Neighbors Cats Disturb My Dog: Am I the Jerk for Asking Him to Keep Them Away from the Window?

Neighbor's cats are causing a dog to bark - but is it fair to ask the owner to stop them from looking out the window?

Damjan

Published in Interesting
23 Dec 2025

Neighbors Cats Disturb My Dog: Am I the Jerk for Asking Him to Keep Them Away from the Window?

In a world where pets are often seen as extensions of ourselves, one Redditor’s recent request has sparked a heated debate about boundaries and expectations between neighbors. The original poster, a 35-year-old woman, is grappling with a dilemma involving her Jack Russell Terrier and her neighbor’s three indoor cats.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Although her dog is typically well-behaved, the sight of the cats through the window sets him off in a barking frenzy, which she describes as both annoying and distracting. In an attempt to remedy the situation, she approached her neighbor and asked him to prevent his cats from looking out the window.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

However, the neighbor was taken aback by the request, pointing out that it wasn't feasible and suggesting that the responsibility for her dog's care lies with her. This interaction escalated, leading to accusations of entitlement and a realization that her expectations might be unreasonable.

As the thread unfolds, commenters are quick to weigh in, with many asserting that the request itself crosses a line of neighborly decorum. This conversation invites a broader discussion about pet ownership responsibilities, mutual respect among neighbors, and the complexities of living in close quarters with animals that have their own instincts and behaviors.

What do you think? Is asking a neighbor to change their home environment for the comfort of one’s pet a reasonable request, or does it overstep the bounds of neighborly conduct?

Original Post

I (35F) have a Jack Russel Terrier, who is usually very well-behaved but goes crazy at the sight of cats and will bark incessantly, which, as you can imagine, gets really annoying. My neighbor has like three cats, which he doesn't seem to allow to go outside, which I think is part of the problem.

They are always looking out the window, which makes my dog, who also likes to look out the window, bark and distract me. Yesterday, I went outside and asked my neighbor if he could stop letting his cats look out the window because of my dog.

He said that it really wasn't an option, apologized and went to go back inside. But I got angry because he wasnr listening and asked if he could consider getting gates or something for his windows.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

He, out for the blue, told me that I was acting entitled and that I obviously had no idea what it was like to own cats, which isn't true because I had cats when I was younger. My neighbor went back inside before I could say anything else.

I was pretty firm with myself for awhile but now I'm worried that I may have been unreasonable with my request. AITA?