Cat scratched baby

[SideEyeing]

Hi there,
Imagine I'm going to be flamed for letting the cat near DD (8m). Please be gentle, am feeling horrible.
We have a rather grumpy elderly cat who for the most part avoids DD. Unfortunately she adores him and now that she's newly crawling likes to follow him around when he occasionally ambles into the kitchen to eat. Normally he jumps on a table if she comes too close but today she managed to grab a handful of fur (I was trying to get her dinner sorted and took my eyes off. I realise I'm a massive dick and I feel uttetly shit😔) and he swiped her arm. He hasn't broken the skin but there's a white scratch mark. Do I need to see the doc? If he'd broken the skin there'd be no question, I'd take her to the walk in straight away.
I feel like the worst parent ever. I'm going to need to rehome the cat aren't I?
Fuck :(

Try not to worry. Babies are weird and unpredictable to cats and baby probably hurt the cat in the process of fur pulling so scratching out would be a normal reaction. Don't rehome the cat. Just try and keep them away from each other until baby is bigger and understands how to sroke more gently

If it didn't break the skin then the cat was just giving a warning whack. (Our cat does it to our dog all the time ..a few warning whacks then she bites his head!!)

A neighbour's cat once full on scratched ds across the face, luckily he blinked or it would have scratched his eye. Cleaned it and a bit of sudocrem and kept him away from neighbour's cat!!!

My DD loves our cat and was always chasing her. We'd sit with DD and the cat and move dd's hand across cats back softly, saying "nicely", if she tried pulling or grabbing then she was told "no" sternly and taken away from the cat.

It's all about training (for want of a better word) the children to be kind to animals.

This is a non-issue. You don't need to rehome the cat or take the baby to the doctor! Have a glass of and stroke the poor old cat once the baby's in bed.

@StatementKnickers he's currently on my lap looking as disdainful as ever. Might take your advice re: the

Calm down op all will be ok. No need for doctor and no need to rehome cat. Baby will soon learn grab cat equals pain.Just try and keep two apart as best you can. When baby is down to crawl make sure cat is in another room or outside.

Cat and baby have both learnt a lesson today. No harm has been done. It's ok.

I have 3 cats and a cat loving toddler. Only one of them will even give her the time of day the other 2 avoid her at all costs. She's been scratched before now and we just told her that this is how the cat defends itself and she is to leave them alone unless they come to her and then she is to use gentle hands.

Keep it clean a small keep an eye on it.

Before rehoming I would look at how you can separate them when you can’t be your babies shadow. In our house layout we got lucky that the baby gate that kept dd from falling down the stairs also effectively kept our elderly cat from getting to the main living area so the only time cat and baby were in the same room was when I made a conscious decision to allow it and supervise closely. At the very least, move the food someplace the baby doesn’t have access.

No need for docs or rehoming in my opinion. Clean the scratch, and put sudocrem on as others have said. Both the baby and the cat will need to learn to adjust to being around each other. One of my cats was mightily upset that a baby arrived and then one day, not long after baby turned one, they were suddenly sat next to each other. That’s not to say they’re the best of friends, my toddler adores the cats and has to be constantly trained to be gentle, and one cat keeps out of his way a lot. But for the most part they coexist quite happily and the cats are not unhappy at all. It’s an adjustment period, that’s all. I also struggled with anxiety, and it got to a severe point that sent me to the docs. Keep an eye on yours and don’t be scared to speak to someone if you need help! And don’t beat yourself up, you’re doing great. A few months down the line and you’ll be wondering why you were worried about a scratch when the toddler ends up in a and e again (they’re honestly very resilient creatures!!) xxx

Don’t rehome your cat. An 8month old really shouldn’t be able to get around at Will while you’re busy with other things. That’s why I’m so glad playpens we’re still a thing when my children were young. They were very safe in there, had plenty to occupy them and I could safely get on with what I was doing. Please please please try something else rather than rejoining your cat. Your baby probably doesn’t “adore” him-rather, it’s a very interesting moving object that fascinates her. Rather than feeling like the “worst parent ever” treat it as an experience you’ll learn from. Falling down a stairs/catching a finger in a door/getting hold of dangerous materials would have far more serious consequences for your baby than a scratch from a cat (unbroken skin so it mustn’t have been too severe).

