Neighbor puts up a "bewar of dog" sign, but it turns out that he does not have a dog, instead he has a chonky cat named Gerald who hates everyone: 'I don't know what I did to Gerald'

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Aug 7, 2026 1:30 PM EDT

The sign should have said "Beware of Gerald". It would have been meowsterious and highly effective.

Listen, "Beware of Dog" signs are common. You can get them basically everywhere. "Beware of Cat" signs… those are rare. At best, you would have to go online to order one. At worst, you'll have to get one made especially for you. And it usually means paying a lot more for the sign and waiting a lot longer for the sign to come than just- going and buying the dog version of the sign. We imagine that's what the cat owner in today's story was thinking.

He needed the sign. Some cats are so spicy that they really do require you to have it. Anyone who owns cats knows that they can be a whole lot to deal with sometimes. My cat likes me, and every once in a while, she still pounces. And strangers? Don't even get me started on that. Best case scenario is her running away and hiding under the bed. Worst case scenario… maybe I should get a sign like that too. So, it's not that the sign was a lie. It was not meant to be deceptive. It wasn't about a dog, sure, but it was a necessary warning. Because, as the man who tried to pet this forbidden cat found out, some cats need to be worked a little before they allow you to approach them.

And Gerald… Well, clearly Gerald has standards for the humans that he allows around him. Should have known that from the sign alone. But even if you didn't, one look at Gerald through the window would have let you know that he is one cat that you should not be messing with. We think he's scarier than half the dogs that get signs like this, and he is about a third of their size.

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"My neighbor put up a 'Beware of Dog' sign. He does not have a dog. Just a fat judgemental cat named Gerald."

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There was a unit in this house. A unit that proved to you that he deserved the title. And the fear that comes along with it. Gerald is not to be trifled with.
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via Unsplash / Robin Jonathan Deutsch

Picture of a red "BEWARE OF DOG" sign on a fence.
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And you should! And if the owner allowed it, then the owner knew it was most likely one of the only ways that Gerald would ever let you close to him.
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via Unsplash / Marija Zaric - simplicity

Picture of a "BEWARE OF THE CAT (NO SERIOUSLY)" with an image of a black cat.
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