Legal Question in Criminal Law in Louisiana

I have a cat that is constantly walking on my vehicle and scratching it up with it's claws. It doesn't do it in the day, only at night when I sleep and can't catch it. I would like to just leave a little bowl of antifreeze near my truck, well within my property line, to eliminate said cat. Someone told me I could go to jail for that. I don't understand why I have to buy a trap, deal with the animal, etc when it's someone else's animal on my property damaging my vehicle. Nobody would believe me even if I took a photo of this cat on my truck and it's claw marks and estimates of the damage. They would just blow it off. Why do I have to put up with it? I was always told if an animal is damaging your property you can kill it, if a squirrel is chewing on your house, you can kill it. If a beaver is chewing your trees, you can kill it. Why doesn't that go for dogs and cats too? Something is also pissing on my tire. Why do I have to put up with that to? What do I do? Thanks in advance!


Asked on 6/24/10, 8:45 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Nick Pizzolatto, Jr. Pizzolatto Law Office

Call animal control and get a trap. If a little kid came along and thought your antifreeze was cool aid and they drank it what would you say? My precious truck paint job is more important than a kid out after curfew?! Or, sit up all night with a BB gun and nail the cat......don't kill it, just hurt it and it will not do it again. The cat is simply sitting on something warm. Does it know that he is hurting your feelings? I live in the country and cats are not the only animal that likes to sit on the hood of vehicles.

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Answered on 6/25/10, 3:36 pm


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