is problematic if the victim lives next door to the attacker.
Of course the best solution would be to permanently separate both cats, but of course that is very hard - if not impossible - to achieve without locking one cat inside. It would be best if you could work together with your neighbour to find the best solution for both of you.
If your neighbour knows where your cat enters their property, they could install an automatic water spray repellent in that area in the hopes of deterring your cat. If you have the means, you can also offer to pay part of the cost. There are also Youtube videos with instruction on how to craft such a repellent yourself. This worked for some of my relatives that didn't want a cat entering their garden and using it as a toilet. The cat didn't try entering the garden from a different access point.
Answered By - Elmy