Cat has hurt the postman - help!

[rainbowsweets]

Apologies as I have already posted this to the litter tray but I need quick advice as in a bit of a state right now.

I heard a bit of a commotion when the post was delivered this morning. I found the cat hanging on to the letterbox, and looked outside to see the postman with a bloody hand. So the cat scratched/attacked him when he was putting the letter through.

I couldn't go out as I was on a work call, but I feel very guilty and worried. I feel bad for him, but I don't know what to do - do I call RM and apologise?

Could I be in trouble for the cat's actions? Or can the cat be in trouble or PTS for being vicious?

I will have to lock him away from the door every morning I suppose (if they don't cancel the delivery) as I don't think a cage will fit on the door to shield the letters.

Advice appreciated.

I'm sure he is completely fine - may leave your post outside from now on, though!

This, cat bites are dangerous but cats very rarely bite.

Claws are their primary weapon, teeth are a last ditch approach. Damaging a tooth is far more dangerous/deadly to them then they would perceive a bite to be to something human sized.

Cats are very gentle with their mouth, my very needy cat nips often when he wants attention but has never broken skin. Cats carry their babies by scruffing their neck with their teeth so they are a good judge of pressure.

Claws also rarely do any serious damage. I had a small scar from where a cat got me through the eyelid as a child (about as bad as you can get, would only be worst if it was the eye itself) but honestly it didn't hurt (anymore than a papercut or nettlesting at the time) or need any treatment.

By contrast I had one single bite from a cat sized dog and needed 3 surgeries including a skin graft reconstruction.

OP you seem more worried about how this will work out for you re social anxiety, confrontation, your cat being put to sleep etc, than concern about the postie.

Make sure this never happens again. And buy a box of plasters for your home.

I put the toilet lid down to sit on & take my make-up off! Sat on it but unknown to me the cat had been heading in for a head rub! I sat down, she screamed, bit the front of my shin! Took less than a second & the bathroom was a bloodbath!

Want a photo?

To be honest I'd be more worried about my cat being put to sleep than the postman being scratched

Always up for a cat pic. The blood…not so much!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat nobody is going to put a cat to sleep for scratching someone in their own home. For gods sake 🙄

Are people deliberately trying to worry OP. Put to sleep for scratching or even biting someone? No chance of that happening.

@rainbowsweets sorry op I was reacting to others comments. There is cat scratch fever, but tbh I've been scratched by several cats (grew up with a menagerie of cats and dogs), let alone my own cat now, and have never had it. She catches rats too. I never gave a thought to bites until one got infected, then I got panicky, I'm a panicky person anyway

It’s every blokes dream to say he’s been caught up with a insatiable pussy 😂😂😂

Hi sorry to hear your cat has been more than a guard for your property.

Get a postbox on the outside wall or have a porch extension with an inner door- that's costly but will save you compensation should that arise.

Just realised someone suggested a wire basket, that's a good idea and if someone from Royal Mail comes to your house you can show them you have acted to the incident.

Bake some biscuits and take them to the local sorting office, they'll know which postie it was.

Hello postwoman here! I've been attacked by a cat before. I didn't put my fingers through the letterbox but the cats paw came out as a opened the flap and it's claws got me. I bled for 10 mins but was fine other than that. I reported to managers who added the cat to the hazard list for that route so other posties would know. Next time I delivered there I used my posting peg.

Maybe if you see the postie again then ask if he's OK. If you cant get a cage for mail then maybe you could put a sticker on letterbox to warn of said cat?

Have you borrowed by cat op? My very large cat got into the routine of hearing the bleep from the postman's signature pad thing and running for the letter box. I never thought it would end in injury, but one day I came home to blood all over my front door. The postman knocked several days later and asked if I had a dog. I was very apologetic and promised to get an outdoor mail box which fixes to the wall. It all turned out ok, please don't worry yourself, your cat will be fine. Just ensure you take steps to prevent this from happening again as the royal mail can refuse to deliver to you. My cat still insists on greeting the postman if he knocks. I have no idea why as he hates other people knocking on the door!

This thread is INSANE 😂 as if Royal Mail will turn up at her house? What do you think they’re gonna do? Kick her door in and confiscate her cat?? They have zero power to do anything. This is one of the most batshit threads I’ve ever read here.
OP, read @Autumn245 post above-sensible advice from someone who’s done the job.

My dad is a meter reader and he was issued with plastic tongs so that he didn't have to put his hands into the letter box. Posties should have this as well. Rather than just using bare hands and then complaining when they get bit. A dog or cat's home is its safe haven and it is natural that they are protective of this. They don't understand that it is just someone delivering mail. At the end of the day, I wouldn't like a stranger poking parts of their anatomy into my house if I didn't understand what they were doing, or if they were a threat or not.

Probably screaming.

Apologies, I haven’t read past the first few pages, but could you create a waterproof box to sit in the ground by your door, clearly marked ‘post’ with a slot in the top?

OP, sorry you’re getting such stick on here. FWIW, I think we’ve all been in situations where we’ve had to make a split second decision and we don’t always make the right one. I’m not saying it’s okay but I do think it’s an occupational hazard for Royal Mail staff. When a friend’s dog attacked their postman/woman, they got a letter from RM saying they wouldn’t deliver any more unless steps were put in place to prevent it happening again. That was the end of it. Good luck. X

Is this really the first time something like this has ever happened?

My friends post got delivered to the sorting office because her cat was a shit to the postman and he'd had enough.

The cat was put to sleep eventually after multiple attacks on their neighbours, neighbours children and their pets.

I know that, I wasn't saying it would be 🙄

Did you read the post I was replying to? The poster seemed to think OP was wrong for worrying about her cat more than the postman.

I hate cats.

colleague of mine nearly lost his finger due to a cat bite (his own, he tried to stop it falling out of the window)