My dog(s) killed a cat ....

..... Well, the title says it all and I am absolutely devastated. It happened last night and I've hardly been able to stop crying. I feel so ashamed and guilty that I haven't been able to tell anyone, hence I found my way here.

I have two Dogue de Bordeauxs who have both lived with my 10 year old cat all their lives. Harley is 9 and Lola is 2, all three can regularly been found cuddling together in a pile on the carpet.

Last night, just after midnight I let the dogs out into the garden to do their business before bed as normal. I left the back door open and heard alot of "scuffling" on the paved area. My immediate thought was "great, what a time to decide to play" and thought nothing more of it. When they didn't come back in as normal and refused to come when I called them I went out, thats when I saw it. Lola was running around looking excited and Harley was standing over "something" with his mouth around its neck. I immediately called for my son who came out and eventually shooed the dogs back inside to reveal a cat which was quite obviously not breathing. We both stood there in absolute shock, my 24 year old son with tears and me shaking uncontrollably. There was no blood, no open wounds, and I heard no snapping or snarling or cat cries. I can only hope and assume that it was over too quickly for the poor cat to realise what was happening.

I eventually found the owners this morning (had an idea because I've seen the cat sitting on a particular fence alot) They were very good about it, obviously upset at the loss of their cat, but they also said they had a dog themselves and they couldn't guarantee he wouldn't do the same to a strange cat coming into the garden. These poor people ended up comforting me more than I them, I was and have been in such a state since it happened.

I know my dogs have chased cats out of the garden on numerous times, but never did I imagine that either one of them, or even both would ever do this. My cuddly bears have taken someones loved pet from them. I know a dogs prey drive will generally kick in if a smaller animal runs from them in panic but I just can't get my head around it. I can't.

I'm so sorry for the long post from a newbie, but I had to find somewhere to get it out.

Thank you for listening/reading.

Unfortunately dogs are dogs. I know my Whippet although she lived happily with my two cats would chase any strange cat she came across and I have no doubt if she caught one she would kill it.

I'm sure the death was quick and painless!

Dogs will be dogs. We can controll our dogs and where they go but a cat, well they take their own chances where ever they go and when ever.

We have 5 dogs and 1 cat, the dogs have always chased cats from our garden.

Don't beat yourself up!! It's just one of those unfortunate things. :flowers:

I can feel very good your current state of mind, My dog has never killed a cat, but I did that myself once with a car driven over it accidently, off course

It feels disgusting, really, BUT!

In some countries all over the world people became obsessively sick with this cat-care.. cats are not worthy creature to be that close to human beings

They should be used by humans for different tasks and missions, due to their respectful eyeshot, agility and ability to get on the trees and other high stuff,

and of course for their great reaction and speed.. But being a home pet? Cats are much more dangerous than every existing dog. In many ways..

Other thing - all of us know - сats do not really worry about their owners (like definitely most of existing animal species does),

so what we really need them for so close? Aren't these creatures just too wild and bad-mannered for being a human home pet?

I am ready to kill any cat(s), if needed, just before it scratches my eyes

Thank you Biker John and excuseme, I appreciate your replies.

Dogica, no matter what your personal opinion of cats is, this cat belonged to and was loved by a family and my dogs took it away from them and that breaks my heart. I find your comments quite offensive.

So sorry to hear this. It must have been an awful shock.

As you, so rightly, say dogs do have a prey drive and it will kick in sometimes, particularly if there is more than one of them.

I know someone who's miniature poodles killed her own cat.

You will have to mark this down to experience I am afraid. Perhaps supervise them in the garden? Let them out one at a time?

Just one of them things, your land so cat just unlucky , move forward, cats are a pain at times.

The dogs have been brought up with cats, they know and trust cats because as you said they often sleep and play together.

You do not really know what happened in your garden, just heard a commotion.

Was one of the cats threatened by this stranger cat? did this cat scatch the dog if the dog went to sniff\greet it.

A Dogue de Bordeauxs is a powerfull dog, Mastifs have a powerfull shake. it wouldnt be much effort to break a cats neck.

The dog did not bite or break the skin, so I think this was a shake to say OW that scratch hurt, "Shake" take that you nasty cat, the shake just connected wrong.

If this was a full blown attack by the dog this cat would be torn apart.

As said above dogs will be dogs, just be vigilant for a while in case any more strange creatures come into the dogs territory.

Don't beat yourself up about it.

Shewy

Awww what an awful thing to happen. I would say it is just a terrible coincidence that the cat was there and I do believe the dog was just protecting his territory (and possible his cat sibling too!).

I think the fact that you took the time to find the owners, the fact that it happened on your property and that you would have called help should the cat have still been alive are really all key points which take the blame off yourself, so don't be too hard on yourself. It's just a very unfortunate event.

There is a video going around at the moment of a lady with a greyhound caught on a house cctv camera attacking and killing their cat. There is huge controversy currently surrounding this due to the main fact that the lady in question walked off and left the poor animal twitching in the road! The fact that you would have assisted the injured cat and you contacted the owners is all you could have done so you just have to put this behind you now.

FlippyFloppy said:

Dogica, no matter what your personal opinion of cats is, this cat belonged to and was loved by a family and my dogs took it away from them and that breaks my heart. I find your comments quite offensive.

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Well, of course you have your own personal opinion just like anyone of us

I found really offensive seeing tons of filthy homeless cats at every street of my town.. these creatures bring deseases, **** and sh*t

I could jail people who feed them.