My cat hurt a child today

[BeautifulJames]

Little back story - a few weeks back a 2/3 year old was seen running around the cul de sac and in to front gardens of others. I was at my path when I said "can I help you?" To a woman I'm assuming was grandparent and the toddler standing by my door. She then replied "oh no we are OK. Tiring him out before mum comes home".

Thought ok... no problem... bit weird but I've just come back from a 13 hour shift and I just wanted to relax.

Fast forward today... my anxious cat (her territory is only the small patch of front garden and our home) was sitting on the grass when I heard toddler crying. It was the toddler back again in my front garden but this time my cat had attacked little one.... scratch on leg.

Grandparent shouting at me for having such a ferocious feral cat in MY own front garden.

Now I'm getting glares occasionally when I check outside.

I just need a bit of validation thar my cat acted well in her own rights (if you know what I mean) and surely I'm not responsible for a trespassing toddler?

Legally you're not responsible for what your cat does. No-one can "call" for the cat to be put down for attacking a child, and the law is different for dogs.

Some cats do enjoy lurking and jumping out to attack passersby (my db is still wary of cats after being soundly cuffed as a small boy by a large tom called Rufus who liked to hunt people in his home). Mostly though the child has been unsupervised and either grabbed the cat or gone too close.

She needs to keep an eye on her grandchild and keep her out of people's gardens.

100% not your fault! I've always grown up with cats and have never been scratched by one for no reason. Toddler was probably just being a toddler and your cat was protecting itself. Not saying it's the toddlers fault either kids are kids but it's the grandparents responsibility to know where the child is and make sure it's not running around other peoples gardens! Don't feel bad it's not your fault at all and the grandparent probably only kicked off because she realised that she really it's her fault and she'll now have to explain to the child's parent what happened. Your cat is beautiful also! X

If cat doesn't normally do this it sounds like the child did something to annoy the cat such as grabbing its tail. Can you put gate on garden so the child cannot get in? Or install motion activated sprinkler system...

The granny is bloody mental, and she should stop the kid from running into other people's gardens. If she wants to tire the kid out, why can't she take him to the park? I feel sorry for your cat though.

I'm no fan of cats, but a child at that age on the loose is an accident waiting to happen. Daft grandparent.

Cats are evil, I'd never let my child approach a cat or dog for that matter.

Responses would have been different if it was a goose too. Or a pony. Or a hamster.

I'm lmao at the cat should be put down. Keep your kids off other people's property and they won't get attacked.

She's normally such a good girl. She lives with 4 darling children who have done their share of pulling tails, stroking fur the wrong way, and picking her up by her hand legs when little... not once has she fully attacked... warnong nip at most. All swiftly taught not to treat cat that way, and now she lovingly sleeps with all of them.

Well supervise your child and keep them out of other people's gardens and that won't happen will it? Teach your kid to stay away from animals they don't know.

No child should be tormenting pets and I'm shocked anyone would be ok with it on a forum for mothers!

My son used to have a cat called Mystique who used to hide in a bush and jump out at dogs and startle them. Then she'd come running in through her flap with a smug look on her face. 😺

Exactly!
A cat scratch is nothing like a dog attack! Dogs do a lot more damage.
I feel sorry for the toddler but Grandma should be supervising and not allowing them to run into other gardens.

How terribly feral she looks!

I think the only solution to this is to put adequate signage up immediately

Warn people that you have a vicious guard cat who can sense entitlement

One of mine bit a visiting 8 year old
Said child had been told eleventybillion times not to be so rough

She still visits - and is far more respectful of cats

Cats are not trainable. Nor do they approach toddlers and randomly scratch

😆😆

@SwordToFlamethrower

jow do you think you could just get someone's cat put down? No vet is going to put down a healthy cat at the request if some lunatic walking in demanding that.

Is comprehension generally a struggle for you? The OP was NOT happy having 'people in her garden'.

Mumsnet not Loonsnet

Oh and my friend used to have two geese

Mad fuckers they were, went for anyone they didn't like the look of. Postman was terrified and refused to come thru gate

Locals taught their kids not to approach uninvited...

Don’t be so bloody stupid. Shows you know bugger all about cats. Cats are not like dogs, they simply don’t randomly go after people to attack them. They can be very vicious when provoked or cornered or scared.

it’s not hard to imagine a toddler encroaching into a cats safe space and wanting to cuddle it and the cat lashing out in fear.

its shit grand parenting.

I'm laughing so much 🤣. I grew up with a few guard geese and ducks! They were wild

There's a cat in our area who does this. Even our biggest dog won't go near a specific hedge now after he was sniffing around it and a cat paw flew out of the hedge and bopped him on the nose.

You need one of these.

Look at your gorgeous calico! If grandparent was properly supervising it wouldn’t have happened, end of. I have a scar on my chest from when, having parked my car on the drive, my lovely cat did his usual of jumping on the bonnet and meowing through the windscreen. I got out and went to give him a cwtch and a car further down the road backfired and he jumped into my arms, but badly, and was hanging by a claw. We were both horrified. He literally cried for three weeks until my scar turned keloid and was less visible. Cats rule.

I love it! The sad part is she only goes out for 4 odd hours a day in the summer. She loves the sun and chasing bugs. She returns through the window once she's had enough and will settle with me or the kids.

OP thoroughly not your fault. Your cat on your property, Grandparents clearly thinking everyone and everything should be delighted by their little darling. Hopefully they will do a better job of supervising in future.

I say this as a mother of 2 who is not a particular cat lover (I mean, they are super cute, and your cat is clearly gorgeous, I just mean I'm way more a dog person).

Ridiculous ideas to put cat down. Poor cat should be able to enjoy its garden and not have a feral child come in and approach it. Yes feral as grandparent not supervising it.