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

Of course cats will attack without being provoked. I’m sure the cat thinks there was provocation but it’s not what we would understand as a reason. My son was bitten on the leg on his way to school a few years ago and I was slated on here for being so angry about it. The cat was known for strange behaviour and the owner allowed it to follow her to the school playground, then allowed children to tease it, then walked off when it attached itself to my son’s leg and bit him right in front of her. It then went and writhed around on the main road next to the school so no drivers could pass and the poor lollipop lady was left trying to move it with her lollipop stick because it was hissing and clawing at anyone who came near! In that case, the cat attacked because it had been wound up by some other children. I didn’t know that when I came up the road, I just saw a cat run towards my son and attack him.

We have LOTS of problems with cats here. I’ve detailed it under previous usernames and it does sound unbelievable to be honest. We have a cat obsessed household over the road who feed all cats in the local area on a half hourly ish basis. Their lives completely revolve around cats and they go shopping every morning to buy food for cats which mostly aren’t theirs, even during lockdown. They actually bring out trays of chicken drumsticks and throw them to cats underneath cars and things. Environmental health have come out a few times and have restricted what they can do but we still get lots of cats in the garden and poo everywhere. And bones! We leave a filled water gun so that we can spray them every time we see them and deter them from coming into the garden. We have also bought one of those high pitched cat deterrent things which has been far more effective than I thought it would. A few cats have been brave and still continue to come in, but lots of them avoid the garden because the noise frightens them. You might need to try a few things to deter it. I wouldn’t bother speaking to the neighbour, I don’t think they’ll do anything and it won’t make any difference.

Yes for absolutely. I was just surprised at how many people are just denying cats can behave like this/saying they can't be controlled nothing can be done.

The law treats cats and dogs differently. Dogs are suppose to be under the control of their owner while cats are recognised as being semi-wild.

Best way to deal with a cat you don't like is scare it away. (Normally my toddler shouting "meow" is enough to make all cats we know run.)

I think you should buy some dreamies and befriend the cat. It is probably fear aggressive and that makes it lash out.

Another one saying water squirt the cat!

OP you can attach these to your windows and the cat won't be able to come in. I have an indoor cat so it helps to keep mine inside and gives me peace of mind when the kids windows are open.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N0X3XMJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

@vanillandhoney

No cat will make an unprovoked attack on anyone. I have owned cats all my life and have never known one attack a person for no reason.

It depends how you define a reason. My cat will lash out at people (men, mostly) and it looks unprovoked but it's because he was previously in a home where he was hit, kicked and treated very roughly. He doesn't like people walking too close to him (he'll reach out and scratch at your legs), for example.

If he was outside in the garden and say, the postman walked past and got scratched, it would look totally unprovoked - but in reality he's doing it because he's scared and he associates feet with being kicked.

🙄 so what makes it totally acceptable to attack innocent people minding their own business. I despair. It's only a matter of time before people start posting their unwanted photos of their cars on here, pre-warning, nobody cares or wants to see.

Cats literally make people nutty 😂

Cat owner here.
If someone else's bastard cat bit my kid I would pick it up and toss it back over the wall.
If you have no pets, get some deterrents to keep the cat out of your garden.

@thegreylady

No cat will make an unprovoked attack on anyone.

I present to you exhibit A

p.s. I adore cats

so what makes it totally acceptable to attack innocent people minding their own business. I despair. It's only a matter of time before people start posting their unwanted photos of their cars on here, pre-warning, nobody cares or wants to see.

Nowhere have I said it's acceptable! You're just putting words in my mouth. I said what might look like an unprovoked attack is an attack that's the result of a cat being severely abused for the first two years of it's life.

Anyway, my cat stays in so there's no anger of him "attacking innocent people" as you so kindly put it.

If someone else's bastard cat bit my kid I would pick it up and toss it back over the wall.

Unnecessarily cruel. The cat is not being a bastard, it just still has some of the instincts of big cats.

It's just one of those things. I cant see the point in telling the cat owner, not much she can do. Your little girl has had a good lesson in not stroking cats.

@HagridsBackTeeth

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

Mine used to sleep under the lavender bush!

My cat used to bite if he was stroked for too long or surprised but there's no way I'd have him put down because of it. My garden is cat proofed to keep him safe (apparently the netting was questioned a few times when next door were selling but tough) and if people leave him be he's fine.

It sounds as though the poor cat could be neglected or abused. I'd be inclined to call the RSPCA. I hope your daughter is ok OP.

Cats and their personalities are not predictable, that cat sounds like it is going feral if it isn't getting inside/socialised. I would either scare it off or go for long term bribery/olive branch of friendship so it might calm down.

I have a cat that you could in theory swing by the tail and it would still cuddle up to you, needy lovable cat that has never lashed out. She keeps her distance/leaves the house if young toddlers come in to visit. Dc dgp cat hated everyone but the dgm, kept her distance at all times and would take a swipe at anyone who got too close. The cat and my dc always kept a respectful distance from each other.

@honeygirlz

If someone else's bastard cat bit my kid I would pick it up and toss it back over the wall.

Unnecessarily cruel. The cat is not being a bastard, it just still has some of the instincts of big cats.

Nah, Cat is being a dick. Over the wall it goes. Needs to learn to stay out of the garden if it can't be nice. When other cats come in and attack mine they get chased out.

@MizMoonshine you remind me of the person who threw a kitten out of a moving car a few days ago. Too cruel.

😮

It's a sad situation really because it's not the poor cats fault. The neighbours are clearly bastards as no one likes or gets on with then but it makes you wonder why the cat is how it is. I would say from my experience cats wouldn't normally tend to bite or scratch unless they are 'playing' or feel really threatened so i'm not sure what i would do. Like pp's have said maybe just shoo the cat away or squirt them with water next time and at least then you don't have to bother with the neighbours 😅

Sounds like my cat.

If the cat had come up to your DD and attacked her out of the blue then yes of course you should go and complain to it's owner, but if, as you suspect, your DD went to touch the animal the onus is on you to teach her not to touch animals without the owner's permission.

@JRUIN surely it's on the owners to keep it out of garden as I've said in previous posts it's attached another neighbour and goes to attack myself when I just walk into my own garden.

@JRUIN surely it's on the owners to keep it out of garden as I've said in previous posts it's attached another neighbour and goes to attack myself when I just walk into my own garden.

I don't quite see how they'd be able to keep it out of your garden though. But if it's attacking people willy nilly as you say then the vicious little bugger needs PTS!

Super soaker water pistol
Also if the cat comes over the fence turn the hose on it- soaking stupid neighbours in the process who won’t allow the spikes.
We had a cat that would never leave the garden and used to kill all the birds. It really upset dd. We now have a terrier who chases it off so it’s shit scared and hardly comes in

Water only really makes a difference if you catch them every time.
They do get a bit freaked out by reflections, you and your toddler could make some mobiles/wind chimes from old CDs and hang them around the garden. At best, the cat won’t stick around. At worst, you’ve wasted time on a fun craft!

Thank you so much for all your suggestions!! Have looked into the high pitched noise idea but unfortunately as we are due to have a pup in a couple of weeks they seem to affect cats and dogs which is a shame as I think these would be perfect x

If it was my cat I would want to know, OP.

Our cat doesn’t really roam, but her absolute favourite place to sit is on next door’s garden chairs. She’s a gentle soul, and their wee boy is her chum, but I have told them numerous times that if she is a pest, to clap their hands loudly at her. She gets this here if she ever ventures on to the kitchen counters, and hates it. I have also taught the DC the special AH-AH noise that she gets if she clooks the carpets. (He just wants to give her her “sweets” - Dreamies - really.)