Cat biting my little girl

[Mammaaof]

I went out into our garden this morning and my little girl followed me out (enclosed garden no way she can get out) she started playing in her sand pit so I went back into the kitchen and left the door open, I was back and fore to the garden and back inside just pottering around. When I heard a scream, I ran out and my little girl was holding her hand saying the cat bite her, I asked her where the cat was and it was sitting on our garden chair but it was tucked under the table so I didn't see it when I was in the garden.
Now this car is known to be nasty, always hisses and shows its teeth at any neighbors who shoos it out of their gardens. This cat is constantly coming into our garden and sitting on our furniture.
Now I'm assuming my little girl has gone and tried to stroke the cat so not trying to make out she didn't do anything.
But aibu if I went and told the neighbour what had happened? Just to add we don't get along with these neighbours, neither does anyone in the street
Sorry for long post thank you x

Just to add another neighbour has a few cats who never come into our garden but on the small occasions they have, they leave as soon as they see anyone, and certainly don't hiss and show its teeth at us x

If someone came and told me my cat had bit their child. I'd apologise but would be at a loss what else to do (no I wouldn't keep him indoors) Squirt the cat everytime he's in your garden. Hopefully he'll get the message.

Did the bite break the skin? Cat bites can be dangerous

Was there blood? If yes, you need to take her to GP to get antibiotics. If the cat bit into the skin it can get infected easily (same with dogs). My dh didn’t believe me and I even got oral antibiotics for my son when he got nipped on the finger by a pup. Anyway, even on oral antibiotics it swelled a bit (GP said to go to a&e if that happens). So I went and they ended up admitting us to stay overnight! We ended up having to stay two nights in hospital so he could receive antibiotics on an IV drip!! 😳 All was okay in the end. But these types of infections can turn into sepsis if not treated.

@Sometimeswinning that's what I'm worried about that it would cause yet another argument, there is nothing she could do but she has a little boy herself and the cat is never in her house, we all have to keep our windows closed as the cat comes into our houses, I'm assuming that's why the cat is never in her house x

Has the skin broken? If so you need GP/111/walk in for your Dc

If it's broken the skin you need to get her checked at A&E - cats mouths are full of germs and bacteria and bites can get nasty very quickly.

However I don't think there's much the owner can do. Cats are legally allowed out to wander and there's no way the owner can be aware of everything the cat does.

This is why mine don't go beyond my garden though - but that's controversial as people think it's cruel. I'd rather know where my cats were at all times - so many cats go missing or get injured when they're out wandering!

And yea, I would squirt the cat w water every time it comes in to keep it out.

Yes the first thing I did was ring the GP as I didn't know if she needed an injection or anything but they sent me to A&E and they gave antibiotics just incase x

Not sure what you expect them to do? Get a squirt bottle and sqoosh with water anytime it’s in your garden

What can they do ?? Keep the bloody cat in their house so it isn’t a danger to children.

@vanillandhoney the neighbour the other side has lots of cats and they don't go very far at all, and I don't even mind them coming into my garden it's just this one cat, I'm even a bit scared to go out as it really does hiss and come at you x

I thought I maybe being unreasonable sometimes as a mother your protection of your child takes over any reasonable thoughts x

Cats are free souls, there is absolutely nothing that the neighbour can do about this. I doubt they will make the cat live indoors because of this, and it would be cruel to a cat accustomed to roaming outside. A cat wouldn't normally attack a person on their own free will, and your little girl probably won't try to touch this one again..

@eatyourcake this cat does attack on its own free will, even if I just go out into the garden to hang clothes it comes towards you hissing and showing its teeth and trust me I don't to anywhere near it

@Sometimeswinning

If someone came and told me my cat had bit their child. I'd apologise but would be at a loss what else to do (no I wouldn't keep him indoors) Squirt the cat everytime he's in your garden. Hopefully he'll get the message.

Surely the responsible thing to do is to control your animal, not put the onus on the neighbour?

If that means keeping the cat indoors then so be it.

Seems selfish otherwise to not allow someone to enjoy their own garden because you decided to have a pet.

Granted we don't know the full story here.

[quote Mammaaof]@vanillandhoney the neighbour the other side has lots of cats and they don't go very far at all, and I don't even mind them coming into my garden it's just this one cat, I'm even a bit scared to go out as it really does hiss and come at you x[/quote]
One of mine can be a bit like that in his defence he was abused in his previous home so he lashes out through fear.

But he doesn't go out - mainly because he's too lazy, but also so I know where he is and that he's safe. He's fat and fluffy and looks very cute - I wouldn't want a small child to approach him and get scratched or bitten.

@pawsies I just feel like I can't go outside into my own garden anymore, I've tipped the garden chairs forward now to prevent the cat sitting on there but now he's taken to my garden bench x

@vanillandhoney that's so responsible of you! I think the neighbour loved this car when it was a kitten but since it's grown into a cat it's outside constantly waiting by the doorstep to be let in and when they don't let him in, the cat takes to entering other people's houses x

You need to vigorously discourage the cat. Water pistol or a washing up bottle with water in. Also get a plastic container with a few pebbles in Every time you see the cat, even if it's not bothering you, shake the pebbles and squirt it. After its been soaked a few times, just a shake of the pebbles should be enough for it to make a swift exit.
I love cats but I wouldn't risk tolerating a grumpy cat around a toddler. Some cats are just mean.
Cats are smart. This one will soon learn it's not welcome and go elsewhere.

You cannot control a cat. Plus if you make the choice to have an outside cat you can not just change that! I am being honest with the op and giving advice. She needs realistic help.

@Beamur thank you for the advice! Will definitely try this! We are getting a dog on 13th aug and at first I thought it was a good thing as maybe the cat would be scared but to be honest I think the dog will be more scared of the cat x

I actually feel sorry for this cat though. Sounds rather unloved by its owners.

it's very strange behaviour by a cat in my opinion, maybe he comes to your garden because he feels safe there, or it's his territory, but not sure about you yet? Have you lived there long?

Is your DD old enough to recognise one cat from another? Give her a water pistol and let her make a game out of soaking the offender, it wont harm it but cats aren't stupid, it'll hear your DD come out into your garden and disappear over into someone else's garden.