To be seriously pissed off that a cat attacked my child on the way to school?

[daisychair]

I have seen this cat around quite a lot, I'd probably describe it as a kitten, never seen it behave in this way before. This morning, just outside the school gates, it leapt at him, scratched his leg and tried to bite him before running off. I am fairly convinced that the owner walks it to the school with her every day. I've often seen it walking with her and seen it coming out of the house I believe she lives in. This woman saw what happened and quickly crossed the road before I could turn around and say something to her. I am fuming! It looked really sore and was bleeding, slightly swollen and bruised. I have contacted the school to tell them that a staff member must know who she is and they need to tell her not to bring her crazy pet to the school anymore. They don't allow dogs onto the school grounds, I think the same should apply to aggressive cats! The scratch looked quite sore and I think my son was very shocked, as this cat has previously come up to us looking for fuss, so he thought the cat was nice.

When I got onto the school playground, I was told that the cat had been on the playground, hissing and attempting to attack other children and a parent had had to kick it away from her daughter. They said they believed that some kids had been teasing it and it had gone crazy. What kind of person either takes a crazy cat into a school, or allows people to taunt it to the point where it gets into this state?! I intend to mention this to the other mother when I see her - hopefully the urge to slap her for just walking off while her pet attacked my son will have worn off. I actually feel SO angry about this and don't think I'm being unreasonable at all. I will probably see the woman tomorrow, what should I say to her?

I'd talk to the RSPCA - sounds like this cat needs protection from the kids who tease it and an owner who doesn't look after it

yes agree with closer, cat may also be ill/in pain

"Poor cat. It might have something wrong with it."

I second that thought. Cats generally don't attack people. A friend of mine had a kitten that used to attack people. It turned out that there was something wrong with it and it only lived for a couple of years. This cat certainly was not badly treated.

The other reason why the cat in the OP's post attacked her son might have been that the kids at school have been badly treating it.

So, either way I ditto the "poor cat" comment.

I also think the owner was wrong to walk away from the incident (if indeed she was the owner). We used to have cats and if any one of them had attacked someone I would have been mortified and rushed over to apologise.

I agree that it would be a good idea to raise this with the school so that they can raise it with the parent, thus avoiding a confrontation with the OP.

I would also keep a close eye on the scratches because they can turn nasty very quickly.

Well I'd blame my dog, he knows not to lunge at people or bite them. That was eradicated as a puppy and he especially knows he's to be gentle around small people

Though it doesn't really matter as I'm there to supervise him at all times so I could quickly step in to protect him in this situation where as the cat owner in the OP wasn't. Which is why I think all pet owners should be responsible for their animals at all times. Not just when it suits them

My cat attempts to do the school run with me. I often have to pick him up and take him home. Its a mile to school and no roads so I wouldn't mind him following me but I'd look like a crazy cat lady so don't! If he did come with me and attacked anyone I would leave him at home! Dog comes to school sometimes with me I tie her up in the staff carpark where no children can enter and its only us that walk home on our route

Signlake so presumably I should fit my cat with a tracking device and follow him around everywhere he goes in case a child throws a rock at him and he scratches them?

your advice is applicable to dogs, it's not applicable to cats.

And that's why I won't own a cat, it's much easier to know what my dog is doing so I know he's not upsetting and hurting other people. If you own an animal that has the potential to be harmful then it should be under constant supervision at all times in my opinion

Most cats I see on the streets don't even have ID tags. There is often no way to contact the owner. If they hurt someone, their owner should be liable. I understand most cats are fantastic around people and at worst wary but not all of them

Cats gets both ends of the stick- I doubt anything would happen because it is a cat, just like if a cat gets run over and the driver drives off the police won't do anything about that- but will for a dog.

It's a shit world we live in. Hugs to your DS. I'd hunt that woman down if I were you

If you own an animal that has the potential to be harmful then it should be under constant supervision at all times in my opinion

I think you are being ridiculous and OTT. Just my opinion. I got scratched a few times by various creatures when I was a kid and it was generally because I was being annoying. It was not a big deal. Obviously it would be if it was a rottweiler or something, and obviously cat scratches can get nasty, but to say all animals that have the potential to be harmful should be under constant supervision at all times is completely daft.

Cats very rarely attack unprovoked. If stood on by mistake, they may lash out, but it comes across as very odd as you describe it OP - cats that attack spontaneously are fairly likely to be quite unwell. I'm talking brain injury/tumour type unwell especially with a docile history, you should mention it to the owner and suggest she have it examined by a vet.

I think that was what was wrong with my friend's cat. I have never come across an aggressive cat before.

So the cat had been teased by the children then kicked by an adult, no wonder it lashed out. I feel sorry for the cat as well as your child OP. Maybe as well as the school asking the owner to stop the cat coming on the school run with her it would also be a good time for them to teach the children about being nice to animals. I'm curious as to how the children managed to tease the cat without any adults seeing, if the cats owner saw it, as you assume they did, then how come the childrens parent and/or teachers didnt see this and stop them? I appreciate you are saying the cats owner should have stopped them, but shouldnt their parents have stopped them too?

My cat walks us to school, we only live over the road. I don't encourage her to follow us, I do call her to come home though. She sneaks out of the door in the morning and waits for us by the door if I try and catch her to put her back in she runs off.

She spends so much time over there people think she is the school cat! The kitchen staff feed her ham and then they wonder why she try's to get in the classrooms

I'd be horrified if she attacked a child

Add I'm not talking about all animals but all pets. Apart from cats, I can't think of a single other example of a (possibly) aggressive pet being allowed to roam free and cause damage without their owner being held responsible.

I love cats and my nan had two when I was growing up. Both outdoor cats, one went missing and the other was hit by a car. I was devastated both times and swore to myself I would never own a cat. If I ever go back on that, I'll be making sure my garden is suitable for a cat to have outside space whilst being unable to leave my property. For the sake of the cat and other people

Ive got an attacking cat
He tries to follow me everywhere and will attack men who are close by. I have to shut him in the kitchen if I'm popping to the shops or nursery because its just way too stressful for him.
The lady doesnt seem like she is actually taking her cats welfare into account, leading him to a busy and loud place.
I would say that to her, I think most cat lovers woukr be mortified and hopefully she can contain him during school run

Should add-psinsina is right- my cat is nearly blind and brain damaged after being hut by a car. Its really affected how he reacts to men

Signlake sorry to hear your sister's friend was injured by a cat. But it sounds like the cat lashed out because it was startled, accidentally catching her eye, rather than aggressively attacking her with intent to harm.

I grew up with cats and got scratched many many times as a child, usually my own fault, we had a tom who didn't like people much... but he was irresistibly fluffy! At one time we adopted a stray kitten who was a bit wild, she used to crouch on gate and swipe at anyone passing underneath! She was lovely but when high up you couldn't touch her without being scratched. I've only been bitten once by a cat, and it didn't break the skin. I know plenty of people who've had serious dog bites, but only one person who was badly bitten by a cat and he's a vet! He was trying to restrain a frightened cat and it sank its teeth into his hand, needed stitches and antibiotics. Serious bites or injuries from cats are very rare.

Yes scratches can get infected... but so can any cut, graze or scrape. Wash them with soap and warm water, put some antiseptic cream on, should be fine.

Young Kittens can be very scratchy and like jumping at ankles.In their case it is playfulness.

Have two cats. Arms were purely scratches when they were kittens. No big deal.

Had a grumpy cat growing up who would take a swipe at you if you annoyed him. Again, no big deal.

I think sometimes too much fusses are made!

This was an exceptional situation OP, I think this cat probably has something wrong with it. Hope your son is ok