My Neighbor Is Scared Of My Cats

[Superiorfeline]

I have four cats and live on the first floor, and they get out in the yard. My neighbor walks through the yard and freaks out when she sees my cats peeking out of the bars. She knows they can squeeze through and get out.

So she followed me in the street until I got home and locked the door, screaming the whole time. And she banged on my door and the shutters and yelled she'll break them, and cursed. She screams every time I happen to run into her.

I told her she can take the other path that goes around the building so she can avoid my cats, but she said it's too close to the garbage cans, and there are cats there, and she's scared. Although there usually aren't any. There are feral cats everywhere where I live.

What would you do, stop letting the cats out? I keep letting them out because they're from the streets, and they go crazy if I don't let them out.

[shoota]

It sounds like she has a problem.
Do you live in the UK?

[Cloverjo]

I could understand her problem if there were dogs barking and jumping up at her when she walks through the yard. But cats generally leave people alone.

You can't keep them cooped up. I'd say try to ignore her as much as you can, or just quietly say they're not being any bother and you're sorry she's scared of them.

[AuntLydia]

Next time she follows you screaming at you call the Police. Simple.

[TonyV]

Don't completely understand your situation / building layout, but to appease her you could fix some mesh with cable ties over the bars so it would be impossible for cats to get through?

[Tilly2]

You sound like a crazy cat lady and she sounds like a crazy lady. There needs to be some form of compromise.

[melv16]

All cat ladies are bit flaky, if you ask me:-)

[Tilly2]

That's why I like dogs. No flaky bits here.

[shoota]

Mainly ex teachers Melv...

[Rockrose]

I would be tempted to spend some money and get a built on cat run

[Tilly2]

Once a teacher, always...

[melv16]

You're feeling brave tonight, shoota?:-)

[pastafreak]

RR...if she's in a block of flats, I doubt she can build anything on. And, it sounds like she may be in the US, and the first floor is our 2nd floor.
It sounds as if the neighbour has a phobia. Or is nuts...

[wolf63]

I like cats and dogs ... But I am not crazy (so my psychiatrist says)

They are your cats, it is up to you to keep them contained in an area or face up to the problems arising from them getting out and about. The lady is scared of them but they are also at risk from cars and predators.

How do they get from your apartment to the yard?

You need to building a Catio or patio for cats.

[wolf63]

My last sentence doesn't make sense - sorry.

Pasta, how can the first floor be on the second floor?

[Rockrose]

If she has a balcony she could fence it in so they still have an outdoor space

[shoota]

The floors are on the same floors in both countries but they are named differently.

[Baldric]

If a neighbour of mine threatened to break my animals, they would have a problem, me!

[ladybirder]

Cats are wild animals. Your neighbour should sort herself out she can't go around screaming and banging on your shutters. Report her if she carries on.

[shoota]

Do you think superiorfeline is a catbot?

[Pyxis]

Pasta. I think that in the States, their First Floor is our Ground Floor.
I don't think they use the term Ground Floor over there..

That would explain why the neighbour is scared of the cats squeezing through the bars of what is presumably a small, balcony-sized patio.