My son is trying to murder the cats and any day he will succeed...

[bohemianbint]

...how the hell do I stop him?!

In the last 2 days, he has sat on the cat, rolled on it, trodden on her neck, pulled her tail and other general insults.

He does actually love the cats, they really make him laugh, but he shows that by trying to squeeze their kidneys out. I have bollocked him every single time I've seen him do it as I don't want him thinking that violent behaviour is acceptable to anyone or anything, but he really doesn't pay any attention.

What can I do? Or should I just buy a couple of tiny cat shaped coffins and prepare for the inevitable?

[bohemianbint]

oh, and he's 17 months, nearly, if that helps...

[Heathcliffscathy]

mine's 4 and i'm having a similar problem.

i've noticed that he seems to be doing it for my benefit a lot of the time, and i'm wondering if there is a bit of rivalry there, as in some new little thing has arrived and he is no longer the smallest in the house.

[Whooosh]

Hmmm-we had ours before dd so she has grown up with them and been taught from a very early age that she needs to behave in a certain way.This was helped by one of them taking a swipe at her when she pushed it too far.She now has a healthy respect for that one.
The other two are extremely tolerant and do get dragged about a bit-they generallycan escape (unless being sat on) and will if they feel the need to.
I think you are probably doing all you can-cat will learn to steer clear if really bothered by it.

[BabiesEverywhere]

We have 8 cats and a 16 month old DD. I think we might have to invest in a couple of cat coffins as well.

In our case, she is trying to kill them with kindness. Lovingly hugging them around the middle by squeezing them and stroking them flat to the floor. I encourage and enforce gentle interaction with the cats but I think I am fighting a losing battle

[Reallytired]

I'm surprised, usually cats are quite good at fighting back.

[saltire]

At least you've not got goldfish, my friends DS1 took their fish from it's tank and flushed it down the loo, "to see if it would swim back up the pipe mum". She was not amused

[bohemianbint]

lol saltire!

The cats have been around for much longer than DS and they have the patience of saints. We messed about with them non-stop from day one so they're very good natured and sociable, and they've never taken a swipe at anyone. I can't believe they put up with it all though, bless 'em.

[Hassled]

I'm surprised as well - most cats would have retaliated by now. My DCs have all grown up with cats, and have had a few warning nips/scratches which have taught them early on to treat cats with a bit of caution.
Maybe keep the cats out of the room your DS is in for a while until he forgets about plaguing them - it could just be a new "game" which he will move on from quite quickly.

[Flllightattendant]

I think you need to keep a very close eye during this phase. Ds1 started being hideous to the cat as son as we got her, when he was about 15 months.
She never retaliated. One day he painted her blue with gloss. It wa terrifying, I thought she would die, she was coated.
One very expensive vet bill later I was a bit more careful about leaving them together. Rivalry, yes, extremely strong rivalry.

Take it seriously, BB! Supervision/segregation. Ds now 4 and respectful to her. It took ages to teach. Mind you he is pretty rough with the baby instead now...

[ArmadilloDaMan]

Ds loves our cats - they are not as fond of him.

I have several rules with them.

1. they need a safe place to go where he can't reach them (ours go into the back room or under the stairs).
   
   
2. they should never be left alone with him.
   
   
3. there should always be an escape route for them if he gets too much (i.e. not in room with door shut)
   
   
4. keep reinforcing how he should be playing with them. It sticks - well bits of it, eventually.

[ArmadilloDaMan]

before I had ds I never thought I'd hear myself say 'don't stick your finger up the cat;s bum - because he doesn't like it, that's why'



ds loves our cats.

ONe is quite neurotic and we would never ever leave him in a room alone with her for a second - she's vicious if she feels she is under attack.

Any cat not bright enough to move if has the chance is obv not bothered enough.

[FlameNFurter]

Oooh DS does that to ChocolateTeapot's cats I hoped that them swiping him with claws would help, but apparently not