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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cat swiped at DS, AIBU not to want to get rid of him?

78 replies

Hairynigel · 09/01/2012 10:42

Get rid of the cat obvs, not DS.
DS snook up on him and squealed in his face, Cat took a short swipe and left 2 small scratches on his face.
Generally Cat doesn't have a problem with DS, he gets up and wanders off somewhere else if DS is annoying him, this has never happened before.

Just told DP and now he wants to get rid of Cat. He has never liked Cat and is always looking for reasons to rehome him. Cat is 123 years old and unlikely to be rehomed.

AIBU for wanting to keep him, even though he took a swipe at DS?

OP posts:
EmilyStrange · 09/01/2012 14:35

I was brought up with cats and earned a few scratches in that time. That is what happens and |I learnt what was acceptable and what wasn't. Keep the cat

NoMoreInsomnia12 · 09/01/2012 14:37

Kids learn either not to mess or put up with a lot of scratches.

everlong · 09/01/2012 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

samandi · 09/01/2012 14:38

YADNBU. I too had a few scratches when I was a kid from the family cat, mostly my fault and there's no way I would've wanted to have seen him go either. It's a natural reaction for the cat to swipe at someone (especially noisy, unpredictable children) when they feel cornered or scared.

everlong · 09/01/2012 14:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wongamum · 09/01/2012 14:58

YABU. Your DS will have to learn to be nice to the cat. Problem solved!

Wongamum · 09/01/2012 14:59

Sorry. YANBU!

Figgyrolls · 09/01/2012 15:01

YANBU, Cat hates me but still seems to love ds (16mo) although has been known to give a small nip when displeased - doesn't stop them loving each other. Thinking about it DH would probably get rid of me before Cat and am not sure he even loves Cat Grin, am so lying - fucking adores Cat and Cat adores him Hmm just not me Sad

corygal · 09/01/2012 15:02

YANBU. Cat has every right to be treated as a person.

dandelionss · 09/01/2012 15:45

'A quick swipe with a sheathed claw has taught her respect for animals '
.. but this cat didn't have sheathed claws.She scratched his face.What if it's his eye next time?
If your DC is at an age not to do it again, i wouldn't have any hesitation in saying 'not a problem, but for a child under say 2 I would be very careful.

sillybillies · 09/01/2012 15:58

YABU to get rid of the cat. Your DS and the cat will work things out. My 2 DD has both been swiped at by my rather intolerant cat and now they get on fine, although the cat tends to stay out of their way and resurfaces after bedtime. If the cat has only swiped when being annoyed by your DS then like others, I would encourage him to be nice to the cat.

SparklyGothKat · 09/01/2012 16:03

One of my cats scratched ds2 yesterday. He had been winding him up all day and he cornered him so cat lashed out. DP doesn't like cats but even he said to ds2 that he shouldn't pull the cat as it scares and hurts the cat. My exh told ds2 the same thing today. It's not the cats fault if they feel threatened.

Squitten · 09/01/2012 16:08

YANBU! My 3yr old has had a few little scratches off our cats when he's tried to poke them/pull at a tail and now he leaves them well alone. Our 1yr old is fascinated with them and is trying his luck - he's had a light bite, which he didnt enjoy but he has to learn!

dogindisguise · 09/01/2012 16:11

I'd keep the cat and hopefully your they will learn to be more wary of each other in the future. Our cat always runs away when she sees our DS as he once pulled her tail and pinched her (he is more cautious around her now).

WibblyBibble · 09/01/2012 16:20

Youngerdaughter periodically gets scratched by cat when she decides to play grab-his-tail-until-he-hisses. I figure it's a learning experience and just sit on the internet ignoring both of them. Has worked for many years now- he previously got his whiskers trimmed by olderdaughter, who was more gentle and thus able to coax him into some kind of cat-hairdressing game while I was in the loo. I suppose at least at 123, yours has the excuse of senility. Mine is just a moron. Have not got rid of either child or cat, though it's tempting to move out to somewhere less messy and leave them all to it.

Chundle · 09/01/2012 16:23

Strange though but if this was a dog that had gone for a child's face everyone would scream get rid of it!!!! I don't see the difference

Whatmeworry · 09/01/2012 16:26

Lesson for DS. Next lesson will be "don't pull Cat's tail". DP is being a sod, tell him to bath the cat :o

exoticfruits · 09/01/2012 16:31

I don't see a problem. DS learnt a valuable lesson (a good reason to have pets)-if he doesn't treat the cat with respect he will get hurt.
The cat isn't going to attack him without reason.

lunaticow · 09/01/2012 16:33

Keep the cat!

ragged · 09/01/2012 16:33

Dogs are pack animals who crave hierarchy, and are programmed to seize opportunities to move up the social pack order.

Whereas cats are social tarts with short-memories who don't care who's boss, and really only care about regular food, a quiet place to sleep & the occasional gentle cuddle. I'd give a cat a second chance in OP's situation.

Chattymummyhere · 09/01/2012 16:39

Im sorry but I dont believe anyone should learn a lesson by being attacked..

Ok so your child annoys your mum their nanny so she slaps said child is this ok because the child has to learn? or if this was a dog hell small dogs are smaller than cats and less powerfull but of course if this was a dog it would be OMG rehome or put it down!

Chattymummyhere · 09/01/2012 16:40

ment to say some dogs are smaller than cats not small dogs are smaller lol

Original poster
Hairynigel · 09/01/2012 16:55

There's a big difference between being scratched by a cat and being hit by a person though chattymummy. Cats are simple beings who let you know when they have had enough by swiping or hissing. If Cat had carried on attacking then that would be a different story

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 09/01/2012 16:57

A dog is quite different to a cat. The cat was protecting itself-they won't do it again unless he repeats the behaviour. A sensible DC will remember and treat the cat as it should be treated.

exoticfruits · 09/01/2012 17:04

In fact it is a great pity that all DCs can't get used to cats early on and learn that animals have to be treated with respect.