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I am the owner of an apartment in a small block. I own a cat, which I have permission from strata to keep. My upstairs neighbour (a tenant) has 4 cats, so is obviously very keen on them. Unfortunately, she has now started feeding my cat, and keeping her in her apartment for extended periods. I am not happy about this, but short of keeping my cat inside, I am unsure of what to do. I have attempted to address the issue with my neighbour, with no success.
My question is- is there some sort of law which stipulates that owners/occupiers are not to interfere with other owners'/occupiers' pets? Although it sounds a bit over-the-top, my neighbour is, in a sense, infringing on my property (i.e. my cat).
Any help very welcome!
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Dear helsta,
Great to hear you are a pet friendly building and I am sorry your moggy has decided to hang out upstairs but I do wonder how your kitty cat gets upstairs?
I could be wrong but I believe your animal kept on lot should be kept in lot.
I am unaware of any bylaw that stops residents from feeding neighbours pets. Do most by laws state the animal should be carried or on a leash when on Common Property? So kitty getting to your neighbours house may be crossing common property?
I think the onus may be on you helsta. But I could be wrong depending on your registered bylaws. Kitty should probably not be wandering about Common Property or on another lot.
Big Cheers and Good Luck,
CBF
Good point, CBF, but it depends on the by-laws. They may only specify dogs to be carried or taken on leashes .. or not say anything at all. That's the wonder of by-laws … they're little fortune cookies of mystery.
Let's assume kitty is allowed to wander – for the sake of a delicious argument, if nothing else. What then? Is this cat-napping? Or slightly over-zealous kitty care?
If it's not a breach of by-laws, it's not a strata issue. But then, a solution is still required.
I had an over-fed cat who developed diabetes. Twice-daily injections for umpteen years, expensive cat-sitters when we went on holiday, constant trips to the vet. And all because we fed her a bit too much.
It's a worry and I don't know if there's a solution.
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Keeping your cat inside should solve the problem. Much safer.
I used to have an “outside” cat that happily became an “inside” cat when I moved. The only thing I had to do was get her claws trimmed every few months.
She lived to be 22 years old.
A cat scratching post saves the furniture, paper pellet cat litter does not smell if it is changed regularly (not down the sewer).