Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

feline predicament ???? advise needed

51 replies

pugsmum · 01/01/2013 19:20

We have had our cat for around 6 months , and got him when he was around 2 months old ..
Ds is 2 yrs and very boisterous with the cat he loves it to bits but obviously being 2 isnt very carful with it not spiteful but quite rough !
Today the cat bit/scratched him on the lip not sure exactly which as they were in the kitchen while I was the living room .
It was bleeding quite badly but only a small cut have had it checked out ?
But what I would like advise on is weather it is necessary to get rid of the cat ,
My immediate reaction was to get rid of him but then at the nurse said not to be silly because these things happen .
I am now unsure of what is best obviously I do not want to get rid of our cat he is lovley but ds does antagonise him , but do not want to risk ds getting hurt again ..
Am I over reacting by thinking of finding him a new child free home or is that the best thing to do

Advise please what would you do ??????

OP posts:

ChocolateTeacup · 01/01/2013 19:20

Watch your child and don't leave them alone together

manicbmc · 01/01/2013 19:22

Don't allow you child to be alone and teach him not to play so roughly. What if you have another child and your ds was to treat the baby like that?

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 01/01/2013 19:22

Just have to teach DS to be very gentle with the moggy. Pretend it's a teddy bear or similar

PimpMyHippo · 01/01/2013 19:23

Ditto ChocolateTeacup - don't leave them alone together until your DS is old enough to understand about being gentle with animals. Hopefully he'll be well on his way to learning that now, after having this experience!

MargeySimpson · 01/01/2013 19:23

I have an 18month old. We got cat a few months before baby (took in a rescue that needed a home). The 18month old is fine with cat. He has been rough with him before but wejust make sure we tell him. Think you should teach the child. Then again, think the cat deserves a better home if you think you can just get rid of a living creature because your DS is being rough with it!

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 01/01/2013 19:23

Both of my sons were scratched in a similar manner and at a similar age. Both learned to stop bugging the cats. It was a painful lesson but learned quickly.

Bakingtins · 01/01/2013 19:25

Don't leave them together unsupervised and work on teaching your DS to be gentle. If animals are not treated with respect you can't blame them for protecting themselves.
If the cat is launching itself across the room to attack him then that's different, but I expect DS grabbed it's tail and got swiped in return.

eagleray · 01/01/2013 19:25

I remember being savaged by the family cat when I was about 3 (she scratched my hands and face to bits without even being provoked!)

There wasn't any question of getting rid of her, and I don't think I held it against her, but was a bit more wary of her after that.

Paiviaso · 01/01/2013 19:26

I think YABU to get rid of your cat because you were not properly supervising your toddler's interaction with him.

cozietoesie · 01/01/2013 19:27

The cat got fed up with being pestered and warned him. (Sounds like a quick warning paw flung out/scratch and not a serious attack - anyone who has tried to hold down a cat to give them a pill will tell you what real intent on the part of a cat is.)

Hopefully DS will have learned from this but just keep an eye on them if they're in the same room.

IAmNotAReindeer · 01/01/2013 19:27

Don't get rid of the cat. Your DS is only 2 and won't be able to grasp the finer points of feline behaviour to pick up when the cat has had enough. A lot of cats won't just walk away when they have had enough but instead will try to remain still and submissive so they get across the message they are no threat etc.

Sorry to say it sounds like you have been allowing your Ds to use the cat as a toy and the cat acted out of what would have in its mind been self preservation. It is very easy even for a two year old to hurt a cat quite badly with boisterous behaviour.

Try to impress upon your son how easy it is for him to hurt the cat and only allow them to interact in your presence. If you are unaware yourself find out what the cat cues are for I have had enough and pass them on to him.

Sunnywithshowers · 01/01/2013 19:28

I agree with Chocolate - there's no need to get rid of your cat. Just make sure that you don't leave them alone together.

Cats will react if they are being played with by toddlers - it doesn't mean they're violent, it means they're scared or hurting.

BoatysTinselSails · 01/01/2013 19:31

DD was like this when she was small, couldn't understand cats don't like to be cuddled unless on their terms A friend had cats and a few scratches and she got the idea! We got a cat when she was 7, she is now 21 and we have the cat still she left home and she STILL gets scratched occasionally!! Its not the cats fault although he is a grumpy sod we had to get her to understand the cat and that the world doesn't revolve round her!

HollaAtMeSanta · 01/01/2013 19:33

Why would you get a cat when you already have a toddler?

Don't get rid of the poor thing, teach your child to leave it alone. YABVVU.

WorraLorraTurkey · 01/01/2013 19:33

Where do you find a nurse to look at a cat scratch on new year's day?

Anyway, as others have said...no need to get rid just supervise them better.

TeWisBeenNargledByTheMistletoe · 01/01/2013 19:33

Keep the separate.

Every time they interact talk your DS through 'stroking nicely' and praise your DS for being gentle.

gordyslovesheep · 01/01/2013 19:35

your cat behaved as most cats would (mine included) keep your child away from it if it's going to be rough - poor cat needs protecting not punishing

mine has scratched all of my kids - I tell them it bloody well serves them right!

JamieandtheMagiTorch · 01/01/2013 19:36

I agree with all of the above.

It sounds as if your cat is quite tolerant if this is the first time it has reacted to rough handling. Many cats would have run away or lashed out before this. It doesn't seem fair to get rid of the cat - our cat only scratched once and that was when DS1 pulled her tail.....

This is your chance to teach your DS to be gentle, and if he's not ready yet, don't leave him alone with the cat for both their sakes.

Our cat is 15 now and could not be a more loving and loved part of the family.

cozietoesie · 01/01/2013 19:38

Casualty, worra.

JamieandtheMagiTorch · 01/01/2013 19:38

Good point by manic as well.

WorraLorraTurkey · 01/01/2013 19:41

Casualty? Bloody hell, if it was that serious then you definitely need to keep them apart.

The cat can't speak up for itself so the only way to say "Stop hurting me" is to lash out.

hugoagogo · 01/01/2013 19:41

Yes, you are massively overreacting.

is this your first cat?

bamboobutton · 01/01/2013 19:41

Same as gordy. Mine are 4 and 2 years old and have been scratched a few times, unless the scratch is spurting blood i tell them it's their own fault for pestering the cat.

It's never once crossed my mind to get rid of the cat.

cozietoesie · 01/01/2013 19:42

All I could surmise..... (Our local surgery certainly isn't open on NYD.)

Rhubarbgarden · 01/01/2013 19:50

You took your child to A&E for a cat scratch?

Flip

1 2 3