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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bengal has scratched DD friend

244 replies

14NG88 · 06/02/2018 19:20

Long story short my DS had a few friends over at weekend and one of them pulled my 1 year old Bengal's tail and she too took a little swipe at them. I had to pretend I was less annoyed than I was (as you always do with kids that aren't yours) but just checked they weren't hurt and thought nothing more of it. Today I have had said parents very annoyed on the phone demanding this was unacceptable and they wanted to report it, I was clearly very annoyed aswell and it got a bit heated from there.

I don't think I am but AIBU ? All the kids were clearly told to leave Annie (Bengal) alone and I didn't overreact when they didn't. Can't help that feel this is generation snowflake when things like this happen no injuries occured.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
lovemylover · 06/02/2018 20:46

Maybe the child didnt tell the parents he pulled her tail,

NorbertTheDragon · 06/02/2018 20:50

One of my kids got a nice long scratch from my friends cat. I told him he shouldn't have annoyed the cat. My friend said sorry, I said it wasn't her fault, it wasn't the cat's fault. My son learnt a less on how to treat animals.

My son was young though, 3ish, I think. If he'd been older and not accompanied by me I would have had a right go for not being nice to cats. I wouldn't have phoned the parents to complain!

lovemylover · 06/02/2018 20:50

Laiste {smile]
Gorgeous arent they

LizardMonitor · 06/02/2018 20:51

You should have cleaned the scratch, told the parents what had happened, that you were sending the child home with a scratch, that the child had harassed the car having been told not to, and told them what to look out for in case of cat scratch fever or whatever.

So, you were deficient, the other parent is preposterous.

Ginnotgym · 06/02/2018 20:51

YANBU

But why the specifying of the breed of cat?

NoSquirrels · 06/02/2018 20:55

I like to think of them as an army of tiny, drunk asshats who perpetually let themselves down and then stand bold as brass in front of me, thrilled with their own nonsense.

Grin Whooo

NoSquirrels · 06/02/2018 20:56

But why the specifying of the breed of cat?

I’m with Yellow - tiger dripfeed coming soon! Wink

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/02/2018 20:57

We call our cat The Bengal.

"The bengals back"
"The Bengal wants you"

Never did it with the Persians or the moggy.

MinorRSole · 06/02/2018 20:57

But why the specifying of the breed of cat?*

Presumably because the op feels it's relevant - bengals are lovely cats but have a bit of a reputation. Mainly earned because of owners who don't appreciate that they aren't a 'typical house cat' and require significantly more exercise and stimulation

Caterpillarx1 · 06/02/2018 21:00

OP mentions the cats a Bengal only because they’re harsher than your average cat. I have a Bengal too OP who has also scratched children for messing around with him. All you can do is warn them (if old enough to understand then yanbu) tell them not to pester the cat. If they’re young yabu and should have locked him out of the way for a bit

upsideup · 06/02/2018 21:04

But why the specifying of the breed of cat?

On MN I doubt the thread would of got this far without someone asking what type of cat if the OP had'nt specified.

BrendasUmbrella · 06/02/2018 21:05

Let them report. Then if the police do show up, explain the child pulled the cats' tail when told not to do so, and will you be charging them for wasting police time? In fact just tell the parents you'll suggest the police charge them for wasting police time, that may be the end of it.

Unless the child was two or under, he had no business aggravating a cat. His parents should take this as a warning; the world is not waiting to greet your precious angel with the same indulgence as you.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/02/2018 21:07

When my friend brought her young children round I warned her that, if they tormented my cat in any way, he would bit and/or scratch them. I had no intention of putting him out or shutting him in the bedroom, it was down to them to behave. As far as I’m concerned you can’t teach kindness to animals too early.

SirGawain · 06/02/2018 21:16

Make sure they log it with 101, so there is a record of it for next time it happens!

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 06/02/2018 21:23

I have a bengal and she's soft as anything but I can imagine she'd scratch in this situation. Unless she left a mark more befitting a Bengal tiger, I think your cat taught the child a valuable lesson. Annoy the cat and she will defend herself.

People do hear the b word and freak though, some of the older gen ones were quite fierce. A friend who runs kennels boards one that she won't step into a run with and one of my neighbours threatened to have ours with an air rifle if she came near his cats- before he met her and discovered she's an utter mama's girl and a total wuss and crap at cat-fights!

toriatoriatoria · 06/02/2018 21:30

I'm really intrigued as to who she is going to report this to!

gingergenius · 06/02/2018 21:30

@OutyMcOutface it's cat bites that can be worrying re bacteria (cat saliva) not so much scratches.

AtomHeart · 06/02/2018 21:43

I've had cats for over 40 years and had many scratches. Never has one of my scratches become infected. They are not a big deal.

Ellendegeneres · 06/02/2018 21:46

My 5yr old was harassing our cat the other day- I warned him and said- keep winding her up and she’ll either scratch or bite you. Two minutes later he’s wailing and whining cause he’s been scratched 🙄 my response was simple- leave her alone then. Ain’t getting no sympathy, she isn’t a bloody toy.
On the flip side, my toddler is the cats favourite person- he might be unpredictable, but he’s patient with her and gentle.
If someone started in on me about what my cat had done to their kid after I’d given them the ‘what not to do’ talk, I’d be telling them neither them nor their kids are welcome in my house and to go forth and multiply with themselves.

Leftfilange · 06/02/2018 21:47

Nothing would make me happier than OP returning to tell us it’s a tiger Grin
Pull a cat’s tail then you get scratched - valuable life lesson 🤷🏼‍♀️

MorningstarMoon · 06/02/2018 21:48

The parents are being unreasonable

You pull a cats tail you get scratched

SouthWestmom · 06/02/2018 22:06

DS or DD? Different in title and op.

You should have cleaned the scratch and told than

Shmithecat · 06/02/2018 22:11

@AtomHeart similar here. Had pet cats for years. Have also been scratched to ribbons and bitten to the bone on more than one occasion (ungrateful ferals being trapped for neutering or medical attention etc). I've not had a tetanus in 30 years. Even changed their litter trays when I was pregnant. DS and I are both alive and well.

AccioWine · 06/02/2018 22:15

I like to think of them as an army of tiny, drunk asshats who perpetually let themselves down and then stand bold as brass in front of me, thrilled with their own nonsense.

Whooo that made me laugh out loud. It’s an absolutely perfect description!!*

OP* Adding my voice to the YANBUs - cats scratch when their tails are pulled. Not surprisingly.

AccioWine · 06/02/2018 22:18

Formatting fail - sorry! Clearly top para was meant to be in italics. I’m not trying to steal the amazing quote, honest!