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

If it constantly bites and tries to attack people then it should be treated like a dog would be in the same situation and put down.

Have you tried the high pitched noise machines?

You can test this with your phone or dog whistle and see if that helps

I think all you can do is teach your child not to touch the cat.

The poor cat sounds like it is abused - it is behaving like a feral cat not a pet.

It’s a very sad situation, but your child shouldn’t be hurt. I doubt the cat attacked with no provocation (a stroke, not meaning your child was hurting it). The poor thing is clearly terrified of people, so everyone needs to keep their distance.

What kind of dog are you getting?

The difference between accepting responsibility for your pets between dog owners and cat owners is stark

It is isn't it Cats naturally want to roam, that's true, but it is possible for cat owners to keep their pets within their gardens if they choose to do so. By changing their fencing so that their cat doesn't escape not only keeps the cat safe (from being run over, or attacked by dogs) but also prevents strained neighbourly relationships. It's a win win surely

A recent comment from my local FB group is from a distraught cat owner who's pet has just been run over and killed. He's going ballistic at car drivers yet taking zero responsibility for not keeping his pet safe. I don't get it. I like cats but no way would I allow one to roam, I'd be worried for its safety!

One of my 3 will bite if approached and you try and pick her up, grab, stroke in a way she sees as threatening. If a neighbour had words with me I'd think they were nuts because my cat would not go over to someone and bite them, only if someone invades her space. Having said that I'd not be arsed if you wanted to use a water spray on her to keep her out of your garden. You can teach your kids that most cats are nice and even a bit shy of strangers though

You shouldn't have to keep your windows closed. I dont know what they're called but you can get netting/mesh stuff to secure to windows to stop bugs etc coming in and I'm pretty sure it would help stop the cat coming inside.

I'd suggest Lion dung but if you're getting a dog then that might be counter productive for you.

Could he use the sandpit as a litter tray?
Well done on getting prompt medical attention as cat bites get infected so easily.
One side effect of this unfortunate incident is that your child is unlikely to reach out to the cat again .We have indoor and outdoor cats but live so rurally that it's not an issue for neighbours. Make the cat unwelcome when it enters the garden, keep the sandpit covered.

We used some scat a cat granules that I saw at Robert Dyas to deter a neighbourhood cat - I put them along the fence and on the shed roof where it came in, and it has never come into our garden when those are down. That plus a water pistol should help it get the message while you wait for your puppy to arrive

Why did your GP send you to A&E and not just give you the antibiotics then and there?

Utter waste of resources if you ask me!!!

It sounds like this cat has a miserable life & I think it’s been abused if it lashes out at human hands.

The poor cat sounds like it is abused - it is behaving like a feral cat not a pet.

I agree. I'm heartened that it sounds as though he's looking for another home.

My cat is absolutely terrified of children (with good cause) and will cry if they approach but even she wouldn't react like this. Its an unfortunate situation all round especially if the cat bites a child whose parent isn't as compassionate as OP.

it constantly bites and tries to attack people then it should be treated like a dog would be in the same situation and put down.

You can not seriously compare a cat bite to a dogs bite. They are a world apart. Same as dogs and cat muck. A dog roaming free would cause alarm a cat wandering free you just reach for the bug spray.

@Crunchymum as my GP still aren't seeing people, and I don't think it's a waste of resources that my child may have an infection from a cat bite

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice and tips! Am definitely going to try them to see if it's helps!! It's such a nightmare with them at the moment, loads of other problems but my children is all a care about x

[quote Mammaaof]@Crunchymum as my GP still aren't seeing people, and I don't think it's a waste of resources that my child may have an infection from a cat bite [/quote]
But surely between yourself and the GP you could have got this sorted without going to A&E.

The GP would have know what AB to prescribe? Unless there was a need for stitches I suppose?

• I say this as someone who was not just bitten but actually attacked by two fighting cats - one was my own.

I am not trying to derail your thread, I am genuinely curious.

Cats don't just attack. Just stay away from it. Are there kittens nearby? Does it look ill?

Let Cats Protection and the RSPCA know the cat is being neglected or take it to a vet as possibly ill since cats do not just attack.

Your neighbour - as an obviously bad cat owner - isn't going to do a thing to help you - or the cat.

@Crunchymum I'm not sure I just did as my GP told me, I was in a panic and didn't really question, they cleaned and dressed it in the hospital so not sure it that's why? Didn't even think about it tbh

@ChavvySexPond this cat does just attack if you read my full thread. She has gone to attack another neighbour and also when I go into my own garden absolutely no where near the cat as I have to intention of going anywhere near it, it hisses and comes at you. And I'm certainly not doing anything to it

@ChavvySexPond stay out of my own garden you mean??

Buy yourself and your DD a water pistol each. I kid you not, the cat only needs to be squirted once. It will scarper.

I'm a cat person, but if one of mine was terrorising neighbours and attacking, I would offer to have out put down. It would be unusual, but it's happening to you so is a valid response. Your toddler should be able to play in her garden without being bitten. Cat bites are very serious.

If the cat looks healthy and reasonably fed (ie not abused/neglected) then definitely get a water pistol and squirt it when its in your garden. Not sure what you can do if its poorly looking as you probably wouldn't want to scare an abused cat (even if it is vicious), maybe get in touch with a local rescue?

I'm a cat (and dog) owner, one of my old cats was a bit hissy and if a neighbour was scared and took to spraying it I wouldn't mind at all. And yes what type of dog? Hopefully a big one and there will be no more problems , some of my neighbours cats bully some of the others but they don't come in my garden, 2 dogs.

What are they supposed to do about it. Tell your child not to stroke the cat. The cats not going to understand them saying not to bite your child unless they are mr and mrs Dolittle.

Plant something lavender. Cats hate the smell.
I've also read that coffee sprinkled around keeps them away, worth a try.