My Neighbor Assaulted My Cat

Martymig

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Hello, I don't know where to start with this as I am so irrate that I just want to explode. But my cat wad assaulted twice by my new neighbor. I moved into this apartment back in July of last year and on the day I moved in my neighbor that lives in the same duplex was helping me move my stuff in. Well i couldnt figure it out at first but he must have been in my apartment strangulating my cat. At the time of this event I couldn't put 2&2 together but I know this happened now. I could tell by the way his fur was matted around his neck and by the way he was acting that something happened. I had my notions. Well a few weeks ago my cat snuck out of the door and got into the hallway and heard my neighbor open his door then heard a loud then and my cat cry out in pain then heard my neighbors door again. I didn't see it happen but my cat came limping up the steps panting for air and as he payed on the floor with his hind legs pulling up into his abdomen repeatedly. He was in severe pain and there were bruises around his mouth. I rushed him to the vets and they tool exrays and seen there was striations in his hind leg at the tendons and a compressed disk in his neck. I phoned 911 but they said there was nothing they could do since I didn't see it happen . It took me awhile to calm down but this isn't about me. It's my good friend Peanut, my cat I'm worried about. Will this have caused any unforseen damage to his internal organs ? Will this have shortened his life at all ? Will he developed kidney problems now ? What can I do to help my friend to overcome these stressful attacks so unreservedly placed upon him ? He is afraid now and has gotten a little mean from this. Why don't the poluce believe me ? I even called the Humane Society officer that is supposed to handle situations like this and he refused to do anything to help also. I will be moving again in May to keep him safe. I am doung everything I can to ensure his saftey. He just hides under my bed all day now. He is a good cat. I feel so bad for him. What can I do to help him ? Please.......how can I correct this and bring him out of his anger, confusion and fear ? I know why he had gotten a little mean and I do not hold it against him at all. What can I do to bring him around ? Will his kidneys be okay ? Will he still live the long life I had planed for him ?
 

Leomc123

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Man im sorry that your neighbor is an asshole, and i feel sorry for your cat being the victim here. What did the vet say about the compression disk in the neck ? Can your cat walk ? If your cat is getting a bit mean, he may be in some sort of pain and that is why he is hiding too. Did the vet prescribe any pain medication for your cat ? I would let your cat be, let him hide he feels safe there for the time being, but keep an eye on him. Bring him food near the bed and water and let him come out by himself. If you want, you can make a heatpack with dried rice in a sock and heat it up in the microwave for 2 minutes and let him lay near it.

The police never do anything, did you tell the police that your cat was injured and being strangulated by this man before ?

The only thing i suggest is to make sure your cat doesn't get out into the hallway again, I think your cat will need some rest in a place where he doesn't move so much so he can heal for a bit for at least three weeks no movement. If your cat is walking keep an eye on his leg limp if it gets worse take him to the vet again and with his neck if your cat starts making twitching movements and its difficult for him to do things like turn his head around then it could be nerve damage . What does the vet say about the stomach ? Does the vet think peanut was kicked ? Or does the vet think the jerk slammed the door on him ? To me it sounds like the asshole either kicked the cat, or pickup the cat and swung the cat hard on the wall.

Post his image on the RSPCA website. We have done that to an animal abuser in QLD who was videoed randomly bashing a dog in the street. Now his photo and address is posted on the RSPCA website through facebook and i posted his photo and address to the QLD police station. That asshole is going to find out how karma works real soon.
 
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Martymig

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Thank you ! Peanut is doing fine. He is just withdrawn and a little afraid and he is moving okay. I'm just worried about complications later in life for him because I read up about cats and kidney problems and read that trauma is associated with decreased kidney health. Believe me this guy knows I want to kick him in the rear. He avoids me now. I told everyone at the bar he drinks at that he did this. I'm sure he gets his share. My hands are tied but I like the idea of posting his picture around. I'm looking into this. I first need to get a picture of him to post it. Thank you for your concern. I first need to make sure Peanut stays safe and he has recovered well. I take good care of him. I feed him like a horse. He only gets the best of everything. No people food ! He is smart and dosent eat it anyhow. I treat him like the king he is. He follows me from room to room and has to be with me all the time. He knows. That day it happens and once I seen him in pain I flew out my door and was yelling at my neighbor through his door. You should have seen the way Peanut was looking at me when I came back in. He is a smart cat and he knows. I can't let him down. He needs me around or I would go and beat this guy up but he will have his way then. I can't let that happen. Peanut needs me.
 
