Bengal has scratched DD friend

[14NG88]

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.

It’s a bloody cat. Cats get cross when you pull their tails. Nothing to report.

The Bengal looking for spiders.

If you say spiders he scans the ceiling for them.

Exactly - generation snowflake - completely agree OP, tell them to jog on and never have their child over again. Mountains and molehills spring to mind...

Report it to who ? The Cat Police for an unprovoked attack? No doubt you should have completed a risk assessment prior to the visit and bound the cat’s claws up with gauze to prevent such an eventuality...

When did we become such a bunch of hypersensitive overprotective pathetic wimps ? I was bitten, scratched and grazed as a child and in all cases it was no-one’s fault but mine, and my parents concurred

According to an article I just googled, Bengals love water, love to swim, and will happily get in a shower with you. Sounds like a cat for dog-lovers.

Gosh yes, Mowgli loves water. He has more than once taken a swim round the fish pond. I don't think the fish were too impressed although he totally ignored them.

He is getting on in years now but I don't think he is far removed from the wild. F1 or 2 rings a bell but can't remember which. He rarely walks on the floor, he is usually to be found on top of a door or cabinet up by the ceiling. Here he is where he sleeps, looking a bit wild eyed!!

Firesuit Siamese are also called the dog of the cat world. I have a Siamese who plays fetch, constantly retrieving his toy for you to ping across the room he also will sit and say please for treats on command. Although he also needs constant attention and hates being left, constantly chats and yowls and he also charges and pounces you like he is bringing prey down in the Serengeti and my sisters mastiff/staffy cross is terrified of him confused with a personality disorder springs to mind

Haha I would love to hear the reply from whoever they report it to!! What was your response OP?

I’d like to see the reaction of anyone they tried reporting that too! Who on earth do the have in mind? Surely it’s a life lesson - pull a cat’s tail at your peril. They are idiots to call you and complain.

It does sound as though the parents are overacting but I’m wondering if you would’ve got the same responses if you’d replaced Bengal with a small dog breed? Very doubtful.

All I can say is .... I want one; gorgeous!!

Well, I’d be making comments along the lines of “did you know most serial killers start off with animal cruelty...I can see the path your little psycho is heading down”. Ha ha

Its a life lesson learned. Check "do not pull cats' tail" off list. (Or anyone else who has a tail)

Pfft! Our cat master, like most cats loves cardboard boxes and goes crazy inside them. So we get boxes, cut holes in and dare each other to put our hands in like the roulette scene out of Flash Gordon.
We even dare our kids mates to. If they were ever daft enough to do it (no one would), any scratch would be well deserved. The leaping box and lightning fast paw swipes out of the holes is enough to warn you off.

Anyone bothering or harassing a cat, particularly when warned not to deserves their scratches too.

OP, I hope the eejits reported your cat and got thoroughly laughed at as a result.

Oops, you would bu if you didn't immediately wash the scratch with soapy water. Cat scratched are germy and need to be washed. I used to lock my cats in my bedroom if children came over....To protect my cats mostly.

Fed up of all these people owning dangerous kittens and not realising how dangerous they are. Every year hundreds of people have to indure scratches and evil stares from these animals. Cats can be your best friend but they turn so easily like if you walked up the stairs or moved your hand. Wont someone please think of the children and birds.

She has said Bengal because they are a breed who do not suffer fools or tail pulling gladly...

I had the softest, stupidest bengal who loved kids- he would let them pick him up, carry him round, pull his tail, dress him up, and he’d sit there and purr. I described him as “aggressively friendly” he’d headbutt you and physically climb up you to snuggle into your neck. You had no choice in the matter and it wasn’t possible to ignore him.

However because of the way he looked- he was a big, slender cat with the classic striped coat, many of our neighbours assumed he was some sort of wildcat and would back away slowly when he approached howling for a cuddle. One even named him the voldemort cat.

Unfinished- dog claws won’t cause the same issue as they’re not as sharp. I used to be covered in scratches from the above cat as he’d dig his claws in if you tried to put him down. Cats claws are sharp. Don’t want to get scratched? Don’t annoy the cat. Although it’s the same with dogs too- pull a dogs tail and don’t be suprised if you get a warning growl. I went looking for my dogs docked tail in it’s thick furry coat as a child- i got snapped at, understandably.

Have I missed something, why is Mumsnet offended at the word "Snowflake"

My youngest was scratched and bitten multiple of times when he was a toddler because he insisted on stroking cat in our street called Scratchy! It never put him off and he still loves waifs and strays. Had one that took up residence in his uni room.
Re your situation. The mother needs to talk to child about dealing with animals appropriately. If she/he, as my son did, still gets it wrong, ‘tis their problem. Mother sounds bonkers. Does she want a dangerous cat act introduced?!
Do love a Bengal cat btw.

Have I missed something, why is Mumsnet offended at the word Snowflake

Mumsnet isn't. Many individual users dislike it/object to it for various reasons. Some users find the word absolutely hilarious. For others, it's their go-to term of insult.

Take your pick really.

Goodness me, how ridiculous. If one of our children told us that a cat had scratched them, we would tell him/her to learn to leave cats alone next time!

Inspector Clawseau might have to investigate.

My response would have been different though if the cat had scratched unprovoked. One of my friends has a cat, not sure what sort it is but it tries to swipe you when you walk past it. I won't put up with that and because my friend is so indulgent of it, we don't go to her house anymore.