Neighbor Sues for €2,200 Because Cat Steps on His Lawn

A Long-Running Feud Over a Wandering Cat

Rémi, a ginger-and-white cat, became a local celebrity earlier this year when Dominique was ordered by the Béziers Judicial Court to pay her neighbor €1,250 for allowing the cat to roam into his garden. Like many cats, Rémi was known to wander between yards in the neighborhood, including those near the local police station.

Dominique hoped the judgment would close the matter, but her neighbor, Christian—a 65-year-old garage owner—has now returned to court, demanding an additional €2,200. He claims Rémi ignored the court ruling between April and June and was spotted around twenty times near his swimming pool.

However, multiple neighbors confirm there are at least ten cats roaming the area, including two identical ginger-and-white cats that look just like Rémi. This raises the question: was it really Dominique’s cat trespassing?

Neighbors Speak Out

Several residents have criticized Christian’s legal crusade. “It’s ridiculous,” said Véronique, who lives nearby. “There are two Rémi look-alikes, and none of the cats cause any damage.” Another neighbor, who chose to remain anonymous, added: “It’s a money grab. Yes, cats sometimes scratch the soil in my garden, but I just clap my hands and they run away. There are simple solutions—suing over this is absurd.”

Chantal, another local, admits she’s been annoyed by stray cats in the past but would never have gone to court. “Rémi was here before both me and Christian. Animals form habits. Taking legal action is going too far.”

Allegations of Harassment and Illegal Surveillance

Dominique’s frustration runs deeper than the fines. She claims her neighbor has installed two security cameras—one aimed toward her bedroom window, and another positioned high enough to film street activity and her property. French law strictly prohibits filming inside someone else’s property without consent, and violations can carry up to one year in prison and a €45,000 fine.

She also alleges the cameras were used to obtain the photos presented in the first court case. “The tribunal based its ruling on illegally obtained evidence,” Dominique insists.

Christian’s alleged behavior doesn’t stop there. According to Dominique and other witnesses, he has impersonated a former partner to influence legal proceedings and built an illegal garden shed on a shared wall, with a sloping roof that channels rainwater directly into her yard.

A Larger Issue: Stray Cats in France

France has an estimated 11 million stray cats—almost as many as the country’s pet cats, counted at 14.9 million in 2021. The problem is particularly visible in towns and villages, where free-roaming cats cross property lines daily.

Yet in Dominique’s case, she says she’s the only cat owner being targeted. “I’ve kept Rémi inside since the first ruling, but sometimes he escapes. It’s not easy. He’s always been an outdoor cat.”

Next Steps in a Bitter Dispute

Dominique plans to file a harassment complaint and hopes the court will take the new evidence seriously. “This whole thing is ridiculous. He’s allowed to film my garden, build illegally, and sue me over a cat? At what point does my right to privacy begin?”

Repeated attempts to contact Christian for comment were unsuccessful. The security company that installed his cameras also failed to respond.

For now, Rémi remains indoors—perhaps the only cat in Agde whose every move is a matter for the courts.