Whats the best way to ask a neighbour to keep their cats indoors at night?

[Anonymous]

My neighbours have two cats. During the day, they take the cats indoors, but at night, they leave them outside. The cats get into our yard often, and sometimes they wake me up with their fighting. I have concerns that one day they may even kill the native wildlife, like the ringtail possums who have babies that use the trees in our yard right, if they continue to get into our yard. I want to say something to the neighbour but don't know how to approach this as I have never met her, but I do know the cats are hers.

[CrimsonAngel09]

"The cats get into our yard often, and sometimes they wake me up with their fighting."

I have neighbors with outside cats, and have heard their fighting. It honestly doesn't bother me compared to the multiple sirens I hear multiple times a day, everyday.

"I have concerns that one day they may even kill the native wildlife, like the ringtail possums who have babies that use the trees in our yard right, if they continue to get into our yard."

With my neighbor's cats outside, sometimes I would find a dead bird or fish as I live right by the lake. Despite my cat Houdini who was an indoor cat, he has killed mice that came into the house. When we let him out on the enclosed porch, he would occasionally kill a lizard that would come up between the boards. We had always kept him indoors and in an enclosed porch so he doesn't get run over or attacked by other animals.

Hate to break it to you, but it's in their nature to hunt; even if they are fed. However, as long as that Mama opossum is around, those babies will be protected. That's like expecting a lion in Africa to never hunt for antelope.

Still, you can politely ask your neighbors your concerns, and MAYBE they'll do something. Or, you can give them multiple reasons to keep their cat indoors. Most of the time it's to keep them from getting hit by cars. I was unfortunate one time where I came across a cat in the road that was twitching and slowly dying.

I have even seen two big dogs dead on the side of the road.

I also seen a grieving Mother dog staying by its dead child.

It's a harsh truth, but most pet deaths seem to be from getting hit by cars.

If they won't listen to anything you say, guess you'll have to move.

[Danny_dan92]

Hi, could you please keep your cats inside

[Asker]

Thank you

[Danny_dan92]

Yep.