Wat to do if my cat went into neighbor’s house when she opened the door and it ran under bed and when she tried to remove it by grabbing the cat he scratch her?
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Wat to do if my cat went into neighbor’s house when she opened the door and it ran under bed and when she tried to remove it by grabbing the cat he scratch her?
The scratch opened up a wound with lots of blood. She was taken to hospital and stitched up. She is 94 and on blood thinners. Am I liable for this since I own the cat?
Asked on September 17, 2012 under Personal Injury, California
Answers:
Catherine Blackburn / Blackburn Law Firm
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
While laws are a little different in different states and localities, you are probably liable for your cat's actions. Most localities have ordinances that require people to confine their pets, even cats, and not let them run free. Therefore, you cat should not have been able to run into this lady's home.
The right thing to do would be to pay her medical expenses. I am sure she is on Medicare. Perhaps if you offer to pay her co-pays and deductibles so that she has no out of pocket expenses, she will agree and the two of you can maintain a neighborly relationship.
If she wishes to make trouble for you, she would call the local animal control authorities. They probably have jurisdiction to fine you and maybe even quarantine your cat.
If I were you, I would gather the courage and take responsibility for my cat. (By the way, I have a cat who goes out the dog door and jumps over my 6 foot privacy fence. I understand the problem and appreciate that my neighbors do not complain. )
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