On the 21st April one of our cats left the house fit and well. Luke,15 years old had survived 3 viper bites and 5 years ago the removal of his ears because of skin cancer. He is now dead because some stupid morons who live about 750 metres away let their two young dogs, an alsatian and a collie cross out every morning to run wild. Two other cats are missing and we actually stopped the dogs who were about to attack an unsuspecting cat in the hamlet and chased them off.
A few days later, a Saturday, I found out who the owners were and went and knocked on their door. Berated them but in a proper manner, and asked why their dogs were running loose. The âmanâ of the house left his wife to deal with it and all we got was that she was sorry and they hadnât yet been able to make an enclosure. I warned her that if the dogs were seen again I would inform the gendarmerie as itâs illegal to turn them out loose.
I have since discovered that two other members of the hamlet have been to complain to them about their dogs which run around the hamlet and fields disturbing and threatening their animals. These idiot owners also live by a fast main road and their dogs could often be seen outside by the road. An accident waiting to happen.
The dogs were spotted running loose again on the monday after I had complained. A letter to the Maire from me and personal complaints by others to him and he has written to the owners. No sight of the dogs since but I am absolutely livid and just wish more action could be taken against them.
We had chased the dogs out of our garden several times and cleared up dog mess. The family have a reputation as âbenefit scroungersâ in the true sense of the description and have not lived in the house more than a couple of years. We wish they had never come!
Itâs bad enough losing our furry member of the family in unnatural circumstances like a road accident, but something like this must be beyond heartbreaking, and would bring out the worst in me, Iâm afraid.
Yes, in our acre of land! We also live in an agricultural hamlet surrounded by cattle fields. There are other cats in the hamlet and no problems with any of them. Thanks for your understanding!
You need to do something more official - a porte plaint to the gendarmes - then they will have to do something about it.
Some years back a neighbour of ours had a small pony that was always getting out. They grumbled to me that theyâd had a porte plaint, but they sorted it and the pony went to someone who had horses. Kinder for the pony.
We have not seen the dogs since the Maireâs letter was sent. They may have got rid of them but thanks for the suggestion. Also we donât want to drag things out as we try to put it behind us (difficult). Nevertheless I will ask advice at the Mairie and may possibly do something about it.
Cats are independent. Canât be controlled as a dog can, wants to be, and must be. And I note Moray said their cat was at home on their own land.
As a sufferer of my neighboursâ dogs they havenât killed him but if I get any evidence they harm a hair on my catâs head Iâll go straight to the gendarmes. Unfortunately though their invasions have changed my catâs personality. Weâve not seen them for 5 days now and invasions have dramatically lessened, but are still happening, today they can hear me feeding him and bark from their place. My cat is still nervous when eating.
Iâm not looking forward to when their child grows up, or if they have any more children, if allowing this with their dogs is indicative of how theyâll bring up their children. Hopefully the gendarmes would sort them if need be. Otherwise Beanybagâs comments are echoed by me.
Very sorry to hear about the loss of your cat, Moray. And I understand your anger. Letâs hope the intervention of the Mayor will have a lasting effect. The Mairie in my little town actively encourages people to report errant dogs as they recognise the danger posed by them. Best wishes.
Iâm very sorry for your loss, you obviously loved him. Itâs a cultural thing, in the US we consider it irresponsible to let a cat outside, they disrupt the natural wildlife and lead significantly shorter lives. I know itâs not the same in Europe but maybe it should be. An outdoor cat has a significantly shorter average lifespan of just 2 to 5 years, compared to indoor cats that typically live 12 to 18 years. (RSPCA)
Where we live is in no way comparable to living in a city. The hamlet of 11 occupied houses centred around the main farmhouse and then cattle fields and woods all around. The farm has at least 5 cats and there are at least 5 other cats around the hamlet. There are also 8 dogs (all properly controlled). The cats are more than useful given the barns and old buildings as rats and mice are prevalent. The environment you mention is totally different to where we live in rural France. Nevertheless thank you for your sympathy.
So sorry you lost your cat. We live in a similar âoutpostâ of civilisation. I could not keep my cats in even if there was more traffic than tractors, the daily milk truck and the occasional lost tourist.
But I am quite sure the cat dristribution systen will eventually deliver a stray to your door. And I hope you will let it into your life and love it as much as the cat you just lost.
No more now Bettina. We have one 14 year old now and he and Luke were from the farm where the cats were never sterilised. They would have been put down at birth along with others.
Going back 14 years we took our current remaining cat and 4 others so we had 5 of them. Too many but an English couple took two females, both sterilised and vaccinated by us, up to the Auvergne where they lived and we had three left, all males.
One of them suddenly collapsed and died at just over one year old due,said the vet, to a problem with inbreeding.
That left us with two until last month and now just one. At our ages we canât take a young cat on with a possibily of a life span of 20 years. We always take good care of them and have a very good vet so could well outlast us.
Your area sounds like ours except we donât have milk lorries. The cattle are all Limousin that surround destined for the meat market.
We managed to persuade the farmerâs partner to get their female cats sterilised as a condition of taking the five (good job she didnât call our bluff) and also a neighbour to get his female cat done.
We feel we have made a contribution to our feline neighbours and will continue to do so if possible short of taking one in.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.i