Read the threatening letter sent to a mortified cat owner as war erupts between neighbours: ‘Control your animals or they will DISAPPEAR’
A cat owner has been told her pet ‘will disappear’ if she doesn’t keep it locked up inside by a furious neighbour who left her a very threatening note.
The woman from Brisbane shared a photo of the blunt hand-written note to Reddit, asking for advice on how to keep her rescue cat inside.
She explained a feud had kicked off with her neighbour after her cat ran into their yard and picked a fight with the feline next door.
‘I was mortified and apologetic and immediately removed the cat flap on the back door and replaced the door so she can’t get out, but we had a tradie out leave the garage up and she snuck out,’ she said.
After her cat’s second escape, she was then left a note that read: ‘Control your animals or they will disappear!’.
A cat owner has been told her pet ‘will disappear’ if she doesn’t keep it locked up inside by a furious neighbour who left her a very threatening note
The neighbour even went one step further and chose to write the message on the back of a printed out council information page with sections highlighted on ‘responsible pet ownership’.
The woman said she was frustrated her neighbour had left such an ‘abusive’ letter without approaching her first.
‘The problem is our house has casement windows and young kids and I’m forever on their case about shutting windows and not leaving doors open,’ she added, asking for advice if a digital fence would work.
She said she kept her cat inside as much as possible but the animal ‘busts out’.
‘Their cat has also been over to our side of the road so it’s a bit pot calling the kettle black,’ the owner said.
‘The neighbours who complained to ME have giant aggressive dogs that jump up on their fence and go crazy every time someone goes past and we live opposite a kids park.
She explained a feud had kicked off with her neighbour after her cat ran into their yard and picked a fight with the feline next door
‘Oh and my next door neighbours dog barks all night at 3am when she’s on shift so it’s just a whole load of hypocrisy that I’M getting the threats.’
Her post was flooded with comments and sparked fierce division amongst many Aussie pet owners.
Many pointed out the fact cats are known to kill native wildlife and said the woman had a responsibility to keep her pet inside.
‘Cats kill for the fun of it, they aren’t killing to eat, and one cat can decimate the local wildlife. Keeping cats inside has been a thing for a long time for people who know how destructive cats can be,’ one person said.
‘Take the cat back to be rehomed to a home it can actually stay inside and not run around bothering people and killing wildlife,’ another said.
‘Take it seriously. My family received a letter and the cat ‘went missing’. Try to change whatever it is that the cat is doing,’ one wrote.
One man said he’d caught five cats in a trap on his property and dropped them each off at the pound in the past six months.
Others were more sympathetic with the cat lover’s problem.
‘People who threaten to, or actually do hurt animals are scum. Literal human garbage. No excuse,’ one said.
‘I think you’re doing the right thing. Sorry you had to deal with this, I would be mortified if I got that letter.’
‘You’re doing really well and tbh your neighbour should be keeping their cat indoors too? Accidents happen, what matters is the work you are doing,’ added another.
The Brisbane City Council guidelines state cats must be microchipped and kept in enclosed areas if they’re outside.
The cat owner said she tried her best to keep her pet inside but it ‘busts out’
