Neighbour's Cat Died On My Drive - Interested In Opinions...

[Deskdiary]

I'll try to keep this short.

I have a gravel drive and some weeds have started to come through so I was out yesterday with weed killer.

It would appear the neighbour's cat has either licked it, or walked over it and then licked it's paws or whatever, and the upshot is the cat is dead.

I accept it's likely the cat died because of my weed killer.

I've just had a stand-up row with the neighbour who was demanding compensation because I put weedkiller on my drive. I made the point that the only pertinent part of her rant was that she's correct, it is indeed my drive, and therefore I made the point that as it's my drive it is mine to do with as I please.

Bottom line is I sent her away with flea in her ear.

What is the legal position?

[Tuvok]

Is there proof that the cat was on your drive whilst the weedkiller was wet?

[TonyV]

No legal advice but maybe you should have warned neighbours that you were putting something down that could been harmful to wandering cats?

[237SJ]

Is the neighbour going to get an autopsy on the cat? I don't see how they can prove it died from ingesting the weedkiller. Seems a quick death - I would have thought the animal would have crawled away and had seizures etc.

[Mamyalynne]

Interesting question, I'll wait to see what the legal eagles say.

[calmck]

Could the cat have been hit by a car and got on your drive. Definitely ask for necropsy

[EDDIE51]

You are 100 % entitled to put weedkiller on your drive. It may have been a good idea to warn your neighbour though . But I don't think there is any sort of legal case to answer.

[douglas9401]

She's already had a free flea, compo settled.

[Togo]

//Bottom line is I sent her away with flea in her ear.//

Was it one of the cat's fleas?

[10ClarionSt]

There's no problem. It's not your fault if animals wander over your property. Tell your neighbour to control any animals they own and keep them off your property anyway.

[riptide]

Poor thing it must have been a very painful death for it. I would always warn neighbours if I was going to put weed killer down, but there again I am an animal lover and would rather have the weeds than think I had killed a cat. I certainly would not send her away with a flea in her ear, how inconsiderate, she must be very upset, surely you could have shown some sympathy.

[Deskdiary]

TonyV - As the weather gets better the weed killer will be coming out more and more often, although mainly in my back garden. Other than my immediate neighbour, I do not have the first clue who else has cats, so I'd suggest making people aware is a little restrictive.

Tuvok - I have literally no idea. I put the weed killer down and than my son and I left the house and travelled to Allianz Park to watch Saracens and we were out of the house for 7 hours (my wife and my daughter having left earlier in the day to visit relatives).

[Prudie]

It's ridiculous to say control your pets when it's cats. Come on most of us have cats. I think you should have warned your neighbour for sure but to die from yesterday seems a bit unlikely too. An autopsy would confirm but that will be expensive. It is difficult and I don't know what the legal position is. I would be utterly heartbroken if one of mine was killed by a neighbour's weedkiller so have sympathy for their rant.

[Deskdiary]

Trouble is riptide, cats are quite feral - should I not treat any part of my property on the off chance a neighbour's cat may wander onto my property?

[Maydup]

I wonder if this is one of life's coincidences? You treated your drive and the neighbour's cat died. There is nothing concrete to connect the two.

Thanks to the EU regs, modern day weedkiller barely kills a dandelion let alone a cat. At worse, the cat might have been a bit sickly if it had feasted on the weedkiller, but I think you are scapegoat here.

She is sad, and has decided its all your fault. Sympathise and move on.

[Calicogirl]

I think you need to understand how devastated your neighbour must be that her cat has died and that they are probably very upset and yelling the odds because of that. Sending people away with a ;'flea in their ear' will only lead to a long term feud, so if I were you I would wait til tomorrow, go and apologise explain it was entirely unintentional and commiserate, otherwise this will go from bad to worse to worse.

[ladybirder]

I think weedkillers that kill animals should be banned.

[webbo3]

Weed killer is only harmful to pets and children when it’s wet, once dried, within a shot time it’s safe.

[Deskdiary]

I think Maydup has made a very good point - it could just be a coincidence. Perhaps I've been too quick to say "I accept it's likely the cat died because of my weed killer." When my son and I left to watch the rugby the drive was most definitely dry. The weedkiller was put down yesterday - the cat was dead this morning. I had no idea it was only harmful when wet.

Hmmm - perhaps it's me that deserves the apology

[Old_Geezer]

It's more ridiculous to choose a cat as a pet, then claim one's own lack of pet control means one can blame neighbours for the cat's misadventure, should it comes into contact with weedkiller. If one can't keep one's pet under control, then it's obliged to take it's chances in the outside world. Informing the neighbours is all very friendly but seems impracticable/unreasonable since at any time someone somewhere in the neighbourhood is likely to be treating weeds. It's a continual risk.

Anyway, death from chemical ingestion seems unlikely to me. It's hardly marketed in "Dreamies" flavour.

[Old_Geezer]

How about banning pest control that kills animals ?