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Willowy

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You don't know it was that guy, honestly. That's why the cops can't do anything. Vigilante violence is wrong, don't fall into that trap.

Keep your kitty inside. There are so many dangers outside, not just nasty neighbors. Don't let people you don't trust into your apartment. If he stays safe inside, nothing more should happen.

Why are you concerned about his kidneys? Did the vet say his kidneys looked damaged? There shouldn't be any long lasting effects after he's healed up.
 

kittyluv387

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Wow someone should strangle that guy and see how he liked it. Hmph. Disgusting pos. But you cant do much. I'm glad to hear you're moving. But in the meantime you need to be more vigilant about the door. Do not under any circumstances let your cat out. Hopefully he wont want to anymore after these incidents.
 
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Martymig

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You don't know it was that guy, honestly. That's why the cops can't do anything. Vigilante violence is wrong, don't fall into that trap.

Keep your kitty inside. There are so many dangers outside, not just nasty neighbors. Don't let people you don't trust into your apartment. If he stays safe inside, nothing more should happen.

Why are you concerned about his kidneys? Did the vet say his kidneys looked damaged? There shouldn't be any long lasting effects after he's healed up.
I know it was him, no one else lives in the building that shares the hallway. I'm non violent, I'm not going to fall into the trap. Thanks for the sound advice. No the vet didn't say anything about his kidneys. I just read online where it talked about a cats health and how trauma can effect it. I want my cat with me for a long time. He is the best.
 
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Martymig

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Wow someone should strangle that guy and see how he liked it. Hmph. Disgusting pos. But you cant do much. I'm glad to hear you're moving. But in the meantime you need to be more vigilant about the door. Do not under any circumstances let your cat out. Hopefully he wont want to anymore after these incidents.
Yes I keep a close eye on him. I don't leave him unsupervised nor do I let anyone in my apartment. Thanks.
 

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Hi. So sorry for all of this happened - poor Peanut. With regard to worrying about his health, call and ask the vet about setting up a follow up appointment with x-rays - perhaps in 3 months, or whatever time line the vet would feel appropriate just to make a comparison with the originals and help to confirm proper healing.

You know Peanut best, what types of interaction with him would be the best for re-instilling confidence in him? I think that is what is missing for him now. Spending more time with him while he is under your bed, maybe even laying on the floor by the bed and either talking or reading softly out loud to him, just so he can feel comforted by your voice? Enticing him to come out with his favorite treats?

You could also try some calming products for a while just to see if that helps relax him a bit. There are tons of them on the market and not all of them work on all cats, so you might have to try a few to see if one or another makes any difference. There is one that a lot of folks use before taking their cat to the vet to help calm them - it is called Bach Rescue Remedy and they are drops you can rub into a cat's ear.
 

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I support what others have recommended about making Peanut feel reassured, calm and safe. I would also want a high degree of certainty that Peanut did not have any internal injuries from the incidents via x-ray and ultrasound.

It sounds like you have a reasonable belief that your neighbor did this, therefore, you have a reasonable belief that you live next door to a sadistic, violent and potentially unstable person. It's good that you are moving; I wish it was sooner. You should be very careful to keep your doors and windows locked, to keep both Peanut and yourself safe. Do you have a pet-cam (live video camera) to check in on Peanut when you are not home? I have to be honest with you, which ends up sounding alarmist, but if your neighbor violently attacked your cat twice as you say, you are dealing with an unpredictable dangerous person. Be safe and take all the precautions you can. I would go the police station and at least try to file a police report.
 

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Peanut will come around and he may quit darting for the door. I would be very careful around your neighbor, this is dangerous behavior. It's hard for us here to understand but there are people who dislike cats. They would never do something like this though. It is good that you are moving.
 

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I think you should change your locks. Perhaps get a security system that includes mentoring windows. You can also get nanny cams to cover the rooms with your doors. That way you have evidence of someone entering your place. Breaking and entering whether the person steals anything or not is frowned upon by the authorities.

do the nanny cams alert you to someone entering a room? If so you could be ready to call the police if you saw him on the camera.
 

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For now go on Craigslist and pick up used a $10 baby gate, install it by the door enough so that you can open it and that it will give you a second to react if Peanut tries this again.
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As much as I dislike dogs, you don’t see me going around strangling them. This piece of trash is a psychopath. Even if you move out and Peanut will now be safe you need to warn the property manager again and put up posters, messages online so this doesn’t happen to the next “Peanut” that may live there.
 

