My husband and I purchased our first home 7 years ago and we live out in the country with some of the best country neighbours you could possibly ever ask for.
My husband and I have two indoor cats. They occasionally come outside supervised.
Our next door neighbours, who we have a really great relationship with – helping out with each others kids, meals together, helping with home projects. Just overall some of the best people I’ve ever met and am extremely grateful to live beside. The husband took care of our driveway in the winter while my husband was on the road. I tell their kids to come use our pool whenever they’d like. Anyways, they also have a cat. It roams freely whenever it wants.
I came outside last night to cover our outdoor sectional and noticed that the cover had these little pinholes all over, and many little rips. I immediately was like “this is a cat.”
We have had problems with the cat in the past, digging up our garden, my husband’s brand new truck has scratch marks all over it because the cat liked to go on top of it. We didn’t say anything about all those things, even though they sucked, because ultimately I know there isn’t anything you can do to keep a cat in your yard.
However, now I have to buy a new cover. I quit my full time government job in March because I have been on daycare lists 2 years as of April so money is tight. I also know if I buy a new one that the same thing is going to happen.
How do I approach this? I don’t want them to think I’m mad, although I am, but it’s just such a complicated thing and I have no idea how to approach this.
I’d like to go over and just mention the incident, that I have to buy a new cover, I don’t want them to feel guilty and pay for it, but I don’t want to keep having to replace the cover. It’s not cheap, the patio furniture is something I splurged on and take pride in taking good care of.
PLEASE HELP. I love cats so much, I love our neighbours, I just don’t know what to do.
Thanks internet friends.
Comments
Just be straight with them like, “Hey, I think your cat’s been scratching up our patio cover, it kinda sucks ‘cause I gotta replace it now.” Say it casual, no blame, just letting them know so maybe they can help stop it from happening again.
You can’t keep quietly replacing things while the cat wages war on your patio it’s time to speak up or it’ll never stop. A calm honest chat now saves your friendship and your furniture from becoming collateral damage.
I’d say try to find empathy for the cat because it’s just an animal doing what animals do. Please don’t hurt the cat it’s an innocent creature and doesn’t deserve that.
Mention it to them why? You don’t want money. The only other implication here is to make their cat inside only.
“Hi. I know you’ve done so much for us! Can you also make your cat inside only bc I really am into my patio furniture.”
This is the quiet part you are not saying out loud.