WHY don’t I preview first! Apologies for random capitals and apostrophes.

Pps are being a little too dismissive of your worries. I picked up my grandfather’s cat when I was 4 and she scratched my face. I knew I wasn’t allowed to pick the cat up (she was notoriously grumpy) but I wanted her to sleep on my bed. I was too scared to tell anyone so cried myself to sleep. I have a permanent noticeable scar on my face from the scratch. My parents only found out recently that it was the cat and my mum was raging Don’t have much advice really, other than kids will be kids and cats will be cats. Train your DD better than me.

Jeez are you always this dramatic Op?

It happens, don't worry. It might be an idea to nip the very sharp tips off your cats claws - just the very ends - while baby learns not to grab the cat over the next few weeks (I have a large number of cats, and do this regularly to those whose claws grow very fast/too long or who tend to snag themselves and can't get free. It doesnt cause them any issues at all and they resharpen them in no time at all!). It'll put your mind at rest as even if the cat scratches again, damage will be minimal with blunt claws.

They'll settle down together just fine in no time though. It'll all be fine.

Basically I'm not a great parent or cat owner it seems

I doubt there's a parent in the world who hasn't got a child who got into some kind of scrape at some point that could have been avoided. It doesn't make you a bad parent.

YABU. Cat was being reasonable

I'm going to need to rehome the cat aren't I?

Jesus

That does not required a drs app. She is obviously your first child as you are being over the top

OP in the nicest way possible, get a grip!

To everyone saying get a grip etc - you're right. I feel really stupid. I'm going to end up passing on my neuroticism to my DD if I freak out over everything. It's a bit pathetic really.

Aw now you're freaking out about freaking out! Be kind to yourself. Tomorrow is a new day and either DD or the cat will soon learn to keep a safe distance!

@CarrotCakeCrumbs

Cats generally only scratch if they are wound up, they have warning signs before they snap too (hairs raising, tail flicking, hissing etc..) your 8 month old has learnt not to grab the cat (maybe...my daughter has had numerous scratches and still not learnt to leave them alone when they don't want to be stroked ). Unless your cat is showing signs of stress with the new baby, then don't worry too much. If your cat isn't coping well with the baby then it might be best to rehome him for his own sake but ONLY if that is really what's best for him and if other ways to help arent working a vet can advise on that though.

My current cat has scratched and bitten me without warning, and one time he scratched me so badly I looked like I'd self-harmed, BUT he's a traumatised cat and he is getting better. He's an unusual case though. Most cats I've been around have been very calm and only lashed out if they're in pain or provoked.

@SideEyeing

To everyone saying get a grip etc - you're right. I feel really stupid. I'm going to end up passing on my neuroticism to my DD if I freak out over everything. It's a bit pathetic really.

It’s completely normal to freak out a bit. Just try to remember to take a breath and think 1) will this matter tomorrow? 2) will this matter next week? 3) will the matter next year?

If not, then it’s not worth getting worked up over xx

One of the family cats scratched me across the face when I was a baby. I adored both cats. I now have a young child and got two kittens last year. They are not very scratchy but the child knows not to chase them and absolutely loves them. It's great for children to grow up with pets. I can't believe the awful posters suggesting you rehome the cat for a single defensive scratch!

This to me just reads like you want to rehome the cat so you're blowing this way out of proportion to give you an excuse to do so.

You’re allowed to freak out. Then seek advice and support and move on.
It’s good to teach your child how to deal with different situation. Deal with it and move on.
We had a year when we thought my eldest may die.
That puts everything into perspective.
Are you generally anxious OP?

You are seriously over thinking this.

DD is fine. Just wipe her arm.

DO NOT rehome the cat! DD will learn to not grab his fur. Get her a big play pen. She will also grow quickly.

We had 2 cats first and then 2 children. All fine.

Do not blame yourself or heat yourself up for a second longer.

BUT perhaps be kind to yourself. Stop worrying and if that sounds really hard, perhaps see your GP, you sound really anxious.

You also sound like a lovely mum.

HAHAHAHHAHA our cat scratched my son heaps between ages of 6 months and a year. He’s learned not to grab her ears and fur now and keeps a wide berth.

It’s how they learn.