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Be very careful in dealing with your neighbor. Animal abuse is a gateway to abusing humans. Not all animal abusers harm their fellow man. But many move on to that later. Avoid him. As much as you might like, don't give him a piece of your mind. Avoid him. compressed disk.

As for Peanut, is he still hiding under the bed? If so, maybe set up a cardboard box, covered so it is dark inside and several towels or a blanket or pillow in the box to sleep on.

I agree with other posters about giving Peanut several months to heal and then let the vet check him again for kidney function and for his compressed disk.

I hope that Peanut recovers and that the both of you have a long and happy life together! Keep us posted on how things are going!
 

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Get one of the people at the bar to pretend to be his friend and take photos in a group with him in it or in the background. He will be drunk so it wont phase him one bit as to why people are taking group photos.

Martymig knows who did it, but does not have hard evidence to show to the police that he did it, that is why the police wont do anything. If you had a video or a clear photo image of his face when he did the abuse then they would charge him.

And it is true when they say there are many people who don't like cats or dogs, but would never go out of their way to attack an animal like this. This neighbor is a dangerous person and your building manager should be aware of this person who is a psychopath and a sociopath who could harm another pet or person considering his initial response is to be brutal.

You are lucky that you are moving soon, but still this psychopath who lacks empathy remains to live there and will most likely do the same thing to another pet. Make police reports and inform the people who live there. If possible as your building manager for his full name and then report it to the police. Even if the police does nothing there is a report there that now the police is aware that this person is prone to do something like this, and if he does something again to your cat or anyone else, it will keep a log on his actions and he will be accountable for it.

With your cat peanut i am glad he is getting better, he will take a while to gain trust again even if you didn't do anything wrong because of that asshole. I agree with one of the poster to hang around the bed, talk to him read to him, play calming music around him. Every day when you feed him place his food a little further away from him under the bed so he gradually gets comfortable away from your bed. If he is prone to hide there , maybe block under the bed completely and leave a crate near the bed or somewhere else in the room that he has no choice to move too but still comfortable to lay around in. Sometimes cats get a little stubborn and will get used to one area, but they are very adaptable creatures.
 
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Martymig

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Thank you everyone for the words of advice. I am using them and bring Peanut out of his isolation. I have to be patient for him he is worth the time of day by far. He doesn't like it here as much as I do. So we are both in the same boat helping eachother. We are an inseparable team that will defeat this dilemma. I feel so bad for him that he had to go through such pain. Just the thought of picturing this happening to him in my minds eye makes me feel very sad and angry. The day I'm moving out will be the hardest day I've had in a long time. But I'll be glad to get away from here. I learned a valuable lesson though and it almost cost my cats life. I need to find a way to forgive myself before I can forgive my neighbor. Thank you everyone.
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Martymig

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He is such a good cat ! He is very smart and friendly. I can't imagine why anyone could do such a terrible thing to something like that.
 

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On the day you move, clear out a room by yourself. Then lock Peanut in that room, possibly even in his carrier, so no one can let him out by mistake. This is a dangerous time for all cats, the confusion makes them try to run. This way will help keep him safe. I've moved with 8 cats. Err on the side of your friends think you're over doing it caution.
 

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I agree with the ideas presented of you laying low and avoiding the guy as much as possible. If he saw his pic posted would it cause him to try something again, or something worse? Nanny cam and changing locks is also a good idea. People who abuse animals are not the same as people with bad tempers who can basically control themselves if they put their mind to it. They are outside the box already and their mind works differently than normal people. You have to go way beyond what is ordinary good cat care to protect Peanut so that you both can get out of their in one piece. When I moved several years ago with 8 cats I put each one in a carrier and left them there until they were safely moved.....it was probably a period of about 4 hours or so, but it was better than dead or missing. Or board Peanut for the day if he is agreeable to that on the day that you move. Maybe your vet would keep him under the circumstances.
 

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I'm so sorry to hear your poor cat went through this. I agree that your neighbours need to be warned about this guy, particularly those who have pets or children, but please don't do anything that puts you in danger or breaks the law.

We have an article here on helping traumatised cats recover.

How To Help An Abused Cat Recover
 
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Martymig

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Thank you everyone...
 
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