Somebody trying to poison our cats?

[Lolito]

Hello all!

As you know, when we first arrived here, to this new house, we let our cats out for the first in their lives, they were too scared to get out of the house as they were not used to it. However, the next day, we had problem with the next door neighbour, he was mad and started shouting and insulting us saying that if he ever see the cats in his garden he will kill them or poison them.

Since then, about a year ago, the cats never left the house again, we were too scared to let them out just in case.

Last month we decided to use some chicken wire to fence the back of the house, that way, they would never be able to jump into the next door neighbours anymore.

It has worked, as now they spend all day out and about, coming back when they had enough, usually we call them and they come back home before dark.

However, yesterday we found a big piece of meet in our back garden and we thought maybe another cat brought it as our cats are indoors all night long.

Today, again, we found a big piece of fish in our back garden.

We don't have neighbours at each side of our house and only one, at the back. So we don't know whether to talk to them to see if they are having any problems with our cats, as far as we know, they don't go to their garden at all.

We kept both chunks of meat and fish in plastic bags, we don't know whether we will use them in the future, we think the neighbours are not happy and they are trying to poison them.

Or maybe we are just being paranoid?? We think we should wait another day or two and see if more meat or fish appears in our back garden.

Any tips or ideas? Should we involve the police?

Ta!

[xgarb]

Maybe set up a hidden camera to see if it's being thrown over from the back? Or put a really obvious camera up to try and stop them.

[Katiebelle2882]

I'd say hidden camera as well. That is REALLY messed up. Perhaps you can bring the meat/fish somewhere to get it tested?

[Pesky Wesky]

Keep the meat and fish in the freezer and ask your vet for advice???

[titania]

Originally Posted by Lolito

...........
However, yesterday we found a big piece of meet in our back garden and we thought maybe another cat brought it as our cats are indoors all night long.

Today, again, we found a big piece of fish in our back garden.

We don't have neighbours at each side of our house and only one, at the back.............

Just my imagination, but some DIYer here could probably improve on it:

Wire a smoke alarm to a wide angle detector of movements, coupled with a huge light. It would need to be aimed particularly well in the direction where you think the flying meat and fish come from. When they throw anything, the alarm goes off as well as the light. Mind you, a bat or owl could set it off.

Short of that, doubtful if the police would do anything. Are you renting or have you bought? Is moving possible? I would hate having such neighbours. You have all my sympathy.

[wiggytheone]

Originally Posted by Lolito

Hello all!

As you know, when we first arrived here, to this new house, we let our cats out for the first in their lives, they were too scared to get out of the house as they were not used to it. However, the next day, we had problem with the next door neighbour, he was mad and started shouting and insulting us saying that if he ever see the cats in his garden he will kill them or poison them.

Since then, about a year ago, the cats never left the house again, we were too scared to let them out just in case.

Last month we decided to use some chicken wire to fence the back of the house, that way, they would never be able to jump into the next door neighbours anymore.

It has worked, as now they spend all day out and about, coming back when they had enough, usually we call them and they come back home before dark.

However, yesterday we found a big piece of meet in our back garden and we thought maybe another cat brought it as our cats are indoors all night long.

Today, again, we found a big piece of fish in our back garden.

We don't have neighbours at each side of our house and only one, at the back. So we don't know whether to talk to them to see if they are having any problems with our cats, as far as we know, they don't go to their garden at all.

We kept both chunks of meat and fish in plastic bags, we don't know whether we will use them in the future, we think the neighbours are not happy and they are trying to poison them.

Or maybe we are just being paranoid?? We think we should wait another day or two and see if more meat or fish appears in our back garden.

Any tips or ideas? Should we involve the police?

Ta!

Sorry to hear about your problem, but I find it astonishing that your neighbour is having a problem with your cats. We have two cats and all our Spanish neighbours know them around here and have no problem with them.

You need to understand from your neighbour what the real problem is, because in our experience Spanish people (assuming that your neighbour is Spanish) do not get wound up as a rule over things like cats.

Now if your neighbour has birds I can understand he might have concern, but to try and poison your cats, I'm not sure.

It probably would have been better to have spoken to your neighbour the day he was shouting and insulting you as the problem would have been resolved then. Leaving issues unresolved for a year is not in my experience a good idea.

However if he is throwing poisoned food over your fence and you cant communicate with him, then you the police is your only answer.

Firstly though I would have the meat / fish tested for poison.

[Brangus]

Maybe you could call the group SOS Veneno and ask their advice. The telephone number is here: Qué puedes hacer - VenenoNO. I don't know anything about them personally -- just found them by Googling.

Also, if another cat might have entered your property, is it possible that your cats can still get out and annoy the neighbor? Could you improve the fencing?

[playamonte]

Cook the food & invite the fellow around for supper.

[Lolito]

We went to see them yesterday to speak to them, and although we knew they were at home, they didn't open the door.

Today we haven't found anything.

We couldn't resolve things this time last year with them, as they were very unreasonable, they kept shouting to us, etc, and that was the first day we moved into this rented property. I think what made me angry at first was the way they talked to us, not manners at all, to be the first time we actually spoke, he could have tried to be more sensitive and nice.

They are not Spanish, I think they are French.

The fencing is very good at the back, they tried a few times, but now they know they can't get out they are not trying anymore. However, sometimes they go for hours, and we don't know whether they go using the front of our house and then they go all the way back to the neighbours house, I would be surprise if they do that, as mostly they go the other way, but you can never tell with cats.

We'll wait a few more days, maybe it was another cat that brought the food to our garden, it could be possible, but I suppose we'll never know!

[bob_bob]

Cats don't bring snacks round for other cats.

Freeze any food you find and I'd certainly look at installing a security camera 4 Wireless Infrared Spy Camera CCTV AV IR USB Laptop PC | eBay sort of thing.